Desert Horses

Welcome to my horse blog, Desert Horses. We live in the desert southwest, near Palm Springs, CA, but board our horses up in our local mountains where it is cooler in the summer. I have 4 horses, all rescues. Here is the ranch up the mountains where the horses stay.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Santa Anita now



































































It was quite a shock to me to find out I could no longer have access to the backside barns at Santa Anita after my youth. Since my great-uncle had been a trainer, I'd always been able to go to see his horses (along with an adult). But, by 2005, access to the barns was denied for "non-horse personnel". I did make a few friends on a couple of forums and one 18 year old girl WAS able to pretty much come and go, but I was always stopped and questioned and denied access. Hmmmm.... So, I was THRILLED when one time another gal, who was a horse owner, invited me to meet her at Santa Anita at 4:30 one morning to watch the morning workouts and then go visit her horse back in the barn area.

You can also access the barns through the Seabiscuit tour, which I took twice, once with my husband and another time with another friend.

Some thoroughbreds enjoy the company of other animals. I remember my great-uncle used to have a goat or two to accompany his horses. This horse's buddy was a mini-horse! Aren't they cute? A companion animal will frequently help to calm the thoroughbred. I was also amazed by the number of chickens still on the backside! They were everywhere! I also saw one of the "pony horses". He seemed quite content.

The barns, themselves, however, as you can see, are VERY OLD! These were built, I believe, in the 1930's and the electrical wiring situation today is horrible. Magna Entertainment should put some money into the barn area before a major disaster occurs.

4 comments:

Norma said...

Always enjoy great horse photos. Thanks.

arlene said...

The mini-horse is so cute! He could walk under that rope. Does he walk around or does he just stay with that big horse?

Cheryl Ann said...

I think they had a small gate up and they just took it off for the picture, but I also remember he pretty much stayed with his friend. Isn't he a cutie?

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Awww, that mini was adorable. So short next to that T-bred. wow!

I was expecting something fancier, with those stables and grounds. They really do need to update and add a coat of fresh paint or something.

But how fun for you to tour around that day :)

~Lisa