Dark Horse Farms Accepting Quality Show Jumpers & Derby Hunters

Limited space available!

San Luis Obispo, CA - Dark Horse Farms is officially accepting quality show jumpers and derby hunters for the 2011 competition season. Established earlier this year Dark Horse Farms opens its doors this month offering individualized training programs for competitive equine athletes from young prospects to proven veterans. Professional rider and trainer Lisa Ciesniewski brings to the team over twenty-six years experience in the hunter jumper industry as a catch rider and competitor. Located in the heart of California's central coast on ten private acres in San Luis Obispo.

Dark Horse Farms provides comprehensive training programs based on each horse’s needs, strengths and abilities. The horses will travel to an average of one-two USEF 'A' rated competitions  a month. By maintaining a very limited number of equines, Dark Horse Farms provides superior care, attention and training for each horse. Dark Horse Farms is not the typical training barn in that they do not offer lessons or coaching for riders but instead all of the attention is focused on training and developing horses into successful champions.

Venues on Dark Horse Farms tentative competition schedule for 2011 include; HITS Thermal, Northern Winter Classic, Blenheim Equisports, Memorial Day Classic, Woodside, Del Mar National, Sonoma Horse Park, Pebble Beach, Menlo Charity Show, USHJA Final, HITS Culpeper, Hampton Classic, HITS Saugerties, Sacramento International and LA National.

Owners of eligible show horses should contact Dark Horse Farms at their earliest convenience as spaces are limited. Quality consignment horses are also welcome and will benefit from the teams extensive sales network and professional marketing program.

About Dark Horse Farms:

Dark Horse Farms established  June 2010 is an equine training stables specializing in the  development and sales of quality show jumpers and derby hunters from young prospects to proven veterans. Located in the heart of beautiful California's central coast on ten private acres in San Luis Obispo. For additional information, visit www.darkhorsefarms.com

Lisa Ciesniewski
Dark Horse Farms
805-595-1544
www.darkhorsefarms.com

Trail Closures in SLO County

Here's an update from Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers, a great group that joins with hikers and riders to keep our trails maintained:

Please be aware that SLO City Parks and Rec has CLOSED a number of trails in City Open Space to prevent further damage.

** Irish Hills **
King and Mariposa Trails
**  Cerro San Luis (Madonna Mtn) **
Lemon Grove Loops, Upper and Lower Trails
** Johnson Ranch **All trails
PLEASE DO NOT USE CLOSED TRAILS.
All trails in San Luis Obispo have been hammered in the rain!  The ground is scoured and saturated.  Please give wet trails time to dry out before going for a hike, bike, or gallop.  Staying off wet trails until they have time to dry out for a couple of days will prevent additional damage from occurring.

We will update all trail conditions on our SLO Trail Updates and Information site.  You can sign up on that site for email updates on trail conditions.

http://groups.google.com/group/cccmb-trail-info-and-updates
Thank you for understanding!
CCCMB and the trails we know and love 

Varian Ranch Shootings Update

We've heard that SLO County Crime Stoppers is collecting reward money in order to help find the shooter(s).

Please help if you can. We don't want this to happen again. Here's an article published on theHorse.com yesterday with a link to Crime Stoppers.

"Police in San Luis Obispo County are hoping the public can help them identify those responsible for shooting two Arabian horses at the Varian Arabians horse ranch in Arroyo Grande, Calif., last Wednesday night.

Ranch staff discovered the two wounded mares in their pasture early Thursday. Both animals sustained gunshot wounds, said San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department Spokesman Rob Bryn. One mare was euthanized at the scene. The other is undergoing treatment at a nearby equine medical center.

The shootings appear to be deliberate, Bryn said. He declined to disclose further details.

If caught, those responsible could face felony animal cruelty charges and penalties including significant jail time.

Anyone with information about the incident should visit the San Luis Obispo County CrimeStoppers Web site or call CrimeStopers at 805/549-STOP (7867). All tips are confidential."

Winners Announced

Thank you to everyone who filled out the SLOHorseNews survey. The winners of the $25.00 gift certificates were Wendy from Santa Margarita at the Atascadero Feed Seminar and Robert from Paso Robles at the Whitehorse used tack sale. The survey can be found online here. A big thank you to Kevin at Atascadero Feed and Lisa at Whitehorse for their continued support of the local equestrian community.

Happy Holidays!

From the News Desk of the soon to be published SLOHorseNews.net. We're looking forward to providing the San Luis Obispo County horse community with current and relevant content, a directory of horse related businesses and organizations, and an events calendar. Bear with us as we learn how to put this all together. Constructive criticism is always welcome.