Winter 2026 San Mateo County Horseman Magazine

Table of Contents

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Cowgirls' Quarterly A Message from Your SMCHA 2026 Presidents

Mariangela Sonstegard & Gabriela Marquez

As we enter 2026, we welcome the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse. The Fire Horse appears once every 60 years in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing energy, independence, change, passion, and freedom. In the spirit of the year of the Fire Horse, SMCHA steps boldly into a year of progress, as we encourage independence through clinics that build confidence and activities that strengthen our connections, while celebrating the unstoppable spirit of our equestrian community. As we strive to meet the needs of our members, we are excited about this year's upcoming events. Our 2026 Gala, which is always a fun evening, will honor Anne Van Camp as 2026 Horsewoman of the Year. Anne has been a long-time member and supporter of SMCHA. She has deep ties to the local equestrian community, and we hope you will join us to celebrate Anne!

For 2026, we are planning our popular Spring Tea Party, Jack Brook camping trip and dinner, President’s Ride and luncheon, Free Fall Riding Clinic, Halloween Playday, and year-end Holiday Party. In addition to these cherished traditions, we look forward to more events that will provide educational opportunities, fun rides, and our monthly Dine and Donate restaurant fundraisers. Keep an eye on our calendar on our website or social media to see what is happening each month.

As co-Presidents, we are committed to making this a successful year for SMCHA. We encourage the participation and ideas of our members. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have an idea for an activity, ride, event, or would like to volunteer. Email us at smcha@smcha.org.

Working together, we can make a difference in our equestrian community and make this a fun and productive Year of the Fire Horse for all SMCHA members.

Mari & Gaby

SAN MATEO COUNTY HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION 2026 OFFICERS

PRESIDENTS

Gabriela Marquez and Mariangela Sonstegard

1st VICE PRESIDENT

Cary Oberti

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

Carin Zeller

SECRETARY

Ceci Ellis

TREASURER

Cheryl Basin

COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Christine Friis

2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cheryl Basin

Bonnie Bertetta

Sharon Butler

Ceci Ellis

Adeline Forrest

Christine Friis

Susan Jakubowski

Gabriela Marquez

Jenny Mize

Lucia Mokres

Carey Oberti

Elizabeth Ouellette

Karen Rowley-Shawback

Mariangela Sonstegard

Carin Zeller

Honorary Board Member

Noel Moody

P.O. Box 620092

Woodside, CA 94062-0092

Visit our website at www.smcha.org

Email us at smcha@smcha.org

SMCHA EVENT CALENDER

April 25: Gala – Peninsula Italian Club, San Mateo

May 9: Spring Tea & Bingo, Woodside

July TBD: Polo Luncheon, Menlo Circus Club, Menlo Park

July 16-20: SMCHA Jack Brook Campout

August TBD: Presidents' Ride

September 13, 20, 27 & October 4: Fall Riding Clinic, Mounted Patrol Arena, Woodside

September TDB: Movie Night

October 10 & 11: Day of The Horse - Woodside

October 25: Halloween Play Day

December 12: SMCHA Holiday Party, Woodside Horse Park

Would you like to meet new people who share your passion for horses? Do you have a unique talent or an idea for an activity/ride to share? Maybe you’ve always wanted to put on your own event but needed the support of an equestrian committee. Now is the time to bring your ideas to the forefront. The SMCHA wants to hear from you! If you’d like to join our team, have fun and make your dreams come true, send us an email so we can bring your vision to life!

Email: SMCHA@smcha.org

2026 Horsewoman of the Year — Anne Van Camp

By Mariangela Sonstegard, SMCHA 2026 Co-President

SMCHA is proud to announce that the 2026 Horsewoman of the Year is Anne Van Camp. Anne has been a long-time member and supporter of SMCHA. She also has a deep commitment to the local equine community, serving on boards and committees around the Woodside area. These include NCEFT, WHOA, Woodside Trails Committee, Equestrian Heritage, and Livestock Committee. She is also dedicated to horse-related advocacy, scholarship programs, and trail maintenance. We celebrate Anne for all she has done for the equine community

and her determination to "keep Woodside horse country."

Anne summarized this commitment by sharing the following: "my dream for the horse community in Woodside and the surrounding area is that the many organizations can continue to work together, streamline their efforts and funds, and preserve this unique place for future equestrians.”

SMCHA will honor Anne Van Camp at our 2026 Gala on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Peninsula Italian American Social Club in San Mateo. Please save the date and join us as we celebrate our Horsewoman of the Year.

Partners in Healing: NCEFT and Stanford Children’s Health –Helping Young Patients with Chronic Pain

NCEFT is partnering with Stanford Children’s Health Pediatric Rehabilitation Program (PReP) to support children with chronic pain through equine-assisted physical therapy. Sessions at NCEFT serve as a valuable complement to PReP, addressing physical, emotional, and social needs in an outdoor setting that feels engaging, motivating, and therapeutic.

The combination of NCEFT’s equine-assisted programs and PReP’s clinical framework helps children make measurable strides in function, confidence, and overall quality of life. By focusing on enriching activities rather than pain, this partnership allows children to reclaim independence and experience healing in a safe, supportive, and joyful setting— one stride at a time.

“Chronic pain can be socially isolating. Sessions at NCEFT provide meaningful social engagement by getting children out of the house and interacting with NCEFT staff, volunteers, and horses,” explains Sarina Majmundar, PT, DPT, of the PReP Team. “These sessions foster communication, trust, and connection, and over time we see patients become more willing to participate, ask for help, and engage collaboratively—skills that support broader functional and social reintegration.”

“NCEFT’s services also reinforce the biopsychosocial goals of chronic pain treatment by addressing patients’ physical, emotional, and social needs. We’ve observed improvements in physical capacity and confidence thanks to NCEFT’s outdoor terrain, which offers challenges beyond a traditional clinic setting. While sessions may not feel like medical treatment, they remain structured, goal-oriented, and highly therapeutic,” concludes Sarina.

“What’s remarkable about working with PReP patients is how their nervous systems seem to coregulate with the horse,” says Chris Swan, Program Director and Physical Therapist at NCEFT. “Horses have an incredibly finely tuned nervous system, and their regulated energy helps patients reset and engage in purposeful movement. Patients are achieving significant gains in their everyday life.”

Unlike typical sessions where a horse is matched to a patient based on how their movement supports physical goals, Chris often strategically selects horses for this program based on how their temperament and personality suit each patient. Whether calm and steady or more energetic and expressive, these thoughtful matches help patients feel at ease and have fun without focusing on pain.

To learn more about NCEFT or to make a donation to support their clients, horses, and programs, please visit nceft.org.

We are so excited for the opportunity to partner with the PReP team at Stanford Children’s Health,” says Nancy Contro, NCEFT Executive Director. “It allows us to serve patients with complex pain conditions in an innovative, collaborative, and holistic way. Seeing the progress they make over the course of their treatment and the joy they find in working with our horses and our team is truly inspiring.”

Rain Rot in Horses

By Brittani Kirkland, Former Extension Educator, Equine, Pennsylvania State University

Reprinted by permission from Penn State Extension. Updated: October 16, 2023

In periods of constant, frequent rain, it is important for horse owners to consider how rain may impact their horses, farms, and riding experiences. Rain rot is a common condition during rainy seasons and can be of concern for many horse owners. While typically easily treated, rain rot can be a serious issue and should be addressed immediately by the horse owner to prevent spread or worsening.

What is Rain Rot?

Rain rot, also called rain scald or dermatophilosis, is a skin infection caused by a bacterium known as Dermatophilus congolensis. Living on the horse's skin, D. congolensis is mostly dormant, but under wet conditions, this bacterium can cause an inflammatory infection resulting in lesions along your horse's skin. These lesions cause small patches of raised bumps which are scabs containing clusters of your horse's hair. Removal of these scabs results in bald patches along the affected area. In severe cases, lesions and scabs may become large and affect multiple layers of skin. When this occurs, the horse's use may be impacted until the infection clears.

While most often found on the horse's topline, rain rot can be found on numerous areas of the horse's body, including their rump, face, and legs. Therefore, it is important that regular, thorough full-body examinations occur. Hands-on palpation may be needed when examining your horse for rain rot, particularly during winter months, as increased coat length makes visual assessment difficult. Unlike many other skin conditions, areas with rain rot do not typically itch but can be painful and cause your horse to become sensitive to touch.

All horses can be affected by this condition; however, there have been identified links with horse's coat colors and immune status leading to a higher incidence of rain rot. Particularly, horses with lighter coat colors as well as horses with compromised or poorly developed immune systems (such as young or older horses) have been found to be at higher risk. Specific environmental factors have also been identified. Rain rot most often occurs when the skin has been compromised in some way. Compromise occurs during times of high humidity, prolonged rainfall, or increased exposure to biting insects. Horse owners should take steps to limit impact when these environmental conditions are present.

Prevention of Rain Rot

Practicing good hygiene habits with your horse, such as regular bathing and grooming, is one of the best ways to prevent rain rot from occurring. Likewise, reducing exposure to environmental factors known to increase incidence may help

prevent this condition. If you know there will be heavy rainfall in your area, keeping your horse in a barn or under shelter can help reduce risk. Also, limiting access to muddy areas or trying to reduce the overall presence of mud may be helpful, as caked mud on your horse could compromise the skin. If you are seeing high biting insect populations, implement best management practices based on fly species. Some of these practices include setting up traps, increasing farm sanitation, introducing parasitoid wasps, and spraying your horse with a pyrethroid-based insecticide.

Treatment

If your horse has a minor case of rain rot, it can typically heal with a little bit of extra attention and care. Giving your horse a bath with an anti-microbial soap can help remove the scabs and disrupt the bacteria in the affected area. Additionally, currying and brushing your horse can help promote healing and prevent the spread or worsening of the area. As you work to remove scabs, the affected area may become tender to the touch so be cautious with removal. Softening the scabs first makes removal easier and more comfortable for your horse. There are also topical antimicrobial products you may want to include in your treatment routine if you find it necessary.

Keep your horse dry and reduce exposure to known environmental factors during treatment. You may also want to keep horses with rain rot separated from others while treatment is occurring to prevent spread amongst horses. Similarly, be sure to disinfect and replace contaminated grooming tools and other equipment as needed to prevent spread.

In severe cases, your horse may need antibiotic injections given by a veterinarian. Skin biopsies may need to be conducted to identify the cause of the infection and ensure it is rain rot. It is always recommended that you consult a veterinarian in any case to determine cause.

The content of this presentation, including text, graphics, and images, is educational only and not intended to be a substitute for veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine or other licensed or certified veterinary medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a veterinary medical condition or symptom.

For more equine-related information from Penn State Equine, visit https://extension.psu.edu/animals-and-livestock/equine

TO BIT, OR NOT TO BIT

By Ali Kermeen

Have you looked inside your horse’s mouth? What does his mouth look like compared to other horses? Does he have any scarring or malformations on his tongue? How about on his lips? How many canine teeth does he have? Does he have any wolf teeth? What’s the distance between the corner of his mouth and his premolar? What’s the distance between the corner of his mouth and his canine teeth? Does he have a high palate or a low palate? Does he have a thick tongue or a thin tongue? A wide tongue or a narrow tongue? Are the bars of his mouth flat, or angled? Does he have thin lips or fleshy lips? Does he have bruising on the bars of his mouth? Is he sensitive or allergic to any metals?

These are all questions that a good horseman will consider when selecting a bit for a horse in any discipline. Examin-

ing a horse’s mouth could reveal factors that could produce communication issues or pain while wearing a bit. However, the most important factor is how the horse feels about the bit. Some horses with mouths that are not optimal to carry a bit seem to be happy enough wearing a bit. More often, however, they are unhappy in a bit. Some horses with ideal mouths for bitting never seem happy with the bit in their mouth. Ultimately, the decision whether the horse should be wearing a bit or go bitless should be up to the horse.

How do we know if the horse is unhappy with a bit? Even the mildest bit can cause pain. Mouth tissues are extremely sensitive. Evaluate your horse with a fresh eye and answer these eight questions.

1. Is he difficult to bridle?

2. Does his mouth carry tension, like pulled-back lips, exposed teeth, or a hard chin while he is wearing his bit?

3. Does he open his mouth or stick out his tongue while he is wearing a bit?

4. Does he grind, clack, or gnash his teeth when wearing a bit?

Continued on Page 15

Generous Donations Help Achieve Project Goals

Greer Road Bridge Replacement— Vital Link for Equestrians

Our largest project this year was the replacement of the Greer Road Bridge on the Kings Mountain Trail in Huddart Park. Thanks to the nearly $40,000 raised from the community, we funded the purchase of materials for a brand new 45-foot bridge with reinforced footings. Equestrians are once again enjoying safe, easy access to the park.

Save Bear Creek Stables— Matching Funds!

The beloved Bear Creek Stables were at risk of closing, but thanks to Friends of Bear Creek Stables and a dedicated group of volunteers working with Mid-peninsula Open Space District, a plan was developed to preserve, improve, and expand them for the future. The Mounted Patrol Foundation (MPF) raised over $40,000 to help transform this vision into a reality. Many thanks to all the donors who supported this effort.

The Equestrian Merit Scholarship

The Mounted Patrol Foundation and the Woodside-area Horse Owners Association (WHOA!) are again sponsoring the $10,000 the Equestrian Merit Scholarship. Check either website for application information.

Horses for Heroes—Trail Rides for Veterans

Through our Horses for Heroes program, military veterans referred by the Palo Alto VA enjoy trail rides and lessons at Jasper Ridge Farm. Your support helps make these life-changing moments possible.

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Activities League (SAL)

We’re honored to host horse-riding activities for youth from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Activities League. For many participants, it’s their first time ever on a horse—an unforgettable experience! Your support can make a real impact.

For more information on MPF activities, please visit: www.MountedPatrolFoundation.org

Woodside-Area Equestrian Merit Scholarship

The WHOA Foundation Inc (WHOA!), the Mounted Patrol Foundation (MPF), the San Mateo County Horsemen's Association (SMCHA) are proud to once again partner in offering the $13,000 Woodside-Area Equestrian Merit Scholarship Award, now entering its seventh year.

This annual scholarship supports the continuing education of a high school senior who has demonstrated involvement in and a future dedication to equine-related activities. In addition to horsemanship and community engagement, the selection process places a strong emphasis on academic achievement and financial need. The program is open to graduating seniors from several Bay Area counties who will be attending a college, university, trade school, or other continuing education program in the fall.

Applications will be available in March, and students and families are encouraged to start preparing early For full eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application details, please visit the official scholarship page on the WHOA! website: whoa94062.org/merit-scholarship

Bitless Continued from Page 13

5. Is his movement less free, especially with his hind legs, when he is wearing a bit?

6. Does he have trouble keeping a steady rein contact with the bit?

7. Does he toss his head, duck behind the vertical, or come above the bit?

8. Does he lock or cross his jaw when wearing a bit?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your horse might not be happy wearing a bit. It is worth trying a bitless option for no other reason to see if the issue is with the bit, with another aspect of his equipment, or with his rider. Try a bitless option and see if there is improvement in any of these 8 areas.

I have seen improvements in each of these areas when transitioning a horse from a bit to a bitless bridle. I have also tried bitless with some horses who ended up preferring the bit. I have never regretted trying a bitless option to see if there was an improvement in any of these 8 areas.

This is an excerpt from Ali Kermeen’s book Soft, Round, and Bitless, published by Trafalgar Square Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. While Ali often rides bitless, she is not anti-bit and thinks learning to ride well bitless has made her better at riding with a bit. Buy Soft, Round, and Bitless directly from Ali if you see her at Webb Ranch, where her business is based, at one of her working equitation clinics, or wherever bits are sold. You can find more information about Ali at alikermeen.com

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3,000 sq. ft center-aisle barn with 8 stalls, 8 paddocks, tack room, feed room and storage. A covered and lit round pen (54 diameter) allows for year round exercise in any weather. Fully fenced and cross-fenced pastures. A horseman’s paradise with direct access to miles of trails and the open expanses of Las Trampas State Park.

SMCHA Holiday Party 2025

By Carin Zeller

On December 13, 2025, we held our annual holiday party at the Horse Park. We were lucky to have beautiful weather, so we could enjoy the gorgeous grounds at the Horse Park. A bountiful potluck was enjoyed by all, featuring Cheryl’s Chili, Karen’s Apple Cider, Tanya’s Mulled Wine, and a new addition, Ceci’s Sliders. Everyone had a wonderful time visiting with each other while shopping at our fabulous boutiques: Rehreh Threads and

Goods, Charles Clarke Photography, and Chris Friis Designs. SMCHA Co-President, Mariangela Sonstegard, gave a warm welcome, and she had the honor of announcing the 2026 San Mateo County Horsemen’s Horsewoman of the Year, Anne Van Camp. (Read more about Anne and her many contributions to SMCHA and the horse community in the article in this issue.) Finally, several people won a live mini Christmas tree to plant in their yard! Many thanks to all who attended and helped to make the party a success!

The Ghost Dog That Haunts the Woodside Store

By Jennifer Yoshikoshi The Almanac

Reprinted with permission from October 31, 2025

The historic Woodside Store on Tripp Road has been around since the 1850s. The aged wooden panels of the building hold nearly two centuries worth of stories — one of which entails the ghost of one man’s best friend. It’s a perfect tale for Halloween.

The Woodside Store was built by Dr. Robert Orville Tripp and his business partner Mathias Parkehurst in 1851. Tripp, who was a San Francisco supervisor, storekeeper, dentist, shingle maker and vintner was a jack-of-all-trades. He operated the store with his family until he died in 1909.

According to historians, he was known for owning big dogs such as one pictured in a photo displayed in the farthest room of the store. In the early 1990s, the exact same dog was spotted in the interpretive area of the museum — over a century later.

Mitch Postel, president of the San Mateo County Historical Association said one afternoon he received a call from one of the site managers who was working that weekend. When he answered the phone, she said “I quit.” “This was really out of the blue,” Postel said.

When he asked her why, she explained that while she was locking up the store to close at 4 p.m., she noticed a large dog in the interpretive area. She walked into the back room and saw a “gigantic dog standing right in the middle of the room.”

But as she was going to try and get it out of the store, the dog “dissolved” right before her eyes, according to Postel. “It disappeared as she was looking at it and she was really upset by it,” he added.

As she was trying to gather herself in the room where the dog stood seconds before, she looked over to the wall of photos and saw one of Tripp outside the store with his dogs. “She said she swore to God, it was the same dog as the one in the picture,” Postel recalled.

After her ghostly experience in the Woodside Store, the site manager told Postel on the phone, “I’m never going to come back here. Goodbye.” While Postel isn’t sure if she actually saw a ghost dog or whether it was a creative excuse to quit her job, the site manager surely stuck to her word and never went back to work at the Woodside Store after that day.

The Woodside Store that stands today has existed in Kings Mountain since 1854 and was rebuilt after the original 1851 structure burned down. The store was purchased by the county in 1940 and was listed as a California Historical Landmark in 1949. Since becoming a county park, the San Mateo County Historical Association has been operating the site for tours.

In May, the county celebrated Old Woodside Store Day, bringing guests back to the 1880s and hosting old-time contests and crafts.

The store is open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on the Woodside Store visit historysmc. org/woodside-store-historic-site

Jennifer Yoshikoshi joined The Almanac in 2024 as an education, Woodside and Portola Valley reporter. Jennifer started her journalism career in college radio and podcasting at UC Santa Barbara, where she graduated with a bachelor's in anthropology in 2023. Previously, her work has been published in the San Mateo Daily Journal. As a South San Francisco native, she is excited to be back in the Peninsula reporting on the local community.

Equestrian Websites

Backcountry Horsemen of California: bchcalifornia.org

Bay Area Equestrian Network: bayequest.com

Bay Area Horse Archers: bayareahorsearchers.com

Bay Area Lyme Foundation: bayarealyme.org

Bay Area Players: facebook.com/BayAreaSavvyPlayers

BLM Wild Horses & Burros, California: blm/gov/whb

California Dressage Society: california-dressage.org

California State Horsemen’s Association (CSHA): californiastatehorsemen.org

Caring Cowgirl: caringcowgirl.org

Community Horse Advocacy Program (CHAPS): facebook.com/chapsmc

Disabled Equestrians: disabledequestrians.org

Equestrian Legacy: equestrianlegacy.com/home

Equestrian Trail Riders' Action Committee (ETRAC): etrac-equestrian.com

Horse Park at Woodside: horsepark.org

Horsensei: horsensei.com

Jasper Ridge Farm: jasperridgefarm.org

Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association: lahha.org

Los Viajeros Riding Club: losviajeros.org

Monterey Bay Equestrians: montereybayequestrians.org

Mounted Patrol Foundation: mountedpatrolfoundation.org

Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County: mpsmc.org

National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT): nceft.org

Portola Valley Pony Club: portolavalley.ponyclub.org

San Martin’s Horsemen’s Association: smhorse.org

San Mateo County Horsemen's Association: smcha.org

San Mateo County Large Animal Evacuation: smclaeg.org

San Mateo County Parks Volunteer Horse Patrol: smcvhp.org

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Mounted Search & Rescue: smcmsar.org

San Ramon Valley Horsemen’s Association: srvha.weebly.com

Santa Clara County Horsemen’s Association: horsemens.org

Santa Cruz County Horsemen’s Association: sccha.wildapricot.org

Summit Riders Horseman’s Association: summit-riders.com

The BOK Ranch: bokranch.org

The Square Peg Foundation: squarepegfoundation.org

Wild Horse Sanctuary www.wildhorsesanctuary.org

Woodside-area Horse Owners’ Association (WHOA!): whoa94062.org

Woodside Pony Club: woodside.ponyclub.org

Thank You!

The Water Trough

Hope you are enjoying The Water Trough (a rider’s version of the Water Cooler!). Let us know what’s new and exciting in your lives. Let’s bring our community together by sharing news, fun facts and information! Got something to share? Send your info to me, Marcy Rosenberg @ mrosenb51@gmail.com

From Sharon Butler: At the close of the 2025 Holiday Greens fundraiser, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who purchased items and supported SMCHA. Your generosity truly makes a difference.

A very special thank you goes to Santa’s helpers who made this fundraiser such a success—Mari and Jack, our top sellers, along with Cheryl B., Jenn M., Susan J., and Deb V. Thank you for helping sort the greens and ensuring everyone received exactly what they ordered.

This was another highly successful year, with over $1,000 raised for SMCHA. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!

Art Lessor

With heavy hearts, SMCHA shares the news of the loss of longtime member and supporter, Art Lessor. Art passed away peacefully on December 7, 2025, surrounded by his family, after dealing with ongoing health issues. Art was a valued part of our community and will be deeply missed. We understand that a memorial service may be held in March 2026, and we will share details as they become available. Our thoughts are with Art’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Tori recovering from a fall

Tori Traube - On January 8, 2026, Webb Ranch trainer, Tori Traube, had a fall that resulted in a serious broken leg. That same evening, she underwent surgery and is now back home with her family, beginning a long journey of recovery and rehabilitation. For those who know Tori, you know she is rarely standing still; her passion for horses and her students keeps her constantly on the move. This injury, however, means she will be out of the saddle and away from the barn for an extended time as she focuses on healing. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Save Bear Creek stables

The beloved Bear Creek Stables were at risk of closing, but thanks to Friends of Bear Creek Stables and a dedicated group of volunteers working with Mid-peninsula Open Space District, a plan was developed to preserve, improve, and expand them for the future. The Mounted Patrol Foundation (MPF) raised over $40,000 to help make this vision a reality and SMCHA is a proud donor to this community endeavor.

A message from our friends at Bear Creek Stables: “You did it! The Mounted Patrol Foundation spurred our fundraising for future nature and equine programming at Bear Creek Stables. The effort and advocacy you showed, along with the financial contributions from SO many individuals from our community, led us to reach the fundraising goal required by Midpen in record time. Thanks to your Foundation, we have 'crossed the finish line'. We are beyond inspired to start the new year in such a positive place. Friends of Bear Creek Stables and Midpen are working closely to finalize the contract. Upon signing this contract, Friends can begin offering classes, camps, and workshops. The Mounted Patrol Foundation is helping offer joy, wonder, and healing through nature and horses at Bear Creek Stables — right where and when it is needed most! Cheers to outdoor learning and exploring for 2026. With great thanks to the Foundation, your supporters, and donors.”

Barefoot Trimmer

Donna Condrey-Milleris a barefoot trimmer in Northern California. In addition, she is an artist, and her art was displayed at The Art Hunger Gallery in Redding from January 23 to February 28. This piece is titled “Portrait of a Friend”.

Cheyanne in Heavenly Pastures

Alison White’s beloved horse, Cheyanne, passed away on January 12. Cheyanne was 24, and Alison owned her for almost 20 years. Alison’s daughter Heather wrote, “To the sweetest horse I’ve ever known. Cheyanne, you were so gentle and full of love. You kept my mom safe for hundreds of rides, and you made everyone smile with your flamingo cookie begging trick."

THE SAN MATEO HORSEMAN

P.O. BOX 620092

WOODSIDE, CA 94062

www.smcha.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PUBLISHED BY SAN MATEO COUNTY HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1940

A Registered Non-Profit 501 (c) (3) Organization

Tax Id # 23-7076143

Presidents: Mariangela Sonstegard & Gabriela Marquez