TemeculaEqwineRiders.com

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Norco - Horse-town USA (Shop 'N Ride)

http://www.norco.ca.us/contact/default.asp

If you have never been to Norco on horseback this is truly a unique riding experience that you will enjoy. Of course...you need to enjoy shopping too! There are lots of cool store items for guys as well and horse tack is for everyone. A group of about 5-6 riders is probably the max for this type of ride as the hitching areas are limited at the stores.

To start, trailer to the Country Center on 6th St. where "Boot Barn" is located. The manager is familiar with the Eq-"Wine" Riders and requests to know ahead of time when you will arrive. Their parking lot will accommodate rigs and there is a nice hitching area with corrals that can hold 5-10 horses. Begin by shopping at the BootBarn and "Thrifty Horse" Consignments next door, while your horses are still loaded. Once you have shopped you can saddle up (bring a halter and lead rope, saddle bags for purchases) and ride east down 6th, to the "Ingalls Equestrian Center" at the intersection of Crestview and 6th street on the right. Be sure to notice as you ride down 6th the water troughs along the fenced trail, horse friendly hitching posts and corrals, and other riders EVERYWHERE! We have seen ponies pulling carts and one time a fire engine actually cut his siren when passing our horses. There is even a hitching rail in front of the Chruch of Christ! This truly is HORSETOWN USA!

Recently, six of us Cowgirls made the trip and enjoyed "Dally Up" a new FABULOUS boutique!

Directions: From the south: I-15 north past the 91. Exit 6th street. Turn right. 1.2mls on the right to BootBarn.

Submitted by: Juanita
Location of Staging Area: BootBarn Norco Country Center 960 6th St Norco, CA 92860 (951) 520-9255 or Ingalls Equestrian Center (Special permission needed to park there.)
Length of Ride: 3-10 miles; depends on how much you want to do. You can spend the whole day.
Degree of difficulty: Flat, but lots of cars, traffic lights and horse/human pedestrians. 6th Street is a busy downtown 4 lane road with lots going on, Not for an inexperienced or spooky horse!
Water Crossings? No. Water for Horses? Yes - Look out for waterers along the route. Water for Riders? Yes (and beer)
Toilets?: Yes, in establishments.

Additional comments:

Once you reach the equestrian center you can ride on various trails in the hills. We have taken the trail behind the center that winds over to Pumpkin Rock sitting on top of a hill south of the center. Once you have finished your trail ride head back into town down 6th on the opposite side of the road, to the "Saddle Sore Saloon" for a fabulous burger or sandwich and a cold beer! (the onion rings are really good) Your horses are nicely tied inside the hitching corral out front and you can request a table by the window to watch them. After lunch be sure to visit the "Cowgirl Boutique" at the end of the building, Vicki, the owner, is very nice and loves the idea of our club visiting. Her "mom and pop" type shop is very unique. Once the shopping is done you can mount up and continue west down 6th and just stop n' shop as you go. It's a blast!!! Hope you' all have as much fun as we did on this fabulous ride in 2009 and 2010.

Saddle Sore Eatery & Saloon

343 6th St # A
Norco, CA 92860
(951) 272-3842

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve

www.olivenhain.com/elfin_content.php?content=parks

This is a Gorgeous Ride that you will absolutely love! It is quite rocky and steep at times so shoes/boots are recommended. The views are outstanding, panoramic of the entire Escondido valley to the east, Rancho Bernardo and Poway to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The water reservoir and dam at the top of the mountain are a beautiful sight, with plenty of picnic and rest stops, Port-a-potty and water for the horses. It is one of my favorite rides in the Southern California area!

One of San Diego County 's most precious natural resources, the Reserve currently offers approximately 13 miles of hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, primitive picnic areas, and scenic mountain viewing points. In addition, the natural beauty of the Reserve includes such native plant communities as oak riparian, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub and chaparral.

Directions: From Temecula: I-15 South. Exit VALLEY PARKWAY, turn RIGHT, then RIGHT onto AUTO PARK WAY. LEFT onto HOWARD AVE, RIGHT onto HARMONY GROVE RD.

submitted by: Juanita
Location of Staging Area: At entrance. Small and can only accommodate about 4 rigs
Length of Ride: 5 miles; Total 13 miles, lots of options.
Degree of difficulty: Medium - sloping terrain, rocky.
Water Crossings? No. Water for Horses? Yes Water for Riders? Yes
Toilets?: Yes, Porta Potties

Additional comments:

From the staging area, which is small and can only accommodate about 4 rigs, you can ride up the mountain to the lake. Weekends can be very busy, I highly recommend for a quieter experience visit on a weekday. Download the trail map from the website and take the Way Up Trail/WUT (1.5 miles) to the Equine Incline Loop Trail/EIL (2.5) I promise you will have a FABULOUS time!!!!!! There are many variations of trails to take, so check out the map. On the EIL you can tie up at the equine posts provided on top of the mountain and sit on the bench overlook while gazing at the Pacific Ocean in the distance...this type of view is why we ride our horses!!! Enjoy this ride and let me know what you think! Happy Eq-"Wine" Trails to You! Juanita

Anza Borrego Desert State Park - Vern Whitaker Horse Camp

Dick and Sidne Overturf - Hosts
Vern Whitaker Horse Camp
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
(406) 425 7243

N 33 20.899 W 116 23.942

Reservations for Vern Whitaker Horse Camp: www.reserveamerica.com

or call Reserve America at 1-800-444-7275

The desert flowers are coming!

Directions: Go north from Christmas Circle on Borrego Springs Road for a little over 3 miles. The road bends right (to the east). Go about 200 yards, look for sign that reads Vern Whitaker Horse Camp. Turn left onto sandy road. You´re goingnorth. Follow this road through citrus grove approximate 3.4 miles to the horse camp.

We will no longer be at the horsecamp after 27 February 2009.

There will hopefully be a new horsecamp host at that time. We plan to return in October 2009

Border Field State Park - Tijuana Estuary

www.tijuanaestuary.org/

Please call 619-575-3613 prior to making plans for arrival since safety conditions change at Border Field State Park. Daily 9:30am to 5:00pm

Directions: From Interstate 5, there are 2 routes
Exit Dairy Mart Road (exit #2) Head Southwest on Dairy Mart Road. Dairy Mart Road will curve right
onto Monument Road. Turn right (West) on Monument Road until you reach the park entrance.
OR
(For Southbound traffic) Exit Coronado Avenue (exit #4) in Imperial Beach. Go straight from the off-ramp onto Hollister Street. Continue down Hollister until you reach Monument Road. Turn right (West) on Monument Road until you reach the park entrance. Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve)

Camp Pendleton

Updated 2/27/12

I’d like to inform you of some changes at Camp Pendleton. Your website has direction that seem to take you way out of the way and maybe your members already know a shorter way. That would be; Hwy 76 to College - turn right to Vandergrift then continue to the GATE. This will cut out probably 4 to 5 miles. Also the HART horses are no longer at the base. Also we, locals, have been informed that unless you are accompanied with a military person we can not ride on base grounds. You might want to give the Base Stables a call to confirm this before a group goes to the base and get turned away. Also we can not park at the Rodeo Ground any longer as they now have transformed the Rodeo Ground into a Paint Ball Park. There is some parking in the far back but again I’d check with the Stable Manager. We have been very disappointed that we haven’t been able to ride on the base for some time. We have members that board their horses at the Base Stables and keep us informed of any changes.

I’d really like to get together with your group sometime for riding. I see in this picture, Donna Gephart and Ted Wortman are members of your group. Maybe I’ll get together with them.

I enjoy your newsletters. Keep up the good work. Thanks again and Happy Trails Teri Ardito

Everyone will need to show ID at the gate, as well as one person’s active or retired military ID.(this is a new requirement as of 2009),sometimes they will randomly pick folks out of line to pull over and go inside the guard shack to register. Always be sure you have your current Drivers License, Proof of Insurance and Vehicle Registration. You could be asked to show one or all of these documents. Your reason for being there is obvious if you are pulling a horse trailer. They now require a phone call to Debbie at 760-725-5094 a day or so before you arrive and when you enter the base as well as another when you leave. As many as 10 rigs are all right as long as one person shows the military ID. (new 2009 guideline) There is a large horse boarding stable on the base just passed the Rodeo Grounds.

Directions: From Temecula, South on Interstate 15 to Hwy 76 and go West towards Bonsall. Go approx. 9 or 10 miles, then turn right on Douglas Drive. Next turn right on N. River Road and follow this road until it becomes Vandergrift Road. Vandergrift will dead end at the MC Base gate. After you enter the base, drive about ½ mile to the Rodeo Grounds, on your left. There is plenty of room to park and turn around.(mapquest for best route)

submitted by: Stevie Somes (updated 1/7/09 by JK
Location of Staging Area: Rodeo Grounds at Vandergrift Road entrance to MC base
Length of Ride: In and out ride - approximately 1-1/2 hrs each way
Degree of difficulty: Easy to medium - sloping terrain with good footing (my horse is barefoot)
Water Crossings?: Y/N (sometimes) Water for Horses?: Yes – at Rodeo Grounds Water for Riders? Yes, at Golf Course Coffee shop
Toilets?: Yes, Porta Potties at Rodeo Grounds, Men’s and Ladies rooms at Golf Course

Additional comments:
There is lots of fun riding out on the base and it is wide open. It is approximately 200,000 acres and you will pretty much have the run of the place (except for restricted areas, of course, and they are well marked). The Hart Ranch rotates their ranch stock to graze out on the open range and they are just loose. It is a kick to ride among them as they are gentle, sweet horses (most of them anyway). You can’t really get lost out there as you can see for miles in any directions and it is easy to get your bearings. The most fun ride is from the Rodeo Grounds to the Golf Course. There is a nice wide trail heading West that will get you there, if the gate is closed you may open it to ride per Debbie, 1/7/09. You will find a nice, large corral to tie up the horses when you get there. It is fun to go in and have a burger and brew in the Coffee Shop at the Golf Course. If you ride East (through the tunnel under the road) you will find more challenging trails leading from the boarding stable. I have ridden on the base many times and it is always great fun!

Warner Springs

To get to the trail head, from community center, cross Hwy 79 and walk along it about 150 ft to gate at PCT trail (on east bridge abutment, next to CDF). Take off on well-established trail along sandy creek bed through the trees away from the highway, and cross 2 more step-over gates (always going straight).

Directions: From Temecula Take the 79 south exit and drive 37 miles. Park in the resouce center parking lot directly across I79 from the Fire Station and school, the lot is big enough to not have to back up trailers!

submitted by: Carolyn
Location of Staging Area: Community/recycle center at southwest end of town across from CDF on Hwy 79
Length of Ride: In and out ride - approximately 1-1/2 hrs each way
Degree of difficulty: Medium - sloping terrain with good footing (my horses are barefoot); some switchbacks on somewhat steep hill into second canyon
Water Crossings?: Y/N (not mandatory) Water for Horses?: Yes - on trail (probably not in summer) Water for Riders? No
Toilets?: At community center (if unlocked)

Additional comments:
Trail parallels small stream through trees up this canyon for about 30 minutes (there is a spot just off the trail to water them about 15 minutes+ up the trail), then breaks into the open through some chaparral, then across a vast open meadow (about 40 minutes across) with rock formations (Eagle Rock?), then back into chaparral, then down the switchbacks into the 2nd canyon (about 30 min). This is heavily treed with a stream at the bottom. Good place to have lunch and return. Or can go on down the trail from there (eventually ends up at hwy to Ranchita). Lots of other trails here, too. Good ride for cooler weather (not summer), due to the large expanse of open meadow. Sometimes wildlife - turkeys and deer - and cows at times in meadow. Only part I'm not crazy about is the 150 ft walk along Hwy 79, but visibility is pretty good for traffic and there is a decent shoulder - there is a way to cut in behind the school instead, long as it's not in session. I asked, and Community Center folks have told me it’s okay to park at their place.