San Martin Horsemen's Association

This month’s general meeting on Friday April 12th includes a presentation on local wildflowers which are currently blooming all over the trails. We will have some pizza to go with it, you’re welcome to bring a desert or salad to share. The day after is the Henry Coe wildflower ride, so you will be fully informed to add to your enjoyment of the ride.

This month’s newsletter includes information and applications for our horse camping trip at Jack Brook in Sam McDonald park from August 15-19th. This is a fairly luxurious camp for you and your horse. Book early, space is limited.

Also included is an update  on the SCC Planning Dept. zoning regulation changes for rural areas, with two rescheduled public meetings in Morgan Hill. Also included is updated information on the SCC Parks department study on interim access to the recently acquired Coyote Highlands

This month’s general meeting on Friday March 8th includes a Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner in honor of St. Patrick’s Day followed by a complimentary bingo game with white elephant prizes. Bring along something that may be someone else’s favorite thing even if it isn’t your favorite. RSVP by Monday 4th email:news@smhorse.org so we can cook the right amount of food.

This month’s newsletter includes information and applications for our horse camping trip at Jack Brook in Sam McDonald park from August 15-19th. This is a fairly luxurious camp for you and your horse. Book early, space is limited.

Also included is information on the SCC Planning Dept. zoning regulation changes for rural areas. And the SCC Parks department have published their study on interim access to the recently acquired Coyote Highlands

County of Santa Clara zoning presentation. This affect boarding stables so attend the equestrian outreach meeting.

Monday 2/25/19 6:30PM at Santa Clara County Horsemens Assoc on Mckean Road in San Jose

ZOAmendments_CommunityOutreach_Presentation

The February Newsletter is now available.

It contains our provisional calendar of events for the year.

Jack Brook Horse Camp has been booked for August 15th-19th

This month’s general meeting on Friday 2/8 at 7pm is movie night, we will be showing “Dreamer” an uplifting story of a thoroughbred that gets a second chance.

Our January Newsletter is now available.

And check out the Stevie Knepper Chilli & Soup Taste Off at our January 1th general meeting.

Hello members!

Well, the year is coming to an end and what a year it was!  I think we can  confidently celebrate a successful year for our club.  We started the year with our annual soup contest, continued with multiple guest speakers on various topics, movie nights, taco bars, enjoyed two playdays, a Clinton Anderson Clinic,  a week of camping at Jack Brook and our ever popular Galloping Goblin poker ride.   We will finish the year with our Holiday dinner and silent auction on December 14^th.  Don’t miss it!  It may be your name drawn out of the hat to win one of our fabulous year end prizes and you must be present to win!

I would also like to take this time, at years end,  to thank you for supporting  me and allowing me to serve as your club president for the past 7 years.  Although challenging at times, it was overall very rewarding to initiate changes that helped grow the club and contribute to its success.   We came from a handful of members meeting every other month to monthly meetings with an average of 20+ members each meeting.  We were part of history by participating in the Grand Entry of the first Gilroy Rodeo in 61 years.  We also represented our club by riding in the revived Bonanza Day parade and took Best Overall Equestrian group and/or first place in the Morgan Hill 4^th of July parade every year for the last 6 years running.  We also celebrated a milestone for the club this year when we enjoyed our 50^th Anniversary as a club!

Finally, I’d like to thank all my board members, many who have held these positions for multiple years.  These people worked tirelessly and unselfishly to help make your club the success that it is!  None of the many events mentioned in this message would have been possible without all the effort put forth by this hard working board.  All the planning, set up and behind the scenes legwork, sign making, float building, etc, etc, etc – all done with the help and drive of these dedicated people.

It was a difficult decision to step down as president but one I felt necessary to help further the clubs growth and success,  both which require new ideas and enthusiasm.  I sincerely hope the SMHA continues to grow and thrive under the leadership of your new president, whoever that may be.

So I won’t say goodbye, just so long, it’s been a good ride!  See you all at the Holiday party on the 14^th!!

– Everyday is a new beginning.  Stay away from what might have been and look what can be –  Anonymous

Happy Trails, Bev

Hello members!
I’d like to thank Mary Anderson, Jayne Perryman, Fire Captain Gene Parks
and the Cal Fire team for their informative presentations on fire prevention
and planning. I think everyone in attendance at the meeting took away
helpful information to use.
We just had our Galloping Goblin poker ride this last weekend. What a
great turnout we had!! We had over 30 riders and numerous riders dressed
in costume. The weather also cooperated with a pleasant 70+ degrees and
a nice breeze. Some folks participated for the first time and expressed how
much fun they had! A big thanks to all the members who helped with the
tasks needed to pull this event together. It definitely takes a village!! Great
job everyone.
Our next general meeting is November 9th. This is a very important
meeting that shouldn’t be missed. We will be taking final nominations for
several board positions that will be open for 2019. We need to fill four
major positions: President, Vice President, Membership and Treasurer.
The existing board members holding these positions will be stepping down
and not running for 2019. Some of these offices have been held by these
board members for several years. It is time for other members to step
forward and take a leadership role in the club. The outgoing board
members will be available to help the new officers so please don’t be
nervous about taking one of these roles. NOTE: If these positions are not
filled, the possibility of the club disbanding is very likely. You need to have
officers to keep a club viable and active. Please come to the November
meeting with ideas to help resolve this issue.
Our last meeting of the year will be our annual Christmas meeting on
December 14th. We are planning our usual Christmas potluck and silent
auction along with some new activities currently in the works. We will also
have our year end prize drawing and you must be present to win. Don’t
want to miss out on some really nice prizes this year so make sure to mark
your calendars to save this date!
I will leave you with two relevant quotes for this month:
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or
accept the responsibility for changing them” – Denis Waitley
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try – Anonymous
Keep Riding!
Bev

Hello members!

How fast this year is passing by!  September has come and gone. I can’t believe we are already in October!  We had a fabulously successful playday on Sept 15th. A big thanks goes to Karen Topping and her students.  The girls were able to campout at Blomquist Friday night to get initiated to camping with their horses.  The next day, they all competed on the course with their trusty mounts and a good time was had by all!  Jim Blomquist enjoyed announcing for both the kids competition and our SMHA competition that immediately followed. Thank you Jim!

October brings with it shorter days, cooler weather and the annual Grand National Rodeo!  Check online and get your tickets for this exciting event which will be held October 12-13 and 19-20 this year.

We are also looking for nominees for open SMHA offices in October.  We will need to fill the positions of: President, Vice President, Membership and a Sunshine Chair.  Please consider taking on one of these roles or nominating a capable friend for one of the positions.  It is crucial to the club’s longevity that these positions be filled.  People currently in these positions will be happy to discuss the duties with you.  We will start taking nominations at the October 12 general meeting and through the November 9 meeting when the actual elections will take place.

Another October event is our annual Halloween poker ride. Get out those costumes and dust them off!  This is always a fun event and a good ride.  It’s enjoyed by both horse and rider!  Check the enclosed flyer for details.  See you all there on Oct 27th at Bear Ranch!

Our October general meeting is 10/12.  We will have guest speakers from LAE and Cal Fire.  They will give a presentation on how to prepare your property for fire prevention as well as helping you to develop an emergency plan.  Don’t miss this important meeting!  SMHA will provide snacks.  Please feel free to bring something to share.  See you all there!

“Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success” –  Unknown

Bev

Hello members!

Wow! August certainly was a busy month for SMHA.  We celebrated our 50th Anniversary on 8/4 with a terrific BBQ hosted by our own Audra Soltis at her ranch in Hollister.  The wind gave us a bit of a challenge but we overcame it and had a great time visiting with past presidents, new and seasoned members, playing horseshoes and enjoying a great meal!

Next we strutted our stuff at the Gilroy Rodeo!  Sterling Trubman and Andrea Calwell proudly carried our SMHA flags in the Grand Entry on Saturday.  Steve Oliveria joined Sterling on Sunday to represent us in the Grand Entry.  This was the first Gilroy rodeo in over 61 years and I am proud that SMHA got to be a part of it.

On August 16th through the 20th we converged on the campground at Jack Brook.  What a fantastic trip it was! The weather was perfect, good company, awesome trail riding and fun around the campfire at night. Such a fun, relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable trip that no one wanted to come home!

September is shaping up to be just as fun.  Our general meeting will be held on Friday Sept 14th.  For those of you that missed the anniversary party, we will be showing the DVD of club pictures for your enjoyment and Carolyn Tucker will bring the club history books for you to peruse.  Pizza is the order of the day for a nominal fee.  Please rsvp to Kathy McBride so we can get an accurate headcount for ordering the pizza.

The day following the meeting, we will be hosting our September 15th Playday at Blomquist arena. You don’t want to miss this one!  We have changed things up a bit and added some new and challenging obstacles. Please come out and support your club and join the fun at this event!

Also, please start thinking about board positions you would want to hold and nominees for club officers.  We will take nominations through our October meeting and elections will take place at the November general meeting.  This is very important.  We need to get new people at the helm and on the board to keep our club active, interesting and growing!  Also at the October meeting, we will have guest speakers from LAE and Cal Fire to discuss what you can do for fire prevention and emergency evacuations.  Don’t miss it.

• No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow your progress, you’re still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
• Tony Rumins –

See you on the trails!

Bev

Hello members!

We had a good turnout at our July meeting.  We all enjoyed our chicken dinner while Leslie, Kathy and myself excitedly shared our experience at the recent Clinton Anderson 3 day clinic with Jeff Davis.  Kathy showed some clinic pictures on her computer to accompany our stories.  I think everyone got caught up in our enthusiasm while maybe learning a few new things to try with their horses!  I also announced the results of the Morgan Hill 4th of July parade.  I think we did pretty well . . . first place pooper scooper, first place Adult Riding Group and Best Overall Equestrian Group!! Whoo Hoo!!!  Thanks go out to all who participated with special thanks to Allene Liebenburg and Steve Oliveria for their help. You all represented your club well and should be proud!!

By the time this Eventer reaches you, we should be right on top of our 50th Anniversary BBQ event.  I hope you all RSVP’d by the August 2nd deadline and we’ll see you there.  We’re planning some fun activities: horseshoes, trivia and showing some photos, both old and new, on the big screen for all to enjoy.  Come and mingle with your fellow members, past and present, and let’s celebrate our 50 years as a family oriented horse club!

Gilroy is bringing back their rodeo after 61 years of absence. It’s slated to be a fun, family event.  SMHA will be represented both days in the Grand Entry by having riders carry our flags.  Please come out and support your club and enjoy the rodeo.

August is turning out to be a busy month for us.  Jack Brook campout is upon us August 16-20.  Based on the outpour of enthusiasm to book the campground this year, and not let our reservations lapse, I was expecting a much larger number of campers.   I’m taken aback by the low number of signups that we’ve had.  I’m hoping that those of you that were so interested in securing the camp will be sending in your reservations soon!   Jack Brook really is the epitome of horse camping and an awesome place to ride!  Get your applications in today!

There is no general meeting in August so we will see you all at our September 14th meeting.  I believe pizza is the order of the day for a nominal fee.  Check next months Eventer for more details.  In the meantime, let’s all get out there and bond with our horses and enjoy our many riding trails!!

– Embrace dirty boots and smelling like your horse –  Annonymus

Bev