Horses

I urge the homeowners in the Rancho District to hang in there and stick to their guns (“ Rancho and its knee-jerk response ,” Feb.11). I feel strongly about this. I am not a horse owner, nor do I live in the Rancho District, but I think this proposed new development is but the first salvo in what eventually will become the loss of all horses in the district. After the beautiful new houses are built, the landscaping in, and the new owners settled, the complaints will begin.

Josh Goldstein RANCHO DISTRICT-- For those who make a living recreating scenes of panic, excitement and danger for television and film, this was just too good for fiction. It was just after 8 a.m. Saturday when about 35 adult horses broke loose from a corral thanks to an unlatched fence at Circle K Stables near the intersection of Valley Heart Drive and Mariposa Street. Giddy in their newfound freedom, the horses galloped and trotted through the streets of Burbank, and some kept going to Glendale and Eagle Rock, police said.

I was reading about this whole equestrian center issue, and I must agree with the people who are against it. It's called the equestrian center for a reason. People moved to and live around that area because of the horses. To tell them to stop complaining about an issue that concerns their safety is ridiculous, at best. The people who say it's not a safety issue obviously don't know much about horses. This facility would be fine in any other part of Burbank, but not in the equestrian center.

Gary Moskowitz RANCHO DISTRICT -- As the setting sun dropped behind the stables at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, mariachi music filled the arena as rare Spanish-bred horses trotted past cheering crowds. Nearly 4,000 people attended the Fiesta of the Spanish Horse Saturday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, many dressed in cowboy hats and boots. The event was designed to educate people about the history and culture of the Spanish horse in America.

Hundreds of equine enthusiasts got an early look Sunday at the 2009 team of horses set to march in January’s Tournament of Roses Parade. Equestfest, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, allowed many to catch a sneak peek of the horse teams slated to march down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day during the annual parade. “This is great for him,” Giovanni Arevalo said of his 17-month-old son. While his son stared at the Long Beach Mounted Police squad, sitting atop Grand palomino horses, Arevalo, 28, also reveled at the chance to see the fanciful assortment of equines for himself.

Trick riding is astonishing Josh Bartell, 10, of La Crescenta is in the fifth grade at La Crescenta Elementary School. If you see a big circus tent in the middle of Glendale, stop in and see what's inside: "Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Horse and Man." This is a spectacular performance of tumblers, riders, dancers and 33 magnificent horses. Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado are both incredible trainers and performers. During the three "Liberty" acts, I was amazed to see the connection Pignon had with the horses.

What started as something to do for fun turned into a lifetime passion for Richard Spooner. Growing up in Fountain Valley, Spooner, 40, enjoyed baseball and other sports, but when relatives came out for riding lessons, it sparked a new interest in Spooner. "My mother had a jumping saddle, and that is what I ended up taking to," he said. Now the former Burbank resident rides for major money and will complete this week in the L.A. International Jumping Festival at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.

Ryan Carter Officer Edgar Penaranda has always been proud of his horse, Scout. It was the trailer that the 20-year-old American Quarter Horse traveled in that he wanted to improve. "It was an ugly old brown trailer," he said. But not anymore. After a year of Penaranda's work to restore the 30-year-old vehicle, the department recently pitched in with some grant money to have it professionally painted. Now, the black-and-white trailer is more consistent with the rest of the department's fleet.

Horse lovers gathered at Griffith Park’s Martinez Arena on Sunday to not only ride the trails but to help support a good cause. About 300 riders — some from Burbank — showed up to the first-ever Poker Ride, a fundraiser that raises money for the Griffith Park burn recovery fund. Equestrian Trails Inc. Corral 38, the local chapter of the nonprofit organization that is dedicated to preserving riding trails and promoting horsemanship, organized the event to help pay for the removal of invasive plant species that started growing in Griffith Park after the wildfires in May. “The number of people who love the park want to restore it to its former grandeur,” said Lynn Brown, vice president of Equestrian Trains Inc. Corral 38. “It’s an extraordinary thing.

Jackson Bell For Tracy Smith, riding her horses every other day along the Griffith Park equestrian trails is a top priority. But the horses were relegated to walking along a flat track that rims the L.A. Equestrian Center during a 30-day period beginning early last month, when Caltrans closed Equestrian Tunnel Seven -- a crossing underneath the Ventura (134) Freeway that connects Burbank to Griffith Park -- because of sound-wall construction. Even though installation of the noise barrier has been completed inside the tunnel, the state Department of Transportation announced March 12 that the tunnel will be closed intermittently for as long as six months because of sound-wall construction on the freeway overhead.

Rancho residents will have an easier time building horse stables on their properties after the City Council this week approved easing the zoning restrictions. The changes, which came as the city works on updating the equestrian-centric neighborhood's master plan, were applauded by residents who had sought to ease certain requirements that made it difficult for some to build their own stables. The City Council agreed to remove a requirement for specific construction material and deleted a rule that required house windows and doors be separated from stables or corrals by at least 20 feet.

I urge the homeowners in the Rancho District to hang in there and stick to their guns (“ Rancho and its knee-jerk response ,” Feb.11). I feel strongly about this. I am not a horse owner, nor do I live in the Rancho District, but I think this proposed new development is but the first salvo in what eventually will become the loss of all horses in the district. After the beautiful new houses are built, the landscaping in, and the new owners settled, the complaints will begin.

Burbank resident Margaret Culver turns 100 years old on Feb. 2. She was born Margaret Emaline Culver on Feb. 2, 1912 in Winslow, Ariz., five days before Arizona was declared a state. She is the daughter of Eli Lichtenburger Hosler and Gillia La Prade. Her ancestors emigrated to the United States in the early 1700s. Her father's family was from Switzerland and mother's family from France, with five generations of ancestors being born in the United States. Culver is the oldest of three sisters who include Thalia who is deceased and Geraldine who is 85 and lives in Arizona.

Fiesta of the Spanish Horse culminates Saturday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. The Spectacular will feature different breeds of horses presented with Latin, Mariachi and other music, as well as ballet, flamenco and folkloric dancing. Horses and riders, however, have been competing since Wednesday in a number of other competitions, such as dressage. The event celebrates the influence of Spanish horses, and proceeds from the show will benefit USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Cavalia is all about showcasing the beauty and power of the horse. But the multimedia production opening Wednesday in Burbank is not just another horse show, says Founder and Artistic Director Normand Latourelle, who also helped build the famed Cirque du Soleil and other national and international performance events. The horses run and play across the 200-square-foot dirt "stage" under the white Big Top. Some will have riders, others will simply be allowed to run free and do what comes naturally — all to original music performed by a sextet.

What started as something to do for fun turned into a lifetime passion for Richard Spooner. Growing up in Fountain Valley, Spooner, 40, enjoyed baseball and other sports, but when relatives came out for riding lessons, it sparked a new interest in Spooner. "My mother had a jumping saddle, and that is what I ended up taking to," he said. Now the former Burbank resident rides for major money and will complete this week in the L.A. International Jumping Festival at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.

Spanish horses danced, mariachis played, and a crowd of 2,800 converged Saturday night on the Los Angeles Equestrian Center for the 11th annual Fiesta of the Spanish Horse extravaganza, the capstone of four days of competitions. Horses from Spain, Portugal, Peru and Brazil, including breeds such as the Andalusian, Pura Raza Española, Lusitano, Paso Fino and Peruvian Paso, dipped and dove, cantered and trotted as families from across the state made the annual trip to Burbank. Valentine Godina, president of High Desert Mariachi Juvenil, looked on as his son, Eric, led the group in a song-and-dance routine outside the stadium.

Horses of Spanish heritage will be stepping lively and proud in events held Thursday through Sunday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. The 11th annual Fiesta of the Spanish Horse will offer four days of multibreed show competitions that are free to attend, and a Saturday night gala raising funds for cancer research. The daily competitions are for Spanish breeds like Andalusian, Lusitano, Pura Raza Española, Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso and Friesian, said Joanne Asman, event coordinator.

Hundreds of equine enthusiasts got an early look Sunday at the 2009 team of horses set to march in January’s Tournament of Roses Parade. Equestfest, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, allowed many to catch a sneak peek of the horse teams slated to march down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day during the annual parade. “This is great for him,” Giovanni Arevalo said of his 17-month-old son. While his son stared at the Long Beach Mounted Police squad, sitting atop Grand palomino horses, Arevalo, 28, also reveled at the chance to see the fanciful assortment of equines for himself.