As I reflect on my tenure as President of the San Mateo County Horsemen’s Association for 2005 & 2006, I must tell you that I am proud of all of the endeavors that this Association has accomplished.

During the past two years, this Association and its Membership played an integral part in the Huddart/Wunderlich Master Plan Draft. We attended numerous public and government meetings, we walked with some of the committee members to physically show them our safety concerns on the trails and we conducted a successful letter writing campaign.

Finally, on September 12, 2006, the Master Plan Draft was presented to the Board of Supervisors by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Board agreed with the concerns of the Equestrian/Hiking Communities. They voted unanimously to adopt the Master Plan as presented which would also mean that no mountain bikes be allowed on the trails, that horses can still continue to cross the West Union Creek and that there is continued access to Huddart through the Crystal Spring and Flood Trail.

Additionally, I feel that it is important that all of the Equestrian Groups work hard with the Blue Ribbon Committee to find a safe route from the Valley to Skyline for the bicycle community thereby protecting our existing Equestrian/Hiking trails for years to come.

On Thursday, February 17^th, 2005 the Junior Committee, consisting of Terri Pacheco, Melanie Likins, Cindy Machado, Janice Olson, Nancy Kouchekey and Kathie Goddard had their first meeting with the Junior Members. Together, they were able to bring back to life this program that was originally started on May 28^th, 1947; 59 years ago. Some of the 2005/2006 events that the Juniors participated in were the Woodside May Day Parade, 4^th of July Parade in Half Moon Bay, a Team Penning Clinic, two Gymkhana events, Overnight Trail Ride and Playday, they established the “Pony UP, Kids to Kids” program and they decorated horseshoes and presented them to patients who participated in the NCEFT Playday.

I must tell you that I am truly proud of our Juniors and their many accomplishments. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege and honor to get to know quite a few of them personally and they are all awesome individuals. We, as an Association, need to really continue to support this group; remember they are our future. Please consider that even if you have no children or your children are grown up, there are many children that you can become a mentor to and in doing so you may change that child’s life forever in a positive way.

In 2005, the SMCHA Board of Directors decided that we once again needed to make the Clarkia Trail Adoption a top priority. SMCHA scheduled the first clean-up day on April 30^th, 2005, and since then our members have participated in numerous clean-up days. With a new enthusiasm, the Members who participated took on the duties of weeding and pruning the trail, repairing the culverts and repairing and re-rocking areas on the trails. The last clean-up day was held on September 9^th of this year and we had the greatest Membership turnout in our history with 24 members present; thank you to everyone who has participated in these events.

The Western Riding Clinic continues to be a great success and this year was the 36^th year for this event that is cosponsored with the Mounted Patrol. I want to personally thank Board Member Karen Shawback and the following Instructors Leah Grey, Jason & Joanne Attard, Joan McLaren and Noel Moody for making this such a wonderful event. I would also like to thank the Mounted Patrol for allowing this Clinic to continue at their facility and especially Dave Burlingame for all the arena work that he does hours before each class.

This year the 36^th Annual Western Schooling School & Playday and the English Schooling Show continued to be a great success. These shows are always well attended by our Membership and fun for all. On Sunday, August 20, 2006, we held the 58^th Annual Nor-Cal Open English/Western Show. Last year, due to the continued growth and popularity of this show the SMCHA Board made the discussion to move this venue to the Horse Park at Woodside. Through the use of the Horse Park this event now has the room to accommodate the increased number of entries. This show is now being recognized as quite a prestigious equestrian event; we had over 124 horses and individuals participating at this show.

I want to thank both Kathie Goddard and Noel Moody who are the chairs for the Horse Show Committee and all who have volunteered and lend their hand to this Association. I want to thank Paul Williams, Bill Ashton, Karen Shawback, Adeline Forrest, Larry Pelzner, Sandy Lees, Gretchen King, Elizabeth Sullivan, Cheryl Basin , Dan Johndrow, Ann Farris, Amnon Levy and Gary McGrath; if I have left someone out, please except my apologies.

The past two years at the Jack Brook Horse Camp have been truly phenomenal. I am so glad that SMCHA’s time at the Horse Camp remains a family event. For those of you, who haven’t attended this event, please consider doing so next year. The food is great, the rides are beautiful and the time shared with everyone around the campfire is outstanding. Last year, we added Friday Night at the Movies whereby we play old black and white westerns under the stars. This year, with the donation to SMCHA of a Pop Corn Machine from Board Member, Libby Kurtz, we had freshly made popcorn to add to the ambiance of the movies; and what a success that was. I want to thank, some of the individuals that made this event happen, Cheryl Basin , Sue Sheehan, Gene Ericksen, Ann Farris, Adeline Forrest, JJ Raposo, Nancy Kouchekey and Don Elvander.

SMCHA Members also participated in some great General Meetings. We had lectures on first aid for horses, equine diagnostics and therapy, financial planning for equestrian medical/surgical emergencies, equine anesthesia, and a West Nile Virus updates given by Dr. Russ Peterson, and his associates  at STAR Equine Medical Center. Dr. Larry Wohlford gave a lecture on Tendon and Ligament Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options which was held at the Round Table Pizza Parlor. Other General meetings included “Friday Nite at the Races” at the Bay Meadows Racecourse!  This year we sold seventy tickets to the event; most of those who attended were SMCHA members (seniors and juniors), but many of their family and friends came too.  We had lecture on “The Horse in Art” given by Jan Newstrom Thompson, PhD who teaches an art history course at San Jose State University . We had a private roping lesson at Rancho Viejo and it was taught by Ed Cohn; who runs a very popular local roping school at his ranch. We also had our Happy Holiday Barn Party that was hosted at the home of Carleen & Stuart Whittelsey. This was a great event and Santa came too.

Finally, as I think about the experiences I have been apart of, I want to acknowledge with great admiration, the SMCHA leaders who have preceded me. While I appreciate what they accomplished with limited resources, I remain impressed by their continued determination and dedication to the advancement of this Association. Their efforts have created the environment for the many changes the Association is currently experiencing.

I also would like to thank the 2006 SMCHA Board of Directors that I have worked with as President. They have continued to support me during my time as President and they are Cheryl Basin (2^nd Vice President/Ride Chair), Maria Fonseca (Secretary), Gretchen King (Assistant Secretary), Michelle Goodspeed (Treasurer), Stan Ramirez (Sergeant of Arms), Adeline Forrest (Historian/Fair Chair), Bill Aston, Gene Ericksen, Ann Farris (Registrar/Membership Chair), Brooke Fox (Trails Chair), Sharon Gloskowski, Kathie Goddard (Senior Color Guard Captain/Horse Shows Chair), Diane Hawks, Dan Johndrow, Nancy Kouchekey, Libby Kurtz (Advertising Chair), Sandy Lees, Amnon Levy, Melanie Likins, Cindy Machado (Jr. Color Guard Chair), Noel Moody (Horse Shows Co-chair), Janice Olson (Junior Program Chair), Terri Pacheco, Larry Pelzner, Tanya Rebarchik (Magazine Chair), Karen Shawback (Western Riding Clinic Chair), Sue Sheehan (Asst. Fair Chair), Barbara Stogner and Elizabeth Sullivan; their participation in the meeting's and related planning activities, have helped this Association to achieve new potential.

Lastly, I want to thank my wife Sarah (1^st Vice President/Gen. Meetings); without you, I could not have done this for the past two years. You are the rock behind everything I do and have accomplished, without you; my accomplishments in life would be minimal. This Association has benefited from all that you have done both in front and behind the scenes at meetings, lectures, the articles you have written, the photos you have taken and posted on the SMCHA website, the event planning and the willingness to help out at each and every event. I love you, I owe you, but most of all thank you for being who you are.

The San Mateo County Horsemen’s Association is alive and well and with the members like you, along with your efforts, SMCHA is well positioned to advance the discipline and knowledge of equestrian activities and its heritage well into the future.

Thank you for allowing me to be your President for the past few years; it is an experience that I will always treasure and hold close to my heart.

Hope all is well,
Al Filice

Happy Trails
Al Filice
President SMCHA