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by Joy Halliburton |
Have you ever noticed the western wall mural in the clubhouse? Want to know the history? Art Prunier, local artist with a studio in downtown Vista was commissioned to paint a western mural for the owner of the Texas Melody Ranch Restaurant on South Santa Fe Avenue in Vista. This restaurant was solicited by local ranchers, horseback riders and VPR members. The artist asked Mark Hanna, then President of VPR, to rustle up some cowboys and cowgirls to meet at his plumbing shop to be models for Art’s painting. All the models were VPR club members including Mark Hanna, Bill Siburg, Tom and Pat Ramoss, among others. “The blond lady leaving the carriage is probably me,” says Pat Ramoss. When the restaurant closed in the early 1950’s, the owner offered the mural to the club, then located on Bobier Drive. When the club house moved many years later to Little Gopher Canyon, Pat Ramoss reconstructed the canvas and had it framed. This was no easy project since the cut canvas scene had to be tediously pieced back together. Thank you, Pat, for helping piece our history together.
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If you have other historical information about the club you would like to share with the club,
please email us. |
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Copyright© Vista Palomar Riders,
Inc. 2003-2008. All Rights Reserved
Site created & maintained by
www.SoCalEquine.com
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The Vista Palomar Riders Club is the oldest organized riding
club in California. Started in the mid-1940's in Vista, the club
incorporated in 1948 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to
horsemanship and operated from its base known as "Hannah
Field," our clubhouse was located at the corner of what is
now Bobbier and Santa Fe. The original group of horse lovers organized
and participated in all manner of fun, including gymkhana, parades,
trail rides, shows, etc. in the days when Vista was open ranch
land and its residents enjoyed a rural lifestyle, with the ability
to access most parts of the local area on horseback. The club
organized the Vista to Palomar Ride, an annual event that started
from downtown Vista and traveled up to Palomar mountain, camping
on the mountain and then returning - thus the name "Vista
Palomar Riders," which we still bear today. Old newspaper
clippings testify to an impressive group of riders on their annual
ritual, parading through downtown Vista on their way up the mountain.
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For 50 years, this four-day trek was a mainstay
of the club. It was a huge undertaking of organization that
included chuck wagon meals along the way for all riders and
support crew, with camping spots along the San Luis Rey river
and riding over a combination of private, public and Indian
owned land. Riders traveled great distances to participate
in the ride, and it became quite well known as an event anticipated
by riders of all ages. Trail boss on the annual Vista to Palomar
Ride was quite a responsibility, and to this day, tales of
riders and their mounts are told by those who enjoyed the
ride for decades.
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Member work day at facilty
March 2004
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But in the early 1990s, the ride fell victim to development,
loss of trails, and legal entanglements involved in obtaining
permission to cross what is now a large number of private
parcels on the way to Palomar Mountain.
Fortunately, the club has survived not only in spirit,
but physically at its beautiful facility on Little Gopher
Canyon Road, where the group relocated to in 1974 on the
Vista/Bonsall border. The club retains its Vista to Palomar
heritage as its main identity and still boasts a few members
who have been active and involved in horsemanship for over
50-plus years.
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Member work day at facilty
March 2004
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While members of more recent years never
got to experience the famous ride, they have brought new life
to the club in the form of passion for seeing our equestrian
lifestyle not only survive, but even prosper in these very
different times. These days, the club has turned its energy
to promoting and protecting equine activities from its base
on Little Gopher Canyon Road.
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Member work day at facilty
March 2004
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The 14-acre property has an impressive show facility,
a modern clubhouse, and direct trail access to San Luis Rey riverbed,
in addition to promoting off-site activities and rides for members.
Today's members are identical to those original founders in the
40s in one important way - we cherish our relationship with horses.
And today the club embraces all forms of riding - English, Western,
show, trail, horse camping, etc.
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The original club bylaws still stand and
clearly state the purpose of the club, which has not changed
over the years:
"To promote good
fellowship and recreation among horse loving people
of this community and encourage them to own, ride and
enjoy saddle horses..."
When you come to Vista Palomar Riders, not
only do you share in our rich and colorful Western heritage
of the past, you play an active part in preserving horsemanship
as an integral part of today's lifestyle.
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Our wonderful kitchen crew.
Stephanie, Kathy & Mary.
Thank you very much! |
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