GREATER LOS ANGELES PAINT HORSE CLUB TAKING THE REINS! Written by Sue Fleczok
The Greater Los Angeles Paint Horse Club is inviting all horse owners, regardless of what breed of horse they own and ride to join the club, as we have something for all equestrians. We have yearend awards programs for both colored and non-colored horses regardless of their breed. All riders and owners need to join up, so we can all work together to keep and maintain open space and trails for all to enjoy and keep equestrian communities safe from re-zoning and disappearing. 22
EQUINE AND CANINE NEWS
In June of 1984, the Greater Los Angeles Paint Horse Club was founded by a group of paint horse owners in Simi Valley, California. They were from all over Ventura County and the west end of the San Fernando valley, hence the name, Greater Los Angeles Paint Horse Club. Our logo was created by member and local artist Toni Haigh. She shows the two predominate coat patterns of paint horses, the Overo and the Tobiano. She also incorporated the tall buildings of Los Angeles and the palm trees of Ventura, with the ocean and the mountains of the area reflected as well. Toni grew up riding horses and herding cattle with family and friends in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. G.L.A.P.H.C. became one of the thirteen other paint horse clubs in California. In September of 1984, we held our first sanctioned American Paint Horse Association show at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. This year G.L.A.P.H.C. will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Over the years we have held APHA shows, open shows, trail rides to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, we’ve assisted in evacuations and housing displaced
horses from local wildfires as well as collecting donations for fire victims, we’ve sponsored diaper and baby care item drives for “Babies in Need”. Every year we give a scholarship to a graduating equestrian high school senior, regardless of what type of career path they choose to pursue. In 1986 members of G.L.A.P.H.C. helped the Simi Valley Parks and Recreation Department draw up plans for an
equestrian center on 8.55 acres of land for all equestrian to use for daily riding and holding horse shows. In late 2022, G.L.A.P.H.C. presented a petition to the Simi Valley Parks and Recreation board to rehabilitate the Arroyo Simi Equestrian Center, so it can continue to serve the community. The club members have volunteered to help run the facility and help with its rehabilitation, so all equestrians can have a safe and pleasant place to hold events. All clubs and