Tilden WildcatHorsemen'sAssociationNewsletter
November-December 2011
Right:Riding from Tilden to
Sibley on the second day of the
ride--photo by Anne Corder.
Below: Hikers traversing
Crockett Hills Regional Park on
the first morning of the hike.
Photo by Charles Ladd
East
Bay
Hills
Ride
and
Hike
Report
Continued on page 4
The 10th Annual East
Bay Hills Trails
Benefit Ride and
Hike had so much going for
it this year. We had 44 hikers,
who hiked up to 60 miles over
5 days, and 33 equestrians,
who rode up to 100 miles in 6
days. Amazingly good food,
beautiful trails, perfect
weather for it, the human
powered blender making
both smoothies and
margaritas, telescope view-
ing, a naturalist expounding
on tarantulas, an equestrian
drill team performance, an in-
spiring talk by 4-Wheel Bob
Coomber, and a baby gray fox
who stood on one of the
tables in camp the final
night... Oh, and the raffle was
Continued on page 2
Page 2 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
East Bay Hills Report
was won by an 8 year-old celebrating
her birthday that very day...
Behind the scenes, however, this
was a challenge from the start. Our
invaluable food coordinator for the
previous 8 years, Bob Cooper, would
be unable to join us this year. The
campsite we really wanted proved to
be unavailable, as did two key sec-
tions of trail for the hike. Bay Area
Barns and Trails, which in most past
years provided $5,000 in matching
funds, was unable to do so this time.
Some major donors for our raffle in
past years could not donate this time,
and the economy hit us another
way—sign-ups were really low just a
couple of weeks before we started.
And it turned out many of our key
volunteers were unavailable.
Our planning committee worked
hard to overcome these obstacles and by the time we started it all somehow came together. Cathy Moyer, the Executive Director
of Volunteers for Outdoor California, took over as food coordinator and brought the V-O-Cal kitchen with her. We started the hike
in Crockett for the first time and included trail not generally available to the public. New donors stepped up to make our raffle and
silent auction better than ever, and most importantly at the last minute a lot more people signed up to hike, ride and volunteer.
Actually we had nearly as many participants as last year, although there were not as many who stayed for the entire event. We
were also unable to replace the matching funds from previous years, but were still able to raise $12,500 while everyone had a grand
time.
This issue of the TWHA Newsletter is chock full of photos, memories, and vignettes from this year’s hike, with some other
things as well. Thanks to everyone who participated—we hope to see you next year!
Continued from page 1
I think having everyone bring
their own dishes/utensils was a good
idea. The auction and raffle items
were awesome! I love having the
margaritas! This ride is my favorite! I
absolutely love it! Thank you SO
MUCH for all the time and hard work
to make it happen! I hope to do it
every year!
----Jeanine Wolf
Above: Hikers on the Whopper Trail at San
Pablo Reservoir on their way to Tilden the
first day. Photo by Charles Ladd. Left:
Jeanine Wolf's horse Kobe has covered more
miles over the last few years than anyone
else, even doing some days backwards and
forwards! Photo by Anne Corder.
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 3
I did the first 3 days. I was pretty
worn out but a person could do a
minimum day on the 3rd day if they
were doing all 5. I enjoy camping
and having the meals etc made it
very comfortable. Not carrying the
gear made it heaven. The solar show-
ers made it nirvana. This might be
too much mileage per day for my
wife and / or the average hiker. I
hope to be back next year
-----Hiker Comment
I love it and look forward to do-
ing it again next year. I am surprised
that the ride and hike doesn’t fill up
as it is an amazing adventure like no
other that one can have in the East
Bay hills. I don’t know of any better
way to experience the East Bay hills.
Thank you so much for organizing
this experience.
----TWHA Member Anne Corder
Above: Marilyn Russell and Karen Schwartz
led their horses to water and they drank!
before heading up the hill (right) Middle:
Hikers on their way from Tilden towards
Sibley, while the horses waited at Tilden for
their riders to return after dropping off their
trailers at Sequoia Arena. Photos by Anne
Corder and John Rabold
Page 4 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
At Tilden Park
Upper left: Hiker Jay Bailinson gives Cathy Moyer
a massage on the first day. Jay gave free massages
every afternoon, asking for donations to V-O-Cal
and the Ridge Trail. Happy hiker and rider
recipients donated $530. Middle left: V-O-Cal's
shower tents were set up at Tilden by V-O-Cal
crew leader and hiker Eric 'Bam-Bam' Barnett,
while the solar shower bags heated in the sun.
Lower left: The hkers convinced the Tilden Steam
Trains to open a bit early when they passed by on
their way towards Sibley the second day of the
hike. Above: V-O-Cal crew leader and Save Mt.
Diablo Naturalist Jodi Bailey makes fruit
smoothies with the Human Powered Blender at
Tilden. The blackberry, raspberry and strawberry
smoothies were quite popular this year, though
on Saturday night someone showed up with
margarita mix! Photos by Anne Corder and John
Rabold.
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 5
As always, a big thanks to all the wonderful
volunteers that donate their precious time to give
all us riders and hikers a wonderful event. Hav-
ing done this ride 9 years (all but the first), its no
surprise to say its my favorite annually event!
And such a great cause to help fund the Bay Area
Ridge Trail. I came late on Friday because of
pneumonia and wasn’t able to help out much,
but nothing like spending time with your horse
to regenerate, I was feeling better every day.
The weather was great, the company fun, and
the trails as usual lovely - just love French and
Columbine Trails, even if my horse did get stung
by a bee on Columbine on Monday!
As usual the programs were entertaining, and
if you were a rider and weren’t there Sunday night,
you missed a very good Vet talk.
Oh yes, let us not forget the massages - a
wonderful way to relax those tired muscles and
raise money! Last year I didn’t manage to get
any but did this year!
Again thanks to TWHA for running this ride
and hike - I hope we made BART lots of money
and the 70+ volunteer team for this ride rocks!
----TWHA Member Janice Frazier
Riders and
Hikers on
the Move
Above: Janice Frazier on her Andalusian . Middle:
Hikers on the trail in Sibley Volcanic Preserve. Left:
Some of the hikers stop for lunch on the way from
Tilden to Sibley. Photos by Charles Ladd and John
Rabold
Pretty amazing with folks coming
and going for less than 5 days. The cli-
entele seemed to be a good group, and
the over all administration seemed to
accomplish/get everything done with-
out ruffling any feathers. Quite an ex-
cellent group of dedicated volunteers!
----Hiker Comment
Page 6 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
It's Dinner Time
The East Bay Hills Trails Benefit has always been known for its
exceptional dinners, and this year there was no let-up! Top right: The
line formed early at Sequoia Arena Thursday after we all nibbled on
the appetizers (lower right) prepared by Victoria Shoemaker. After
loading up their plates (top right) with the tri-tip prepared by Page
Schorer and the wonderful side-dishes and vegetarian alternatives,
the group settled down for dinner (lower right). In the background
EBRPD Naturalist Michael Moran is setting up for his talk on
Tarantulas. Photos by Richard Friedman
Sequoia to Bort was wonderful, but my favorite was the
last part of the Sunday ride through that wooded place
[Columbine and Cascade Trails] where I expected fairies to
fly out from the shrubs!!
----Rider Comment
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 7
Upper left: Ridge Trail Council Board members and hike leaders Gary Cook and Bob Siegel
relax after hiking with Ridge Trail Super-Volunteer Jan Neufeld at Sequoia Arena, while (lower
left) TWHA Horses Keepsake and Sin gobble some hay after a long ride. Upper right: Flowers
in Tilden; Lower Left: Amanita muscaria mushroom on the Conlon Trail in Wildcat. Photos by
Anne Corder and Charles Ladd
Quiet Timeon the Trailand in Camp
Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining the East Bay
Hills Ride on Day 4 from Sequoia Arena to Bort Meadows.
If you’ve never taken part, you may not know what you’re
missing. This is probably the best-organized leisure ride in
the country. If you’re used to competitions, as I was, I could
hardly believe how good it felt to relax, sleep in, ride at any
pace and along any route (even the recommended one),
and then enjoy better food and evening programs than any-
thing I have seen at an endurance ride.
This is all thanks to Morris Older and a corps of dedi-
cated volunteers, who put this together year after year. People
come from far away to enjoy our hills, but even if you ride
here regularly you ought to give this a try. It’s for a good
cause, but don’t let that stop you, it’s some of the best fun
you’re likely to have on horseback.
----TWHA President Gary Fitts
Page 8 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
Friday Night at Sequoia Arena
Friday night the Metropolitan
Horsemen's Assocation offered a choice
of chicken or portobello mushroom (left)
with assorted salads to match for dinner.
(Photo by Anne Corder.) In the meantime,
hiker Jay Bailinson offfered massage sur-
rounded by trees above the arena. (Photo
by Charles Ladd)
The arena, sporting a fence rebuilt by
volunteers using funds raised by previ-
ous East Bay Hills Trails Benefit rides,
then showcased the Diablo Ladies Ro-
deo Drill Team, which performed after
dinner. (Photos by Gary Cook, extracted
from his You-Tube video )
Following a short ride and hike meet-
ing, hikers and riders alike made the short
trek across Skyline Blvd. to the Chabot
Space and Science Center, where amateur
telescopes on the patio supplemented the
views available through the largest tele-
scopes open for public viewing west of
the Mississippi. Photo by Charles Ladd
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 9
Back on
the TrailThanks once again for putting to-
gether a wonderful event. The food
Saturday was delicious and a pleas-
ant surprise! 4-Wheel Bob was really
fun. The best part, however, was
watching Malik riding Skippy all on
his own on while coming back on the
MacDonald trail. We’re already look-
ing forward to next year!
The volunteers were great, as
usual.
---Kudos! Chris Moisenco
Camping in the East Bay Hills over
Labor Day is cold. Yes, it's summer - but
that means fog early and late. So getting
out of my sleeping bag in the fog to start
helping with breakfast is hard. And my
alarm went off early! Because not only
do I need to get started with the work, the
horses know I am up and out and they
make it clear that the whole camp will be
in turmoil if I do not feed them NOW. So
after 2 trips to the hay pile to carry enough
back for the 2 horses, I’m now15 min
late. Can they live until my camp mate
gets up to get water....I decide they can
because if I take them both to water...with
all the untying and walking and drinking
and tying up again...I’ll miss another 20
min of my shift.
I wanted to get there: last night there
had been a very suggestive coffee-stuff-
ing event and I wanted to see, and taste,
the results, which were very good. And it
was nice to have coffee. With breakfast
to help cook and serve and lunch to lay
out and then pack up...there was a lot to
do. And lots of people to meet. All was
going great...until my pal come to get me
because the horses were not being coop-
erative and it was going to take us both
to get them to water and back to where
they were tied for their breakfast.
Then back to work on the lunch table,
make my lunch, help put away the stuff.
Then back to the horses to brush, clean,
saddle up, put the bridle on, and pack
lunch, water and the spare tack that I
carry. Now to pack up all the horse stuff
and the personal gear for camping. I re-
ally need more coffee, but have not had
time to get to the outhouse yet. And it’s
time to hit the trail!. Why it must be 9:30
by now! Where are my boots? Tighten
the girth again, check the rigging...
Mount Up! Ride out. And relax.....
-----TWHA Member Alice Puilipson
Hikers on one of the many shady trails in the
East Bay Parks. Below: Riders approach Bort
Meadows with miles of trail in the distance.
Photos by John Rabold and Anne Corder
Memoir of a Horse Volunteer
Page 10 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
One of this year’s riders was TWHA
member David Whittall, whom I rode with
at the start of the very first East Bay Hills
Ride in 2002. In 2006, David came for a
couple of days, and his daughter Zoe and
son James each rode a day. His wife
Corinne came and they hosted an im-
promptu lunchtime birthday party for their
then 3 year-old daughter Isabel on the
trail at Mitchell Canyon on Mt. Diablo.
This year all 5 of them returned. David
and Zoe to ride, Corinne and James to
help David volunteer for a breakfast shift,
and Isabel and Zoe helped fill the solar
shower bags. Saturday was Isabel’s 8th
birthday—and also was our East Bay Hills
Saturday Night at Bort Meadow
raffle, where each time a ticket is pulled,
the winner gets to select the prize they
want from a table that included
CamelBaks, Marmot backpacks, an REI
sleeping bag, tent, smart phone, Stephen
Joseph photo, and all kinds of other hik-
ing and equestrian goodies.
10 year-old rider Malik Broughton
pulled the first ticket out of the bag and
the first prize went to the day’s birthday
girl, Isabel! Advice was coming from all
sides—”Pick the smart phone,” “Get the
CamelBak,” and a couple of other sug-
gestions, but Isabel turned around and
firmly said “No—I’m picking what I
want.!” And after looking over the table
she did exactly that, choosing a brand
new shiny stainless steel water bottle.
Her brother later won the smart phone,
and his sister then won one of the
CamelBaks, so everyone was happy, while
their astounded parents, not accustomed
to winning raffles, looked on amused.
---by Morris Older
Saturday night 100 hikers, riders and guests
were treated to a Moroccan dinner with lamb
and chicken ka-bobs orchestrated by Lila
Abdul-Rahim, who has cooked every year
for the East Bay Hils Ride, with the help of
her all-star TWHA volunteers, including 2
past Presidents and our Treasurer. Right:
hikers, riders and guests enjoying dinner.
Afterwards 4-Wheel Bob Coomber (below) -
gave an inspiring talk on his adventures
wheelchairing the East Bay Hills trails and
on mountains beyond. His advice: if it seems
too hard, try it anyway, and you will be
amazed at what you CAN do. Then came
our raffle (story below), where everyone is a
guaranteed winner, and our silent auction.
See the list of this year's donations later in this
issue. Photos by Anne Corder and Gary
Cook
Birthday Present--Winning Raffle Ticket
I didn’t have a vehicle with me, so it
was all very easy. Thanks to the
horse people for agreeing to trans-
port the hikers’ gear!
----Hiker comment
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 11
I actually have been volunteering
around and doing trail work in the Bay
Area for a few years now. When I heard
the opportunity to actually hike 60 miles
of Bay Area Ridge Trail it was a no
brainer. I would never get to see that
much of the ridge trail on a solo trek. Ever.
I actually even hiked some trail that I
worked on in Oakland while we were at it.
The food was excellent, the company
was top notch and the experience was
priceless. We hiked along the bay near
Crockett Hills, wandered through Tilden
and the hills offered there, experienced
the Redwoods of Oakland near Joaquin
Miller Park and summited the Dinosaur
Ridge! Seeing this much of the bay from
this perspective is a rare thing indeed. I
very much suggest the hike and enjoyed
it from start to finish.
---- Eric “Bam Bam” Barnett
Editor's note: Bam Bam is a super
volunteer who cleared the trail from the
Tilden camp to Wildcat Canyon Road,
helped load and unload the food truck,
moved hay, assembled shower tents, and
assisted all week long!
Final Day
Hiking
Overall very enjoyable-especially the good humor and
guidance of volunteer leaders, guides and sweeps. I really
appreciated Charlie, Gary and Bob. Food was very good
and also the evening programs
----Hiker Dee McGuffrey
Just wanted to let you know that we enjoyed everything
about the hike. We especially enjoyed meeting all the
other people we met. That made the hike very fun. We hope
to keep in touch with as many as possible. Thanks again
Morris for all you do and did in putting this hike together
and making sure everything went well, you did well! Please
keep us posted in what may come up.
---- Mark, Lisa and Michael
Sunday's hike began at Bort Meadow,
traversed Anthony Chabot Park to the Willow
View Trail (top), climbed Ramage Peak to
Dinosaur Ridge (middle) in the EBMUD
watershed and finished with a descent through
Cull Canyon(below). Photos by Charles Ladd.
Page 12 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
SundayNight
The hike over, on Sunday
night, Victoria Shoemaker and
Page Schorer returned for a sec-
ond night to serve up a scrump-
tious feast, and then Berkeley
Veterinarian Alana Alpern spoke
on emergency horse care.
Thank you for the amazing job you did!!!! I know it took many hours of
organization and effort and I appreciate it very much. I am looking for-
ward to next year and hope to do a longer stay. See you then!!
--First time EB Hills Rider Val Kasnick
I loved Alana’s presentation... she needs
more time, like every evening! I felt her presen-
tation was very pertinent to us riders and can
imagine that she has so much more to offer. I
did not know about the pulse point that she
introduced us to or about wrapping horse’s legs
in such a way as to prevent further injury.
----Rider Comment
Top right and lower left: Sunday's
Dinner. Middle right Alana
Alpern, DVM shows how to check
pulse near the eyes. Photos by
Richard Friedman. Bottom right:
The morning (lower right) started
foggy. Photos by Anne Corder.
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 13
Thanks to Our Amazing Volunteers!
The East Bay Hills Trails Benefit Ride and Hike could not
have happened without the efforts of over 70 volunteers. A
planning committee, which included TWHA members
Morris Older, Judy Etheridge, Page Schorer, and Jane Binder,
Metropolitan Horsemen’s Association members Judi Bank and
Amelia Marshall began meeting in March to plan the eques-
trian ride. A separate committee of Bay Area Ridge Trail Coun-
cil members Morris Older, Gary Cook, Bob Siegel and Charlie
Bowen, as well as BARTC Staff members Joel Gartland and
Dena Justice started meeting shortly thereafter to plan the
hike. Our camp managers each day included Jane Binder,
Judy Etheridge, and Judi Bank. Morris Older served as overall
ride and hike manager with able assistance from the co-plan-
ners and camp managers.
Our evening chefs were Page Schorer, Judi Bank, Lila
Abdul-Rahim, and Victoria Shoemaker, with Jim Townsend of
the Regional Trails Department of the East Bay Regional Park
District providing dinner for the group one evening. Our
evening chefs were ably assisted by Jodi Bailey, Charlie Bowen,
Lisa McLaughlin, , Eric Shroeder, Jenni Smith, Golda Blum,
Richard Friedman, Ute Frey, Petra Liljestrand, Kim Abbott,
Cheryl Ann Fulton, Elie Geske, Inez Fort, Melanie Diamond,
Joe Nieblas, Randy Hassell, Amelia Marshall, Judy Etheridge,
Kirsten Whitsett, Eric Shcroeder, and Ken Snetsinger, as well
as the large number of riders and hikers who chipped in as
needed.
Cathy Moyer, the Executive Director of Volunteers for Out-
door California, provided our kitchen, purchased the food
for breakfast and lunches, and coordinated those meals.
June Nakatini, Diane Ollis, Alice Philipson, Becky Mertens,
David, James and Corinne Whittall, Karl Saarni, Judy Etheridge,
and Ken Snetsinger and numerous other hikers and riders
helped provide breakfast and lunches. MHA provided dinner
tables and chairs used at 2 of the campsites and Kim Abbott
helped move them. Judi Bank, Jenni Smith, Lila Abdul-Rahim,
Page Schorer, Jim Townsend, Becky Mertens, Cathy Moyer
and Victoria Shoemaker all helped with the shopping.
Bort Meadow requires gate monitors at all times when
it is open, and Becky Mertens, Lisa McLaughlin, Elise Geske,
Page Schorer, Rachel Royce, Ken Snetsinger, and Judy
Etheridge all took turns.
Volunteers were needed to pick up the hikers at BART
and then drop them off at the end of the hike. Thomas Beck
Bobbie Landers, Irma Rupert, Bern Smith, June Nakatini, Irma
Ruport, Morris Older, Lisa McLaughlin, Amelia Marshall, Pat
Corder, Rachel Royce and Ute Frey stepped up to get the job
done. Kathy Campbell, Doug Ross, Lisa McLaughlin, Pat
Corder and Irma Ruport volunteered to shuttle riders back
to the starting point so they could ride their horses between
camps. Judi Bank, Inez Fort and Amelia Marshall helped people
find parking places at Sequoia Arena, while Jane Binder di-
rected the parking at Tilden Park. Our hay purchases and
delivery were arranged by Judy Etheridge, Morris Older, Bam-
Bam Barnett and Ken Snetsinger. Water troughs were sup-
plied, placed in strategic locations and filled by Judy Etheridge,
Ken Snetsinger and by Tilden, Redwood and Anthony Chabot
Park staff. The wonderful horse and hiker crossing signs,
borrowed from Redwood Park, were set up and attended at
Fish Ranch Road by Kathy Campbell and Doug Ross.
Sections of trail were pre-ridden or walked by Rachel
Royce, Gary Fitts, Charlie Bowen, and Morris Older. Morris
Older wrote up the trail directions and takes full responsibility
for any errors therein. Morris made up the masters of the eques-
trian trail maps, and Gary Cook made up the masters of the
hiking maps. Gary Cook, Bob Siegel, Charlie Bowen, Bill
Warburton, and Sandy Venning served as our lead and
sweep hikers. Morris Older made all arrangements with
the regional parks, while Judi Bank did the same with the City
of Oakland and Joaquin Miller Park. Martha Benioff, Judi Bank,
and Kim Abbott arranged for our insurance.
The hikers and riders were especially pleased this year by
the shower tents with solar showers that were borrowed
from Volunteers for Outdoor California and set up by Eric Bam
Bam Barnett, Becky Mertens, Corinne and Isabelle Whittall
and Malik Broughton. The Human-Powered-Blender was
on loan from Chino Yip, and transported down from Napa by
Jay Ballinson. And we are especially grateful to Jay Bailinson,
who after hiking, provided massage for 3 hours daily to hik-
ers and riders who donated to the event.
We were extremely fortunate to have evening presenta-
tions by EBRPD Naturalist Michael Moran, who talked about
Tarantulas, by Margaret Obrien, and the Diablo Ladies Drill
Team, by 4-Wheel Bob Coomber, who inspired us with his
wheel-chair adventures, and by Dr. Alana Apern, DVM, who
spoke about emergency horse care on the trail.
We were blessed to have the artwork and design skills
of Debby Young for our tee shirts. The ride sales table at
our camps was set up and tended by Morris Older, with help
from Judy Etheridge. Irma Ruport, Charlie Bowen, Gary Cook
and others sold raffle tickets, and Malik Boughton helped
pick the winners..
Our emergency trailer on call was provided by Inez
Continued on page 15
Page 14 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
Thanks to our Generous Donors
Continued from page 14
Thanks to Our Volunteers
This year’s East Bay Hills Trail Ben-
efit Ride and Hike was greatly assisted
by the generous contributions we re-
ceived both for the ride and for our silent
auction and raffle. We deeply appreciate
the following donations:
REI
Tent, camp chair, sleeping pad, sleeping
bag
CamelBak
5 CamelBak filtration packs and 12 water
bottles
Marmot
Three backpacks and a sleeping bag
East Bay Regional Park District
Dinner for 65 for hikers and campers
Clif Bar
Fuel for our hikers and riders
Pop Chips
Snacks for our hikers and riders
Orinda Village Horse Shop
Sportage riding helmet
Stephen Joseph
Mt Diablo Photograhic Print
Page Schorer
Tri-Tip for 70
Victoria Shoemaker
Food for hungry riders and hikers
Sports Basement
Desert for 70 and a $50 gift certificate
Peet’s Coffee
Coffee and Tea
Ariat
Gift Certificate for Boots
Save Mt. Diablo
Mt Diablo book, map and hat
Reactor Panel Saddlery
Saddle Pads, tack, lotions and more
Safeway
$125 Gift Cards
Vista Madera Tack
Grooming Box with hoofpicks, riding
gloves, brushes and more
Western Saddlery
Hay bag, brush set, misc. tack
Wilderness Press
Trail Guidebooks and maps
Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
Wine, wine glasses, bags, and water
bottles
Sandy Greenblat
Marin Equestrian Guide
Riders and Hikers who cancelled
And donated part of all of their fees
Riders and Hikers
Who donated numerous raffle prizes
Amelia Marshall
12 bottles of wine
Bay Nature Magazine
Gift Subscription
Janice Frazier
Dog and cat baskets
Judy Etheridge was amongst our enthusiastic
raffle ticket vendors. Photo by Anne Corder
The French trail with the Red-
wood trees, that we did on Saturday,
was amazing.
---Hiker Comment
Fort. The manure trailer was transported
by Peter Bank and Amelia Marshall.
TWHA web guru Gary Fitts posted
our ride info on the website, and many
riders, and family members pitched in
whenever they were needed. When some-
thing unexpectedly needed to be done,
there were last minute volunteers who
rose to the occasion. TWHA, MHA and
BARTC extend our deep and sincere
thanks to all of the volunteers who as-
sisted. If we have inadvertently neglected
to mention your name, please know that
we have valued your assistance. With-
out all of you this event would not have
been possible.
A number of organizations and
groups helped with the 5-Day Ride. In
addition to TWHA and MHA the assis-
tance of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Coun-
cil, and Volunteers for Outdoor California
was essential. Publicity from horse club
newsletters, and several hiking clubs
helped riders and hikers throughout the
Bay Area and beyond to find out about
the ride. Charles Robiins wrote a nice
press release about 4-Wheel Bob
Coomber. See the separate listing of our
donors and sponsors, who assisted in
our fund raising effots.
Finally, the ride and hike would not
have been possible without the coop-
eration and aid of EBRPD’s Tiffany
Margulici, Dee Rosario in Redwood,
Sergio Huerta, in Tilden, Alison Rein in
Wildcat, Jeff Manley in Sibley , Janet
Gomes in Chabot, Jeff Crowle in Roberts,
and Jerry Richardson in Kennedy Grove
and other park staff. EBRPD was exem-
plary in fixing trail, setting up water, and
helping to ensure that the ride worked
for everyone. The City of Oakland
was also very helpful in facilitating our
abilityto camp , hike and ride at Joaquin
Miller Park.
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 15
EBATC Picnic at Pt. PinoleThe 4th Annual East Bay Area Trails
Council Picnic and Multi-Use Excursion
was a rare opportunity for trail users of
all stripes to get together and celebrate
the beautiful open spaces of the East Bay,
and get to know each other better, a
chance to celebrate what we all have in
common: a deep and abiding love of trails,
the outdoors, and taking a little trip
through the same. Sharing trails is the es-
sence of EBATC's message, and actually
doing so in a highly cooperative, and fun-
loving way can lower barriers faster and
more effectively than any other activity.
This was the first time the picnic was
held at Pt. Pinole and over 60 trail users,
including 30 equestrians took part. They
brought all kinds of horses, including a
Mini (nammed Minnie) and covered the
trails with bicyclists including a tandem
bike pulling a ababy carriage. After the
hike and ride, the East Bay Regional Park
District provided a BBQ replete with
salmon, Vegie burgers and chicken, and
watermelon. The bicyclists brought lots
of beer to share, and everyone had a great
time.
Group photo by Sean Dougan
Finders Not Keepers in Tilden Park
Early in the morning on September 23
Metropolitan Horsemen's Association
President Melanie Diamond and her
friend Greg were walking their dogs in
Tilden Park when another hiker warned
them that there was loose horse ahead.
So she quickly went to her nearby home
for a halter, found the horse on Seaview
Trail and called me. I went up and we
walked him back to the Orinda Horsemen's
Association pasture and determeined
that he was Micki, TWHA member Doug
Ross's gelding.
Early in the morning, the OHA horses
sometimes hang out at the very top of
their watershed pasture near Seaview
Trail. Every once in a while hikers in Til-
den cut the wires on the fence there. Years
ago EBMUD Naturalist Jim Dunne,
wallking early in the morning, found 17
horses in Tilden Park. He found the dam-
aged fence line, and used his belt to lead
the lead mare through the fence and the
horses followed.
by Morris Older
This time Micki was by himself, and
though quite well behaved, was happy
to get back to the pasture. He had only
minor scratches from going through the
fence, and was soon back in the pasture.
Meanwhile a couple of OHA members
went up and repaired the fence.
Thanks to Melanie's quick action the
situation was rapidly corrected. She was
impressed by Micki's personality, and
asked a couple of times if "Finders Keep-
ers' could be the rule here...
Page 16 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
In a triumph of public process over private interest, the
East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted unani-
mously to approve the proposed expansion of the Wildcat
Canyon staging area and create safe horse trailer parking spots
along with a trailer turn-around area. This improvement – which
utilizes and slightly expands an existing paved area — will at
last make Wildcat Canyon accessible to equestrians without
impinging on surrounding neighborhood streets.
The public process began in September 2010 when Park
District land use planners held a public meeting to present a
proposal for improvements to Wildcat/Alvarado Parks. Their
initial plan, intended to address picnicking families’ increasing
use of Alvarado Park, was to add and improve pedestrian/
ADA access into Alvarado from the adjacent Wildcat staging
area as well as expand the staging area car parking capacity
from 17 to 38 car spaces.
Members of the Tri-City Horsemen’s Association as well
as many TWHA members attended that first presentation to
express the desire that horse trailer parking be included in the
parking expansion plan. Many park neighbors turned out for
the meeting as well, opposing any plans that would result in
improved public access adjacent to their properties.
The unexpected turnout of equestrians at that 2010 meet-
ing caused the park planners to revise their proposal to in-
clude trailer parking. The equestrian-friendly revised proposal
was submitted to the Board for their review and ultimately,
their vote.
For the nine months following that initial planning meet-
ing, the participation of the horse community at additional
public comment meetings, in letter/e-mail campaigns, and
through an online petition kept equestrian interests along with
the desire for improved public access in front of the planners
and the park Board. At the same time a group formed by a few
Coming Soon: Horse Trailer
Parking in Wildcat Canyon Parkvocal neighbors – called ‘Friends of Wildcat Canyon’ – also
kept up their campaign for public exclusion, citing environ-
mental damage, safety concerns, historic precedent, unmet prior
land use commitments, and many other allegations designed
to derail the planners’ proposal.
At the July Park District Board meeting, the Alvarado/Wild-
cat parking proposal was again publicly scrutinized and then
put to a final vote. 17 speakers, both equestrians and neigh-
bors, made statements for and against the plan. Then each
board member had their chance to comment: it was gratifying
to hear each of them voice their support of horses in Wildcat
Canyon. Many Board members called this parking improve-
ment ‘just a first step’ toward realizing the long-term, multi-
layered plans to improve these parks. They reaffirmed the
commitment to continued restoration of the creek bed and even-
tual removal of a culvert bridge, but in the short-term, the use
of an existing paved area to improve parking for Alvarado pic-
nickers and equestrians was deemed sound. One board mem-
ber even said he felt “the horsemen have been patient long
enough.”
Now the plan is approved and implementation will soon be
scheduled, but the ‘Friends of Wildcat Canyon’ are still trying
to quash it. In the past the Friends have successfully stopped
Wildcat/Alvarado improvements by calling in the media and
crying environmental foul. This time around they have gotten
the ear of local media (Contra Costa Times and East Bay Ex-
press) and in the past few months one-sided stories denounc-
ing the plan and the Park District’s ‘stewardship’ have run. It
is vital that TWHA members actively and vocally support the
implementation of the approved plan: watch for and rebut ar-
ticles in the media, promote community access to this public
resource, and enlist the support of other groups that share our
interests. We’re almost there!
by Lisa McLaughlin
Q: What do you call a dozen bags of uprooted star thistle?
A: A good start!
Taking advantage of a recent rain, Rose Marie Hoffman
(standing, left) induced Bay Laurel riders (including a few not
pictured) to clear a section of roadside along Lomas Cantadas
of the horse-hostile prickly weed on Sunday, November 13.
By Diane Ollis
Flash Mob Hits Yellowstar
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 17
I’m sitting here at the computer. It’s
freakishly hot outside at 103 degrees.
Marty was willing to go out in the heat
and move the cows back to their normal
pen and I was happy he didn’t need help.
I’ll just sit here in the air conditioning and
type.
We got up early this morning to get
ahead of the heat so we could work the
horses on the cows. The sun was peek-
ing over the Sierras waaaay off in the east-
ern distance. It was a great big red or-
ange and the air was still and cool. We
pulled ”Buford”, our Guernsey steer, out
of our little remuda and took him over to
the big arena. We have to make an alley
of fence panels to do this. The horses get
worked just culling him out of the group.
Marty’s horse Blue works cows great.
He watches them and is interested. I think
he may make a great cow horse someday
and with his slow relaxed lope he could
even make a great western pleasure horse.
On the other hand my horse JB has all
this great Hancock blood in him but is
monumentally uninterested in cows.
Looking this way and that way but never
at the cow. He just wants to go back and
hang with Blue. Yet I keep gently encour-
aging him and finally he settles in and
follows the cow in a relaxed way. Good
for the day. Let’s go on to the next project.
This is putting insecticide ear tags on
the cows. Marty corners them, wedges
them in between two fence panels and
holds their heads. Then I take the great
big blue ear piercer and do the deed. It’s
got to go between the 2nd and 3rd sections
of cartilage. The cows don’t like this. Are
you surprised? I get one on the wrong
side of the ear. But, hey, it’s a cow not a
fashion statement. Out on the ranch you
just have to be effective. I have to say
the orange earring looks pretty cute. Yar
Har matey! I hope they work. Even
though the heat and the lack of humidity
decimates the flies Ma Nature makes them
so prolific we’re always doing battle.
It’s not so much different out here than
it is in the city. What am I saying? It’s
totally different out here. You can go to a
movie, you can go to dinner, you can go
to the store. It’s just a truck ride away.
But everything else is different.
What’s different are the unending
chores and repair. Then if you don’t have
some kind of system you are a prisoner
of your animals and you can’t go any-
where for very long. Kind of like having
children. City folks do have this issue.
I’m not denying that. It’s just that out
here with a boat load of critters it’s just
exponentially on a different level.
So what you do is find the local horse
barn and you make friends with the owner
and you take your horses over there if
you want to go out of town. You figure
out an automatic watering and feeding
By Renee Benoit
A Day In The Life:
She’s Gone Country
Continued on page 19
Page 18 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
system for your chickens and make sure
their pen is big enough to handle them
being cooped up for a few days. You can
still take the dog to the sitter but you need
to pile enough hay in there to last the
cows for the duration and make sure the
floats are working everywhere and then
and only then you drive off. Oh, yeah,
get the neighbors down the way to look
in on them from time to time to make sure
Buford didn’t put his foot through the
fence.
I can’t write this article without men-
tioning dust. I thought we moved to
Tracy but I actually think we may have
travelled some kind of time warp into the
Oklamona dust bowl. At least that’s how
it feels. Everywhere you look is that beau-
tiful sandy loam soil that makes the Great
Central Valley the salad bowl of the na-
tion.
But there’s a real downside to it. It’s
the endless supply of dust. You thought
you wiped off your counter but , oh no!
Well, you did. But it came right back!
Where did you come from? I know. It’s
the dust fairy that flew in last night and
gave you more while you were sleeping.
Just get used to it. Channel your inner
lover of grunginess.
I realized at some point that being a
member of OHA for nigh on to 25 years
really did prepare me for this life. I was
already familiar with electric cross fenc-
ing, pasture management and various
necessities like laying in a supply of hay
for the winter. Same thing for the plumb-
ing and fence repair. I don’t really miss
having neighbors on top of me. I like be-
ing able to be master of my own fate. At
least to a greater degree than I had be-
fore. You can almost get bored with be-
ing able to ride every day. It’s not a di-
lemma anymore. Laundry, grocery shop
or ride? You can do it all. Put in the laun-
dry and go saddle up the horses. Come
back in and have a big cold glass of ice
tea. After wards have an immediate shower
to rinse off the dust.
There’s the morning and you drive off
to work and you’ve just petted your horse
on the nose and you know he’s happy
because he has some buddies to hang
out with and 3 squares a day and 360 de-
grees of vistas to gaze at. Life is good.
He’ll be there tonight and ready when you
wipe off the city and throw on the saddle
and take little hack out by the canal in the
twilight. The alfalfa fields are alive with
thousands of yellow butterflies and the
sunset is magnificent and the peace
settles down like that good earth dust and
you’re happy.
Gone CountryContinued from page 17
Thanks to everyone who came out
August 27th to make riding in Tilden a
little better — Diane Ollis, Eric Schroeder,
Heather da Cunha, Kim Abbott, Lisa
Mclaughlin, Morris Older, Susan Palo, and
Gary Fitts . We whacked brush back along
upper and lower Vollmer Peak Trail, and
Kim and Morris tackled the poison oak.
Lisa and Morris improved the drainage
on the connector between Vollmer Peak
Trail and South Park Drive. All of these
trails were used the next week on the East
Bay Hills Trail Ride.
And thanks to Susan Palo for orga-
nizing it all!
Thanks again everyone. Maybe next
time we’ll have beer for the workers.
Thanks also to Tilden Park staff for
arranging to rehabilitate lower Vollmer
Peak Trail going uphill from Big Springs
Picnic Area.
Tracy photos courtesy of Renee Benoit
TWHA Trail Work Day on August 27th
November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 19
The TWHA Newsletter aims for bi-
monthly publication- Written and
photo Contributions gratefuly ac-
cepted--see email address above.
Please reprint anything herein, but do
give us credit.
2011 TWHA Board
President:
Gary Fitts 510-524-3729
Vice President:
Kirsten Whitsett 925-283-1997
Co-Recording Secretaries:
Lila Abdul-Rahim 925-284-9218
Ute Frey 510-204-0698
Treasurer:
Kim Abbott 510-655-4195
Membership Secretary:
Page Schorer 510-525-9675
Newsletter:
Morris Older 925-254-8943
Trail Work:
Susan Palo 510-548-2724
Historian:
Debby Young 925-254-1408
EBATC Representative:
Marilyn Terstegge 925-254-5430
Members At Large:
Alison Martin 510-559-9534
Jennifer Rader 925-689-0198
Eric Schroeder
Jane Binder 510-524-3300
Jenni Smith 925.386.5580
Becky Mertens 510-981-0780
Lisa McLauglin 510-843-6720
OHA members will recognize Brego,
shown here with Vaulter Eric Garcia earlier
this year, shortly before Brego joined a top
varuling team in Woodside. Photo courtesy
of Renee Benoit
Zoe
Whittall
with Pearl
Moon.
Photo
courtesy
of David
Whittall
TWHA Member Zoe Whittall's
‘new’ horse is SQR Pearl Moon, a pure-
bred grey Arabian Grey Mare born in
2003 out of KJ Patrinka (Pure Polish
daughter of *Karadjordje+++) by Moon
Seeqr. Pearl is living at Bay Laurel Ara-
bians in Orinda. Zoe rode Pearl on the
Bort Meadows and Lake Chabot sec-
tions of the East Bay Hills Ride in
Setember, and also competed in the Cow-
boy Camp NATRC ride near Cache Creek
a few weeks later, where she was the first
place horse in the CP division. David
also reports that his wife Corinne is riding
again. Together, Zoe and Corinne are
making sure that Pearl has a good train-
ing schedule each week and that she will
be ready for the 2012 endurance season.
TWHA member Renee Benoit
writes that she has found new homes
for her horses Brego (see picture) and
Dusty. who has been accepted on pro-
bation at Project RIDE., which she de-
scribes as a premier therapeutic riding
school that has it’s own barn and ranch,
near Elk Grove, within sight of the non-
functional Rancho Seco nuclear power
plant on rolling non-steep pasture. She
notes that the horses get out every day
for their bareback pad ride with handlers
on either side and a leader. They work
for a week then they go out to pasture
to be a horse for a week.
And earlier this year, former TWHA
TWHA Horse News
member Madeleine Kirsch wrote
that " I’d like to share this with you
and the people who know Rufus.
Many TWHA members knew about
his horrible accident when he was still
an endurance horse and might be
happy to learn that Rufus does very
well in his new career. He and I won
today the two first level dressage tests
we participated in (against big ole
warmbloods). at in Pleasanton at Yarra
Yarra Equestrian. Center."
Page 20 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011
address correction requested
Tilden-Wildcat
Horsemen's Association
www.twha.org50 La Encinal
Orinda CA 94563
TWHA 2012-3 MEMBERSHIP FORM
Name(s)_________________________ ____new or ____renewal
Address___________________________ Phone: ______________
City, State, Zip_______________ Do you have a trailer?________
Email_____________________________________
Check here if you would NOT like to receive TWHA emails_______
Names of equestrian members_____________________
Horse name(s)____________________________________________
Events or projects you may be able to help with ________________
2012 Dues Enclosed; $20 individual__ $25 family___$10 junior__
2012-3 Dues Enclosed; $35 individual__ $45 family___$15 junior_
Send form, and check to: Page Schorer, 625 Liberty, El Cerrito, CA 94530 ([email protected])
Monday, January 23- 6 p.m- TWHA Annual Membership Meeting with
Guest Speaker, Lindsay Graham, DVM, who rode the fastest recorded 100 miles in
US history in 2011. Join us at the at the Fern Cottage at Kennedy Grove Recre-
ation Area. Watch for reservation and ticket information coming soon!
Inside:
EB Hills Trails Benefit Report ......... page 1
At Tilden Park ................................ page 4
Dinner Time .................................... page 6
Drill Team ...................................... page 8
Our Amazing Volunteers ............... page 13
Our Generous Donors ................. page 14
EBATC Picnic ............................... page 15
Finders Keepers? ......................... page 15
Trailer Parking for Wildcat ........... page 16
Yellowstar Flash Mob .................. page 16
She's Gone Country ..................... page 17
TWHA Trail Work ........................ page 18
TWHA Horse news ...................... page 19