Cuyamaca Equestrian Association

Starting in September, individuals and families will once again be able to camp with their horses, mules and ponies in the Cuyamaca mountains east of San Diego. For over 50 years, horse enthusiasts enjoyed shady campsites and quiet trails at the Los Caballos Family Horse Camp in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. But after the Cedar Fire in 2003 cultural resource protection issues shut down the camp. Now, with the anticipated opening of converted facilities at the Green Valley
campground, equestrians will have a place to camp in the park.

In 2003 the Cedar Fire devastated much of San Diego County in southern California. Many public facilities were closed due to damage or for resource protection. In the 7 years since the fire, the Cuyamaca Equestrian Association (CEA) has attempted to work with California State Parks to reopen the Los Caballos Family Horse Camp in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Failing that, the hope was to establish a new family camping experience comparable to Los Caballos.

In 2008, State Parks announced it was going to “clean up” Los Caballos Horse Camp, which had been left relatively undamaged by the fire. CEA discovered that the result of this “clean up” project would have been the complete dismantling of the equestrian camp.

CEA, after requesting and receiving input from the membership, along with donations, filed a lawsuit on October 30, 2008 in order to stop the State Park’s proposed “cleanup” project. Prevailing in the
lawsuit would have left Los Caballos in its current condition, but would not have allowed for the reopening of the camp for equestrian use CEA has kept the lawsuit open while negotiating in good faith with State Parks and then monitoring the process for the conversion of Green Valley
Falls Sweetwater Loop into a family equestrian camping area.

In July, 2010, CEA’s attorney, Cory Briggs, received the following from State Parks attorney, Carol A. Squire, “The conversion project for the new horse camp in Green Valley will be completed by the end of
next month, August 2010.” Accordingly CEA has filed for dismissal of the litigation.

CEA member groups and fellow equestrians are looking forward to the anticipated September 3rd opening of the Green Valley equestrian loop. Individuals, families and friends will once again enjoy camping and riding in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Development of a replacement camp for Los Caballos in the north end of the park remains to be accomplished.

Groups and individuals have donated generously to support the legal efforts by CEA. After paying all attorney fees and court costs, $1,500 remains in the CEA treasury. In accordance with CEA’s commitment to refund the balance of funds donated specifically for legal costs, we have been asking these donors to allow CEA to transfer the donor’s refund into a designated Green Valley Falls Equestrian Camp fund. A letter to those donors will be mailed shortly.

View Rancho Cuyamaca Equestrian Facilities in a larger map

Larger Map

CEA has joined GoodSearch for help in raising donations, the above link already has our charity ID embedded into the logo. However, if you go directly to their site please remember to enter Cuyamaca Equestrian Association into the “WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR?” field. Each search raises one penny for our cause, purchases made via the GoodShop portal raise a percentage of the sale. And yes, Horse.com is a participant but you must go through the GoodShop portal.

We are in the process of upgrading the CEA Web site, and cleaning up the formatting of some posts. All content should continue to be available. Please pardon our dust.

Meeting day and location
Since the first Thursday falls on New Years Day, CEA meeting will be on the second Thursday in January at Coco’s restaurant, 1324 E. Main Street El Cajon (near Main and 2nd/Jamacha). The meetings start at 7 p.m. Come at 6:30 and have dinner beforehand and visit. The next meeting will be January 8, 2009. No general meeting in December. Questions or directions: Linda Eskin 619 368-4333 (cell) or linda@lindaeskin.com.

Save Los Caballos
A legal petition was filed to prevent State Parks from proceeding to destroy the historic Los Caballos by skirting the CEQA process.

Oral histories, photos needed now - especially of day use area and restroom, the core of the historic camp. Video or written accounts of Los Caballos are urgently needed to document the historical significance of Los Caballos and the California Riding and Hiking Trail. If you know anyone who can help, please have them contact Peggy Martin peggy@oakzanitaranch.com 619-445-1289.

Monitor Los Caballos - State Parks has been known to act deceitfully in the past when they removed the wild horses from Anza Borrego on a weekend when Backcountry Horseman were away at their Rendezvous. Whenever you are in the park, please go by/ride by to look at Los Caballos. If you see any activity in the camp, please report immediately to Peggy or Bernie Martin 619-445-1289, Ernie Smith 619-445-8313, or Vickie Cottle 619-659-0193.

CEA Board election
Vickie Cottle, Linda Eskin, Peggy Martin, and Nola Michel were elected unanimously to the 2009 CEA Board. Officers will be selected by the board and installed at the January 8 meeting.

501.c.3 status
501.c.3 status is pending with more information requested by IRS. Board is providing requested documents. Donations will be tax deductible once 501.c.3 status is obtained.

Park News
Los Caballos Trail - Tied to the clean up Los Caballos project.
Granite Springs Water - Pump still not working. Water available at Dyar Springs.
Adopt a work party - Do you enjoy the trails of Cuyamaca? They desperately need your help. Take one day out of 365 to give to the park. Encourage your club membership to volunteer for a workparty date. This is a good time of year to work on the trails. Information on the CEA website www.cuyamacaequestrian.org

Trail Conditions
Some areas have trees down from recent winds. Plan your ride to allow time to backtrack if necessary.

Announcements
Disaster Preparedness for Horse Owners - The county reaffirmed that, once you leave a mandatory evacuation area, you will not be allowed back. It is suggested that each community work on a plan to assist each other.

National Forest Service is implementing plans which will severely limit parking for rigs and dispersed camping.

How to Support CEA
Join CEA, as an individual or club by going to “Join CEA” at www.cuyamacaequestrian.org
Come to our meetings!
Donate funds to further CEA’s work. Donations are tax deductible.
Mail checks to: CEA, PO Box 79 , Descanso , CA 91916 .
Your donations are much appreciated in the support of equestrian interests in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

The Los Caballos “cleanup” project is starting.  CEA has taken legal action to stop the project described in California State Parks PEF. The document is very large, but has some great photos from the 1950’s! The area has been in use by equestrians since the early 1940’s when a water line was brought in for equestrian use.

Los Caballos area 1949 - See the trout pond near Milk Ranch Road and Hwy 79

Los Caballos area 1949 - Pre Trout pond

Los Caballos area 1928 - Los Caballos area is located in the upper left portion of the picture

Cuyamaca Equestrian Association

Update for October 2008

 

Meeting day and location: The first Thursday of each month at Coco’s restaurant,1324 E. Main Street El Cajon (near Main and 2^nd/Jamacha). The meetings start at 7 p.m.. Come at 6:30 and have dinner beforehand and visit. The next meeting will be November 6, 2008. Questions or directions:  Linda Eskin  619 368-4333 (cell) or linda@lindaeskin.com.

 

Save Los Caballos: Oral histories, photos needed now

Video or written accounts of the early days of Los Caballos are urgently needed to document the historical significance of Los Caballos and the California Riding and Hiking Trail. If you know anyone who can help, please have them contact Cindy McKievick at mckww@cox.net 619-390-9553.

 

CEA Board positions – call for candidate’s statements

Please consider getting involved with CEA.  Four CEA board positions are open. Voting will take place at the November 6 meeting. Board positions start in January 2009. Officers are elected by the board. Candidate’s statements may be sent to Linda Eskin 619- 368-4333 (cell) or linda@lindaeskin.com by October 26. Look for candidate’s statements October 27.

 

Park News

• Los Caballos Trail –  Reviews continue….
• Equestrian Staging Areas
• Hual Cu Cuish -  Equestrian staging area just off Milk Ranch Rd near Cuyamaca Lake, Azalea and Middle Peak.  Reminder: pick up all manure and trash. Practice “Leave No Trace”.
• Merigan Staging Project –  CEA is giving input to the design concepts for an improve expanded staging area. Parking lot gravel was spread by an equestrian volunteer so that children and cars will no longer be swallowed up.
• Granite Springs Water –  Pump not working. Water available at Dyar Springs.
• Cuyamaca 75^th Anniversary celebration – October 11, 10:00 – 4:00, School Camp. Vendors, presentations, food. CEA will have a booth. www.cuyamaca.us
• Adopt a work party – Do you enjoy the trails of Cuyamaca? They desperately need you help. Take one day out of 365 to give to the park. Encourage your club membership to volunteer for a workparty date. Cool weather coming!  Information on the CEA website www.cuyamacaequestrian.org 

 

Fages Ride –  Great time!

44 folks of all ages from all over southern California enjoyed a beautiful weekend camping and riding in Cuyamaca. Many were here for the first time. Saddle maker, historian, and film maker Garry McClintock informed and entertained us with stories of Pedro Fages and the people and times of the Spanish colonization.

 

Announcements –

• Lakeside Frontier Riders Annual Poker Ride – Saturday, October 11. www.lakesidefrontierriders.com/events/poker-ride2008.shtml  to register.
• Vaquero Days – October 18 & 19 www.vaquerodays.org
• Disaster Preparedness for Horse Owners – October 26, 5:00-6:30, Descanso Town Hall, information and RSVP Horsesoftirnanog@yahoo.com
• Vallecitos Days – RTA, save the date, March 27-29, 2009

How to Support CEA

• Join CEA, as an individual or club by going to “Join CEA” at www.cuyamacaequestrian.org
• Come to our meetings

• Donate funds to further CEA’s work. Donations are tax deductible.                              Mail checks to: CEA, PO Box 79, Descanso, CA 91916.

Your donations are much appreciated in the support of equestrian interests in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. 

Below is a scanned and character recognized version of the privately funded nomination for the seasonal Kumeyaay village site known as Ah Ha Cuyamac. The document is an interesting read including a background into the Kumeyaay culture. Some of the pages of the nomination contained sensitive data and were removed by park officials. CEA encourages users to thoroughly read this document. There is language in the document that restricts recreational use in the area and potential additional areas in Cuyamaca State Park. CEA supported this nomination but vigorously opposed inaccuracies in the document and this restrictive land management language at all levels of the nomination review process. CEA attended the local review held at San Diego County offices and the California State Historic Preservation Office meeting held in Beverly Hills. The village site is located along both sides of the Stonewall Mine access road with Los Caballos Horse Camp located on the south east corner of the village.
Nomination

Artifacts

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for visiting.

I am doing some major work on the site this weekend. Pages may be incomplete, messy, or missing. New pages will appear from time to time. Don’t worry - it’s just me doing a lot behind the scenes. Feel free to browse, though.

Meanwhile, drop by our store:  www.cafepress.com/cuyamaca

Linda Eskin
CEA Secretary & Web Wrangler