Chatsworth equestrians told Mayor Villaraigosa that riding horses in Chatsworth is a tradition that dates back to the days of the early Spanish explorers, but the tradition has been endangered as high-density housing replaces horse ranches in their community.
Los Angels Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa responded stating, "I will fight to protect equestrian rights, including horse keeping and equestrian trails. The zoning issues associated with horse keeping must be addressed fairly and with the consideration of the residents. And I will fight to protect equestrian trails throughout the northern areas of the San Fernando Valley, just as I stood up for the equestrian trails on Ahmanson ranch."
After becoming the Mayor of Los Angeles Villaraigosa accepted local equestrian's invitation to come see Chatsworth from the back of a horse.
On Saturday, September 17, 2005, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa met with equestrian friends from the Chatsworth Equine Cultural Heritage Organization (ECHO), Valley Horse Owners Association (VHOA), Equestrian Trails Incorporated (ETI), Ride-On Therapeutic Horsemanship, Vaquero Heritage Foundation, Chatsworth E-Riders, and Chatsworth Neighbor Council Equestrian Committee members to ride along the streets, bridle paths, and rocky canyons that make up Chatsworth's unique corner of Los Angeles.
Mayor Villaraigosa listened to equestrian's concerns about development, trails, railroad crossings, traffic, and parks as they rode.
By Lisa M. Sodders, Staff Writer
LA Daily NewsMayor Antonio Villaraigosa sat tall in the saddle Saturday as he rode the horse trail at Stoney Point on horseback, alongside more than 50 riders.
The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council's equestrian committee and representatives from numerous horse-riding groups invited the mayor on the two-mile ride to share their concerns about a way of life they fear is being eroded by developers building high-density housing.
"I love this," Villaraigosa said as he rode up the dusty trail on a Los Angeles Police Department Mounted Patrol horse named Tom. "Los Angeles is big enough that we should be able to preserve these kinds of open spaces."
Jerry England, chairman of the equestrian committee, agreed: "There really need to be some unique little pieces of the city that are allowed to be different.
"There's not a lot of rural left any more as these big fields get chopped up for houses."Deb Baumann, managing director of the Vaquero Heritage Foundation, said preserving equine areas benefits more people than just local residents who own horses.
Groups like Ride-On Therapeutic Horsemanship, which works with adults and children with mental and physical disabilities, also depend on open space and riding trails.
Baumann, who wore an 1830s vaquero costume and sat on a hand-tooled leather saddle and traditional hand-carved oak stirrups, said it's also important to preserve a part of Los Angeles' history. She noted that many places in Los Angeles started out as huge ranches, including Los Encinos Rancho, Rancho La Brea and Rancho San Pedro.
Villaraigosa said he had ridden a horse about 20 times in his life but seemed very at ease in the saddle. He took time at the end of the ride to say thank you and stroke Tom, a 17-year-old quarter horse who won the 2004 American Quarter Horse Association's Equine Public Service Award. Pat Kouri, LAPD trainer for the mounted patrol, said Villaraigosa was a good rider.
"He's doing really well," Kouri said. "He's very relaxed. He's not worried, so the horse isn't worried."
Members of the Davalos Family, of Silver King Silversmiths in Chatsworth, presented the mayor with a handcrafted silver belt buckle and leather hand-tooled belt at the start of the ride. The company also has presented one to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
From Jerry England,