From the stunningly blue ocean that crashes into miles of beaches, to the vineyards and farmland, to the peak of the Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo is a beautiful county with much to offer for visitors and residents alike—including horses.
Sites to see in San Luis Obispo County
Located on the coast, mid-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo County has 80 miles of gorgeous coastline. Ride your horse on the famous Pismo Beach (“The Clam Capital of the World”) or visit Morro Bay with its 250 species of birds (including endangered Peregrine Falcons). For wine lovers, there are about 200 wineries to choose from, many of which offer tastings and tours year-round. Part of the movie “Sideways” was filmed right here in this scenic county. Horse lovers must not forget Cal Poly State University, home of the Kellogg Arabians and a large equestrian program.
Built in 1947 by William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan, Hearst Castle comprises 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. It is one of the largest of the historic house museums in the country, with five different tours to choose from—all led by highly trained and experienced tour guides. A must-visit.
Necessities for the Horse Lover
There are a variety of businesses that support the needs of horse lovers in SLO County, including gift, feed and tack stores, veterinarians and farriers. There are trainers for dressage, Vaquero, reining, cutting, hunt seat and western. There are breeders of Arabians, Welsh ponies, miniature horses, Warmbloods, Paints, Quarter Horses and more.
Horse Events in San Luis Obispo County
The Paso Robles Event Center at the Mid-State Fairgrounds holds horse shows throughout the season for cutting, team roping and reining, although there are many other events to check out as well, such as the annual Rick Machado Horse Show and Sale. The facility also hosts the Equine Experience, an annual three-day event in April featuring clinicians, a ranch horse competition, vendors, team roping and dancing.
You will find the old west in SLO County, with real working ranches and rodeos. The annual Parkfield Rodeo in May and the The Creston Classic in September both feature all of your favorite rodeo events from Mutton Bustin’ to Jackpot Team Roping and the requisite Rodeo Queen.
For the horse show crowd, you will find events for your tastes in SLO County as well, such as the Mother’s Day Circuit, put on by the San Luis Obispo County Quarter Horse Association. There are also clinics and shows for three-day eventing, dressage, and hunter-jumper at Twin Rivers Ranch.
Real Estate in San Luis Obispo County
Although San Luis Obispo County is well-known for its beaches and vineyards, there is plenty of room for livestock. There are miles of rolling pastureland, covered in grass and wild oats, making peaceful homes for many horses and cows. With only 265,000 residents (as of January, 2007: California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit), it is one of the least crowded counties in the state.
With a median home price of $506,000 as of March, 2007 (DataQuick), SLO County is certainly not the cheapest place to live in California. There are some beautiful, elaborate equestrian estates available for in excess of a million dollars, although property can be found for less.
There are horse communities scattered throughout the county. In Arroyo Grande, Ranchita Estates is just four miles from Lopez Lake. You can hike right from your property onto 23 miles of BLM land. High Mountain Road and Huasna have plenty of trails, farms and ranches. Nipomo Mesa is just a few minutes from the beach and is home to many training and show facilities. You’ll find the world-famous Varian Arabians in Corbett Canyon, along with many other horse properties.
Trail Riding in San Luis Obispo County
In addition to the trails available in the many equestrian communities in the county, riders will find cool and pleasant trails along the Salinas River and Lake Santa Margarita. “The Atascadero Horsemen's Club has a trail ride at least once a month and is a good way to learn the different local trails,” advises MeShawn, a horse enthusiast who lives in Templeton.
Montana de Oro is made up of 8,000 acres of beaches, plains, canyons and hills, with equestrian trails through much of it. The trails are patrolled by the Coast Mounted Assistance (CMA), who maintain and monitor the trails and answer questions for park visitors. Every year in October, the CMA hosts a Poker Ride and barbeque fundraiser in the horse camp at Montana de Oro to raise money for the Central Coast Natural History Museum and maintenance of the trails.
With such beautiful scenery and so many choices for riding, San Luis Obispo County is a wonderful place to visit or live with horses!
