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EARLY HISTORY of LBHAThe Loomis Basin Horsemen's Association was formed in 1984 after developers wanted to cut off trials leading to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. The Loomis Basin has access to some of the best riding and hiking trails in the area which is located in South Placer County, California. Petitions were sent out and over 400 signatures were returned requesting that the trails not be blocked. A meeting was held at which over 200 interested horsemen and hikers attended. It was decided that an organized group was required to keep trails open. The second concern of the group was to find a location to build an arena where riders, young and old could safely work their horses. In the end it was decided that the main purpose of LBHA was to work together with federal, state, and local agencies to assist with the maintenance of local trails, protect existing trails and to promote the establishment of new trails, maintain and manage the LBH Arena and protect the rural lifestyle. LBHA is now a 501.3C non-profit organization. The ARENA TAKES SHAPEThe early years found the
group organizing and getting its non-profit status. In addition,
Placer County Parks was in the process of building a new
Community Park in Loomis. The Horsemen attended meetings and
gathered support for having an arena at the Park. The County
officials stated that one could be build but it would not be able
to fund the arena. All funds were to be from donations. The
County did level the site and LBHA went forward to gather funds
to build the Arena. Bids were sent out and after the cost was
decided upon posts and panels were sold to raise money. In
October of 1984, the clubs first horseshow was held at the arena
site with panels being donated for use by Sierra College and
Doupnik Mfg of Loomis. Over $1500 was raised at the first 1 day
show. LBHA has held a two day benefit Horseshow every year since
then and each year the show gets bigger and bigger. By late 1985, the arena was build, with the help of many volunteers doing the post hole digging and welding. An announcers booth was built and then bleachers added. Sand and sprinklers were then added. Shows and clinics as well as other fund raisers were held throughout the years earning money for the maintenance of the facility. The Arena is 220' by 125' and is made of 6 rail panels welded to 4" steel posts. Even a buffalo could not get out. The arena has seen rodeos, horse shows, team pennings and any other horse event you can think of. Many local horse groups as well as 4-H groups use the arena through out the year. Individuals use the arena daily when events are not being held. Use of the Arena is free to the public for individual use. Group use required proof of insurance and a small use and clean up fee. Trainers may utilize the arena by permit for lessons or clinics with proof of insurance. 1996 is the year that the group looked into covering the arena for even more usage. The group stated raising funds with a Raffle at the Fall 1995 Horseshow where breedings to an Arabian and Quarter Horse stallion were offered as well as other horsy and non-horsy items. This project was dropped as the cost of a cover at this time is very prohibitive. An update on Arena goings on now find lots of new and exciting things happening at the arena. A new Tuff Shed Office has been erected. It has trailer underneath it so it can be moved to a safe place in the park when not in use. The building is 10' x 12' and has two drop down openings with a shelf on each for entry taking. Storage Cabinets and desk space have been added. There are plenty of power outlets. There is also a new Porta-potty located next to the Arena. No more running to the other end of the park. A cover for the bleachers has been approved and installed. In the past a 40 foot shade cloth had to be put on top of the bleachers to protect spectators from the sun. Now there is shelter from the sun and rain. The Warm Up arena has been expanded and redone
with metal panels. Additional panels have been purchased so that groups
putting on cattle events or have the need for extra panels. TRAILSBACKGROUNDThe Multiuse trials that are proposed or requested by LBHA are to meander along side of roadways and do not go through private property. All trails are part of a system that either go to the Folsom Lake Recreational Area Trails or make loops and head for the Arena at the Park. LBHA thinks of these multiuse trails as the "sidewalks" of the rural area, just like the concrete sidewalks in the urban areas. LOS LOGOS TRAILOne of the main reasons for the formation of the Loomis Basin Horsemen's Association was to prevent the closure or blockage of trails used to get to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. In early 1985, the Los Logos development was in the planning stage. Over the years, horsemen and hikers had used the dirt road (Boulder Road) to access the lake trails from Auburn-Folsom Rd. in Loomis. The development would abandon the road and access would be denied. After discussion with County officials and the Developer, the Developer deeded a 200' strip through the property with an easement for a multiuse trail. This easement was given to California State Parks. The Los Logos Trail was cleared and the trail became a popular one with walker, hikers and horsemen. The Development was then sold and the new owners started blocking off the road crossings through the development and threatening trail users. Placer County sent notices that the trail was to be left open. Los Logos then filed suit, wanting to shut down the Trail. The final outcome of the suit was that Los Logos could gate the entrance to the trail but would have to open and close the gate during park hours. If they do not comply, the gate will revert back to State Parks control and Los Logos will responsible for the cost to the State . Hopefully, things will quiet down and the trail will be in full use again. The spring time is a beautiful time to walk or ride the trail. Its location is about 1/2 north of the Los Logos entrance on the left hand side of the road. There is a small pull out that can handle 2 or 3 cars. LOMIDA TRIALClos Du Lac was another development that was approved in the Loomis area just off of Auburn-Folsom Road on Lomida Lane. This development is a high end development of small lots in a vastly rural area. Lomida was a dirt road and the residence along it really wanted it to stay that way since horsemen from the area had used it to reach the Lake trails. With the coming of Clos Du Lac, Lomida was paved, but part of the conditions was to provide a trail along side the 32' wide paved road. LBHA worked with the developer and the County to get a trail that would hold up to all types of weather. Local decomposed granite was selected and packed in. After several years there is little rutting or washouts on the trail. The trail along Lomida was one of the first that the Loomis Basin Horsemen developed and it was a learning experience. The Trail is just off the road side and if the road becomes very busy it could become a problem unless traffic speeds are kept to a minimum. Clos Du Lac will also be building another trail along the other side of the Property on Horseshoe Bar Road that will meander through the trees along the road side. STERLING POINTE Through big efforts from LBHA a staging area was secured when the Sterling Pointe Development was created. The Development was to have had several horse lots, but that was taken away when the development was sold and CC & R's were put in that prohibited livestock of any type. LBHA worked on this issue for several years and now such a situation would not occur. In new developments if the development is zoned to have livestock and they state that livestock will be permitted in order to get the development passed then the developer can not come back let the CC & R's prohibit livestock. The Staging area which had access to State Parks was also to have had an arena, but that was also eliminated in the plans. Placer County Parks is in charge of Sterling Pointe Staging area with LBHA members volunteering time to unlock and lock up gates and do clean up maintenance. The volunteers have also put in water for both horses and dogs, great kiosks with much information on the area, trail markers and other amenities for hikers and riders to enjoy. Sterling Pointe Staging area is a great addition to the few areas where horses can stage in this area. OTHER TRAILSOther trails that LBHA has had influence in developing include a trail along Linda Creek in Tree Lake Village, Roseville, its connection to the Granite Bay Hills Trail and the Baldwin Lake Trail from Barton Road to Auburn Folsom Road that connects to the Lake Trails. These trails when completed will connect Sacramento County at Orangevale to the Lake Trails. The Baldwin Lake Trail was one of the first trails LBHA became involved with. This trail connected the Folsom Lake State Park (at Beals Point) at the Lake to Barton Road and then to the Stone Corral in Sacramento County. Work to get this trail began about 1984 and the trail is now open and ready for use.. Along Barton Road are several other trails, Graystone development and Granite Bay Country Club. The Loomis Basin Horsemen's Association has put together a trail map that includes trails that are in local General or Community plans, Trials that are in existence and Trails that are proposed. This map is used by developers, Real Estate Agents and County Officials alike to spot where trails are or will be developed. One day all the small trails that are going in will connect and we will have a great system to get cars off the roads and folks on their horses, kids on their bikes or walkers out and going. This map is undergoing changes. Trails are being added that are now complete, and a new list of trails that are being proposed will be added. These changes are being prepared so our map may be sent to Placer County to be included in the General Plan updates for the Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle and Granite Bay areas. LBHA has put up a new website dedicated just to local trails. It can be found at www.garlic.com/~lbha/TrailWelcome.html COUNTY DOINGSThe Loomis Basin Horsemen's Association worked for over a year on the Zoning Ordinance that involved the keeping and raising of Livestock. Changes that were made in past years were becoming very restrictive. LBHA was just part of a committee made up of a group representing all types of animal including, sheep, dogs, horses, cattle, llamas, birds, reptiles and cats. The committee also included county staff from Animal Control, Enforcement Department, Environmental Health as well as the Planning Department. After many months of meetings a proposal was submitted to the Planning Commission and then to the Board of Supervisors where it was finally passed. The final outcome was that most areas in this rural county were permitted to have livestock and animals. Control of raising and keeping of livestock is to be by a complaint system and control of numbers of livestock was connected to acreage size and zoning type. This will permit 4-H members on small 1 acre lots to have one or two sheep for a project. When hearing come up concerning projects in the South Placer Area and it is felt that the project will not fit the rural lifestyle of the area, members of LBHA are gathered to attend Public Hearings. Members and County Liaison Committee people attend Municipal Area Committee (MAC) meetings, Planning Commission meetings as well as Board of Supervisors hearings. Getting the word out to members when there is an important issue is a major goal of LBHA. By getting members and other horsemen to meetings, County Officials know of our presence. LBHA County Liaison members worked hard and long with developers of Clos Du Lac and the County when Clos Du Lac was being planned back in the early days of LBHA. Of greatest importance at that time was to have a trail down the side of Lomida Lane heading for the Lake. Lomida at the time was a dirt road and many riders used it to get to the lake. Clos Du Lac brought pavement to Lomida making it in to a extra wide asphalt speedway. Having a trail beside the road became a safety issue. The Lomida Trail is a well used trail today. One good example of getting
horsemen involved was the Sterling Pointe Development at the end
of Lomida Lane in Loomis. At its inception the development was to
have had no Livestock lots. The area where the development was
being built was zoned Rural Agriculture and most of the people
around the area had large acreage with livestock and all types.
When the smoke cleared, livestock was cleared for a portion of
the lots. In addition a staging area was developed and trails
were kept open for riders heading for the Lake trails. Dozens of
Horsemen attended and spoke up at the hearings concerning this
development. Again, the horsemen's word was heard. Sterling Pointe has a
wonderful Staging area, many of its amenities have been built by members and
volunteers. HELPING HORSEMEN HELP THEMSELVES Local horsemen have come to the Loomis Basin Horsemen over the years to get information or seek help about a horse related problem. It is the policy of LBHA to help all horsemen by directing them by providing information or directing the horsemen to the proper county office. Hidden Lakes Estates is involved with a problem that is being worked on. In the end it appears that both the homeowners as well as LBHA will get good information that can be used by local horsemen in the future. LBHA has also been approached concerning Trail Easements that have been blocked as well as good neighbor problems when horsemen did not have enough acreage to maintain the number of horses they had in a satisfactory way. With tips from LBHA and communications with the neighbors all worked out for the families. Changes in their management practices made all the difference in both cases. TRAYLOR RANCH NATURE RESERVE TRAYLOR RANCH NATURE RESERVE MEMBERSHIP LBHA membership has grown each year, and as of June 2011 has 17 business members, 34 family membership and 89 individual memberships. This, which relates to over 500 individuals. South Placer County has about 10,000 horses using hay sales as an indicator. |