The fire happened late Sunday afternoon and over 40 firefighters worked diligently to save the nearby barn, bunkhouse and grazing land which stretches out to the lake.

The loss is estimated at $30,000.  A $ 5,000 truckload of hay was just purchased and several newly purchased panels, a woodspliter and a trash trailer were also burned in the fire.

The Lanes are the founders of High Sierra Wild Horse Sanctuary and Gentling Center, which ironically enough at its inception, had been instrumental in raising over $7,000 during the San Diego Witch Fires back in October 2007.  The funds were used solely for distribution to horseowners who had lost their hay and homes in the fire to be able to feed their horses, cows and livestock.

This loss is devastating, especially since it is entirely out of pocket.  Any donations toward the purchase of a truckload of hay would be appreciated, and volunteers to help with clean up efforts are welcome as well.  Nadia Lane can be reached at: 760-401-0198 or you can email her at:  nadialane@msn.com .

You can visit the website at:   www.hswhs.org to see what kind of work Joe and Nadia are doing to help horses and horseowners all over the country.  

 Anyone can donate through pay pal to nadialane@msn.com

Or use this link:
click here

Celebrate the life Of Frank “Scoop” Vessels
Remembrance Video online at www.aqha.com .

Famous California AQHA racing legend and breeder, Frank “Scoop” Vessels, of the Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, died in a plane crash on August 11, 2010.  The Vessels family has made a tremendous impact in the world of horses, dating back to the 1940s when they founded the Los Alamitos Race Course.  Frank took the reins of the family farm in the nineties.  He served as President of both the American Quarter Horse Association and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.  Perhaps the most well know stallion Vessels stood was First Down Dash who was the AQHA All Time leading sire for earnings of get.  One of Scoop's recent accomplishments included a win at the Los Alamitos Super Derby for Quarter Horses in 2008. 

Frank Vessels is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and his three sons.  In memory of this beloved California horseman, the family has established a memorial fund for a youth scholarship with the American Quarter Horse Foundation.  Gifts to honor the life of Frank Vessels can be forwarded to the American Quarter Horse Foundation, PO Box 32111, Amarillo, TX 79120.

Proposed legislation to make non veterinarian equine practitioner services illegal!

If you value the services of your Non-Veterinarian Equine Chiropractor, Dental Practitioner, Massage Therapist, Body Worker, etc., p lease take a few minutes to review the proposed law that is silently being pushed through the legislative process ( California AB 1980 ).
You may agree or disagree with this proposed law, but I wanted to give each of you the opportunity to read it and to become aware of it. 

If we don't let our concerns and feelings be known, then a very small vocal minority will make the decision for us.
Please write to your  Senator and/or Assembly member to let your voice be heard. If you would like some assistance drafting a letter, please contact me.
Find your Senator(s) here: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
Proposed CA legislation against non-vet equine bodyworkers, chiropractors, and dentists:

There is a bill going through the legislative process in California AB 1980 . This bill would make it illegal for your massage therapist, chiropractor, equine cranial sacral therapist, equine dentist, or equine body worker to continue to provide their services to you and your horse if they are not a veterinarian. There is a possibility that Chiropractors would not be affected by the bill but it is not clear in the language of the bill.

This bill takes away your right as a horse owner to make the decisions about who you want to treat your horse. It is placing the decision in the hands of a Veterinarian Advisory Board and the legislature.  It would deprive the specialists working with your horse from earning a living no matter what level of expertise or training they have. It contains all sorts of anti-trust and restriction of trade issues.

It is going to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday. It has been amended several times and so far has not had any opposition.

If you value the services your non-veterinarian equine health care practitioners provide, please contact your Senate, Assembly person and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and add your voice opposing this bill. You can find email addresses and send an email. It does not have to be long.

Let them know you oppose the bill on the grounds of losing your freedom to choose your equine health providers and the economic loss from losing the tax revenue and jobs.

This is the bill  http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1951-2000/ab_1980_bill_20100629_amended_sen_v96.pdf

The American Quarter Horse Journal, June 29, 2010 –

Beginning July 1, 2010, American Quarter Horse Association novice exhibitors will be allowed to show any American Quarter Horse in AQHA novice classes, regardless of ownership. Previously, AQHA rules required novice exhibitors to show a horse owned by a family member (Rule 403(a)(5)), through a lease (Rule 405(c)) or with an official novice permit.

The goal of this rule change is to encourage novice competitors to try a new event on an experienced horse while helping the exhibitor gain confidence and more experience, according to Todd Branson, AQHA director of competition marketing. As current rules state, once the novice exhibitor has earned 25 lifetime points in a class, he or she is ineligible to compete in that class the following year as a novice, with or without a permit.

As novice eligibility now allows, an exhibitor can show a horse in a novice youth or novice amateur class with the owner and his or her immediate family still retaining the ability to show the horse in any class other than the same class as the novice exhibitor. Exhibitors are still required to have a novice amateur or novice youth membership to participate. Memberships can be purchased at the show or prior to the show through AQHA . All novice eligibility requirements as specified in Rule 405A (c) remain unchanged.

Novice exhibitors must still request a novice permit to show a horse that is owned by a non-family member at any of the top 10 AQHA circuit shows that allow permit competition. The top 10 shows are determined by the total number of entries the previous year and can change from year to year.

Competitors showing in AQHA youth- or amateur-division classes must still adhere to AQHA's horse ownership rule 403(A)(5), which states that an amateur must not exhibit in open or amateur AQHA classes horses owned by any third party, but shall only exhibit horses solely owned by the applicant or the applicant's family. However, beginning January 1, 2011 , youth and amateur competitors will be allowed to show leased horses in their respective divisions.

Top 10 shows* that will require a permit for novice competition in 2010:

• Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association Redbud Spectacular, Oklahoma City
• Texas Classic, Fort Worth, Texas
• South Florida Quarter Horse Association Gold Coast, Tampa, Florida
• Arizona Sun Country Circuit, Scottsdale, Arizona
• Dixie National Quarter Horse Show, Jackson, Mississippi
• Big A Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
• Florida Quarter Horse Association Gulf Coast Circuit, Tampa, Florida
• Oregon Quarter Horse Association Summer Classic, Central Point, Oregon
• The Stars and Strips Circuit, Conyers, Georgia
• Western Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association, Harlansburg, Pennsylvania

* The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the largest show in terms of entries but does not allow permits or leases.

ATTACKED on HORSEBACK

It was Saturday May 15 th , 2010, when my friend John and I went riding near Fallbrook on the Santa Margarita trail.  It was warm and sunny and we were looking forward to a beautiful ride through the shady trees and many cool water crossings.

About 20 minutes along the trail from the main staging area off Pico, we were coming to our second water crossing.  We could hear people and children and I shouted out to them that riders were coming.  We couldn't see them yet because of the heavy river brush and trees and wanted to give them a heads up so that they could be calm and not scare the horses as well as make sure their children were safely out of the way of the trail.

I led the way on Sundance, my Missouri Foxtrotter and John was about 50 feet behind me on Riley, his quarter horse.  From around a blind corner I stepped into the water and began to head across when all hell broke loose.

Four Pit Bull dogs and one Husky dog charged me from about forty feet away. Initially I didn't run, my horse stood still, having experienced that dogs are less likely to pursue an attack when their prey is not running.

Snarling and growling, saliva streaming from their mouths, all five grown dogs leapt at Sundance and I.  Sundance reared and pawed the air, striking one Pit Bull, then he spun around and took off running.  The adrenaline infused Pit Bulls and Husky charged Sundance's hindquarters and I felt him kick out with every step.

 Sundance was sinking almost to his knees in the sand and water which critically impaired his ability to escape.  The dogs didn't sink and were gaining on him within a few seconds of retreat.  Over and over he spun around a dozen times or more to face them, pinning his ears and striking at the dogs then trying to run away but the five big dogs were too much for him.  Even when he would hit a Pit Bull it only served to enrage it more.  The attack had escalated to a frenzy now.

I was screaming at the owners to grab their dogs before Sundance and/or I fell and would get torn to pieces by the enraged dogs.  They ran towards their dogs but stood helplessly nearby fearing their own dogs in a full on attack.

Terrified and running for our lives, Sundance ran for the trees but they were thick as a wall.  Cornered now, all five dogs surrounded us, jumping at us, teeth barred, growling and salivating, their ears flattened.  I kicked one Pit Bull in the nose as he lunged for my leg.  Sundance was repeatedly striking and kicking as fast as he could.  He struck another Pit Bull that leapt at his shoulder, knocking it down.  He dodged a Pit Bull attacking his face, biting him on the back in mid-air and threw him down.  He struck out like lightening at the Husky, hitting him and sent him running away.  Sundance became like a wild stallion defending his herd and I felt like I was part of that herd.  Sundance was fighting for my life too.

The four Pit Bulls closed in again, coming at his belly from both sides.  They were underneath my stirrups when Sundance jumped high in the air, kicking and pawing the air as he went, hitting the ground running full speed away.  Miraculously, Sundance, with his legs flailing escaped what was certain to be an ugly and bloody ending when the owners grabbed a hold of their dogs after Sundance jumped over them.  His fierce hoof strikes and kicks and bites had saved us and bought us the fraction of time needed for the owners to grab the dogs.

John and Riley were far enough behind me that when Riley heard the dogs charging me, he spun around scared and took off running out of control.   John struggled to get him under control but couldn't.  Riley was too frightened and wouldn't settle down until John jumped off him and got control of him on the ground.  John heard me screaming but was helpless to do anything until he got Riley under control.  Afraid of what he'd find, he rushed to get to my aid. 

Shaken and terrified, I yelled some angry words and told the owners I would be filing a police report.  Their response…”we have a right to be here and the police are only going to give us a ticket for not having our dogs on a leash”.  Sadly without massive injuries or death, they are probably right.

John got back to the water crossing in time to hear my angry words and their response.  He told them he'd have shot the dogs if he'd had a gun at the time….which brings me to my point in telling you our story.

What do you think would have happened to Sundance and me had he fallen down or I had fallen off into the jaws of that pack?  This could have happened to you, your child, your horse etc.  Imagine the terror of four big Pit Bulls and a Husky dog attacking you over and over, your horse or a loved one, what would you do?  Even pepper spray won't stop a dog or dogs on attack once their adrenaline is already up.

This is the question I'm posing to the various horse clubs I belong to for ideas, “how to stop an attack by dogs or wild animals or thugs while out trail riding”?

I would encourage you to carry bear spray or wasp spray or knife or billy club or?  Please open discussions on this topic and let me know your ideas.  An attack of some sort on horseback is something all of us trail riders should be prepared for.

As for John and myself, there is no doubt in our minds that Sundance, my beautiful and courageous Missouri Foxtrotter, saved my life.  I am grateful to God for this horse and for the strength to have held on while he fought the jaws of death.

I used to own a guard dog company and trained police guard dogs, service dogs, junk yard attack dogs and rescue dogs.  I have been on the receiving end of many dog training attacks while wearing a guard arm and suit.  I've never been so terrified of being torn to pieces.  I've ridden in areas of mountain lions, grizzly bears, wolves and wild horses for many years.  You are more likely to be attacked by domestic dogs than wild animals.  Never before have I witnessed such an attack.

This could happen to you almost anywhere with any dog breed, especially if there is more than one.  For safety sake, what would you do?

I look forward to your ideas.

Joy Bruce

Send comments to info@socalequine.com

Supervisor Bill Horn stated Wednesday evening May 12th at his fund raiser at Vista Valley Country Club in Vista California, that he was aware of the over regulation pertaining to horse facilities. He expressed his opinion that the major use permit process is too cumbersome, too expensive, and too long of a process. He expressed several times that he wanted to assist in clean up of the policies plaguing the equine community. He is pro horse and is in full support of the property rights of horse owners. In the past Supervisor Bill Horn's focus has consistently has been on the protection of land use rights related to the agricultural community, however, the Department of Planning and Land Use has consistently, internally manipulated the zoning ordinances related to horses to exclude them from the protection normally afforded to agricultural enterprises. The regulations as they stand now are so that one horse sold or boarded on a property requires a major use permit.

Bill Horn has promised in his recent campaign to focus on land use issues related to equine facilities and implement new policies needed to streamline the process for private stables and boarding stables. San Diego County Horsemen's Association will be assisting with the policy changes and based on his promises, is committed to Bill Horn's campaign.

Join the San Diego County Horsemen's Association in Voting for Bill Horn On June 8 th send your donations to his campaign headquarters or you may also make contributions online at www.billhorn.com .

For updates and news on policy, changes visit www.sdcha.org. San Diego County Horsemen's Association “For the preservation of the horseman's rights”

President, David Puchta, Paradise Saddlebreds
Vise President, Terry Johnson, Performance Horse supply
Chairperson of the Board, Steve Colburn, Creekside Veterinary

Planners ask county for horse boarding zoning

Reprint from the Valley Roadrunner, April 21, 2010,
published with Permission from David Ross, Editor
http://www.valleycenter.com/story6.htm

Later in the week the group's Equine Zoning Subcommittee approved of the wording of a petition asking for a new “equine zoning ordinance” for the County.

The subcommittee will again meet on May 5, 6–8 p.m. at the VC Library's Community Room. That will include a brainstorming session of what to include in the new ordinance. The public is invited to attend, as well as other meetings held the first Wednesday of the month.

Sally Cobb, owner of Tapestry Meadows Equestrian Center, whose plight (detailed in the Sept. 23, 2009 Roadrunner) inspired the planning group to get involved in this issue told The Roadrunner that she joined the subcommittee, “that was formed after I went public…and the [planning group] became educated about the horrendous zoning requirement of a MUP (major use permit) to board even one horse and that horses are no longer considered ‘agricultural' or ‘livestock' by the County of San Diego.”

The planning group's letter to Gibson, signed by its chairman, Oliver Smith, and the Equine Zoning Subcommittee Chairman Paul Herigstad, expresses concern over “the extreme financial impact the current permitting process imposes on uses that are otherwise consistent with the community and neighborhood. We are also concerned with the structure of the regulations when they conflict with historically accepted land uses within our community.”

VC planners are concerned that an activity long practiced by many Backcountry residents is being excessively penalized.

The letter adds, “The existing major use permit process can require tens of thousands of dollars in fees, studies and engineering costs, and is suited to larger developments or commercial uses that will justify the costs of the permit. However, it does not work in Valley Center where many land owners want to board a limited number of horses for the local equestrian community.”

The letter goes on to say that the care and training of small numbers of horses “is not like a large commercial development.” For one thing, such enterprises are not highly profitable. Their scope is limited to providing space for the animals' training and exercise, and to feed them.

“Present requirements of ten or fifteen costly studies, including traffic impact studies, and the associated costs of DPLU review, cause even the most committed applicant to doubt the wisdom of pursuing these permits. But at the same time, Valley Center is a community where many people own animals and places where those animals may be kept are valued and needed, and can be difficult to find,” says the letter.

The “one size fits all” and the “excessive burdens of our existing permitting policy have forced property owners into non-permitted use of their lands, and this serves neither the community nor the DPLU,” says the letter.

The petition that the Equine Zoning Subcommittee approved of opens with these words: “Horses are being squeezed out of San Diego County because the current zoning ordinance requires a major use permit (MUP) to board even ONE horse on Agricultural property. By-right, the current zoning on the same property allows an unlimited number of occupant-owned horses and even an animal hospital.”

Also, according to the petition, “The Major Use Permit process requires $11,000.00 for a pre-application meeting, a $16,000.00 application fee, an average of $100,000 for engineers and County-approved consultants to complete the required California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) studies, and hundreds of thousands of dollars to complete the required onsite and offsite improvements. The County frequently raises the permit fees and offers no fee cap and no permit approval guarantee. All this to legally board ONE horse!”

San Diego County Equine Re-zoning Movement!

10,000 Electronic Signatures Needed ASAP!!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN ONLINE!

Talk with anyone who is involved in horses, and they will undoubtedly have been affected in some way from the zoning situation in San Diego County. Horse people are constantly at odds with the County of San Diego. One medium sized facility took on a multi-year lease on a parcel to operate a boarding stables, only to throw in the towel on the Major Use Permit process after the County demanded they put in an asphalt parking lot! Another facility currently operates with 50+ horses in a flood plain without County enforcement of drainage issues, much to the detriment of neighboring property owners, who are actually “horse friendly.” A resident in a supposed “horse town” wants to use their barn and arena for a small training operation, only they don't for fear of reprisals and fines from the County. These real-life problems are just a drop in the water trough of situations which plague horse enthusiasts all over San Diego County. With the present state of the economy, people who want to blend their passion for horses into a business must contend with the disproportionate regulations of the permitting and enforcement processes, the fees which are so out of line for most small business owners, and the overall negativity towards most equine enterprises, yet horse businesses are a huge revenue-generating industry which benefits many communities throughout Southern California.

A group in Valley Center has emerged to spearhead a movement to introduce a pro-equine re-zoning ordinance for San Diego County. The San Diegans for Equine Rezoning is working together with the Valley Center Planning organization to submit a re-zoning petition to the County of San Diego. This petition addresses the need for change to protect and promote equine enterprises, and the voices of all those who love horses, whether they participate in business or just for pleasure – must be heard.

Click on this link to give your electronic signature – this is the first step to convince the County of San Diego that San Diegans are in favor of horse activities all over San Diego County:

http://www.petitionvoice.com/we-the-people-want-a-reasonable-petition.html

Please give your electronic signature only once, but PASS THIS LINK ON to everyone you know who supports the horse world in San Diego County!

For anyone concerned with email trackers, the petitions may be signed in person at the upcoming Valley Center Western Days Rodeo and at the Del Mar National Horse Show in Del Mar – look for the SoCalEquine volunteers who will be circulating throughout the three weeks of the show to collect signatures.

The following is the petition for which your electronic signature will lend support to present a re-zoning ordinance to the County of San Diego:

SoCalEquine.com is proud to support this movement and would like to invite all of our viewers and clients to join us and give their electronic signature to the petition. Let's show the County of San Diego just how important horses are in our communities – and remember, this is not just about one county – the effects of having a pro-equine ordinance will have a positive ripple effect throughout the state!

San Diegans for Equine Re-zoning is accepting volunteers! Volunteers are needed for the VC Rodeo and Western Days May 28-30, 2010  at the Community Center near the intersection of Valley Center Road and Lilac Road.  Volunteers will staff two booths, talk with people about the petition, and keep the petition circulating for signatures.  Please contact us via email at equinezoning@gmail.com . So if you would like to get involved directly with this organization, please visit www.equinezoning.com for more information.