PLANS FOR HORSES HAVE HITCHES

Some time ago in one of my articles a question was raised about horse racetracks and County Fairs. For many years past horses and fairs have worked together on events throughout the year. Now without horse racing tracks, County Fairs are waning as agricultural exhibitions.

One should rather change the context of County Fairs and cluster them alongside a new motorcar racetrack! Why current mechanical farming technology now replaces recreational horse sled pull events with tractor pulls for example. Many other old horse technologies have been replaced with machines. Horses and mules functioned well for the military in the past carrying soldiers and pulling guns into firing positions. It was highly amusing seeing camouflaged American soldiers riding through difficult terrain in Afghanistan.

So what can be done to keep the horse as a viable aspect of our economy? With the Kern County Fairgrounds contemplating the elimination of stables and arena for year round events it is an indication that change is looming as to how we approach a parting of ways in this future of County Fairs. It is no different from the Equestrian Center at the Orange County Fairgrounds. The decision to downsize are forcing consideration of horse functions elsewhere.

A possible solution might be to suggest a “mixed use” development. In short it would place stables and horse event needs alongside one another. A development with such amenities has been suggested in part in San Juan Meadows, near San Juan Capistrano. The facility would accommodate 3,000 horses, a veterinary hospital, a clubhouse, restaurants, an Equestrian event center that could hold up to 1,000 guests and even some private training stables.

This above development proposal is however short of one essential element. The rural needs of ranchettes and estates together with rental housing for stable hands. The mix would be to add a variety of housing to accommodate the wide range of people suffering from the disease of horse genes in their blood! This would include accommodations for the breeders with larger property needs to small backyard horse owners. Ideally this sort of facility would be placed inside a buffer of land that would not only supply alfalfa and feed for horses but also handle horse byproducts – manure.

A joint private/public project such as this alongside the Kern River would revive the entire multi million dollar recreational industry. The needs are a equestrian school, a quality new racetrack, dressage arenas, Olympic three day event course, carriage course, an event arena for rodeos and horse breed conformation shows, show jumping and unique events such as the Calgary Stampede and the Las Vegas or Dallas/Fort Worth rodeo and team penning, annual national championships.

In addition such a Kern Equestrian Facility location could attach itself to the start or finish of a long distance 20--50 mile horse races along the Kern River. From such a location the trail to the Kern Canyon mouth and beyond could connect with the John Muir Trail. The right ideas however belong to appropriate timing and a cluster of the right “horse people” who have such a long-term vision to maintain this agricultural heritage.

This is the hitch in the plan for horses. Who will stand up and commit to this action?

BY Graham Kaye-Eddie – Master Urban Designer.

Makabusi Inc. – Bakersfield – California

Email – makabusi@pacbell.net

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