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The Equestrian Center of Walnut Creek was built in 1970 due to the foresight and
efforts of a group of local equestrians. According to an article written by Jim
Cryderman of the California State Horsemen’s Association (CSHA) it happened like
this… A group of horsemen and women at a riding club dinner were discussing
the care and feeding of horses. One of the group, James Naviaux, DVM, thought it
might be a good idea to conduct a course in horse husbandry for interested
people in the Walnut Creek area. So he approached the CSHA, the Walnut Creek
Park and Recreation Department, and the local Kiwanis Club proposing a joint
effort. All parties liked the idea, but they needed a location.
The course began with a 10-week class, two and a half hours each week, and an
expectation of perhaps 100 juniors who might attend. After two weeks of
registration, the course had to be moved to larger quarters, until the largest
high school auditorium in the area was needed. Enrollment for the first class
numbered 693 junior riders from 56 cities, at $4 per person. By 1970 more than
2,000 people had taken the class, which was later changed to one night a week so
that adults could also attend.
The popularity of the class awakened residents to the need for more
facilities for local equestrians. According to an article in the Valley Horse
Review, Sept. 1968, an organizational meeting was held on June 17, 1968, with
representatives from local horsemen’s associations in the central Contra Costa
area. They met to discuss the feasibility of developing and establishing an
equestrian arena at the Heather Farms Park site. A 1965 bond issue of $1.5
million for parks and recreation use had earmarked $1.1 million for development
of a 65-acre park at Heather Farms.
Three years of planning by the parks and recreation staff, with input from
the newly formed Equestrian Center of Walnut Creek, culminated in grading during
1970 and fundraising efforts, which enabled the Equestrian Center to come into
being.
In 1969 there were nine clubs and 130 individual and family members in the
ECWC. Following grading, 200 posts were provided by Santa Fe Railway, which were
sold at $25 each, and work parties were held to put in the posts, plant trees
and other landscaping, build an announcer’s booth, and gradually the arena began
to take shape.
Early donors were the Diablo Valley Lions Club, Los Caballeros Saddle Club,
Dr. James Naviaux, Northern California Shetland Pony Club and Barbara Routson’s
4-H group.
At the first dinner, held in 1970, Tom Coll and James Moriarty, county
supervisors, and Walnut Creek Mayor Ben Clark and Senator John Nejedly spoke. T.
W. "Cap" Carrithers was the first President of the fledgling organization. |
