Horse Will Be Prize for Raffle’s Winner
Even if you don’t own a horse, there still may be a reason to visit Birchwood Saddlery: the chance to win a horse. The Costa Mesa tack shop is selling tickets at $2 each for a horse raffle to be held at 4 p.m. today. With a $100 purchase of shop goods come 10 free raffle tickets.
The raffle prize is an 8-year-old chestnut mare named First Banner, who belongs to Carolyn Osier, one of the tack shop owners. The 15.2-hand thoroughbred, valued at $3,500, has been shown successfully at local shows in low hunter and English pleasure classes.
Osier describes Banner as a “super mover and excellent dressage prospect” as well as a quiet trail horse with a good temperament. Along with the mare, the raffle winner will receive eight free riding lessons or training sessions for the horse with hunter-jumper trainer Dorothy Bayliss of San Juan Capistrano.
The winner must be present today at the drawing in the store to claim the prize.
All proceeds from the raffle will go to the Arthritis Foundation of Orange County, which sponsored an annual grand prix jumping event Oct. 16 at the Oaks in San Juan Capistrano.
Birchwood Saddlery is located at the Petplex center at 2230 Fairview Road. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, closed Sundays. For information, call (714) 646-1163.
Polo problems: The Winston Polo Club, which for 5 years has been based in Anaheim, held its last tournament 2 weeks ago. The club is having to move from its present leased facilities on the Anaco Ranch, which has decided to discontinue polo on the premises.
Vanessa Joe, a longtime Winston member, says about two dozen polo players are looking for stalls for their horses. They are facing a Nov. 1 deadline to move from the Anaheim facility.
“We all hope to stay together and continue the club,” she says. “It’s the last active polo club in Orange County. If we die out, there goes polo in the county.”
Anyone with facilities available for polo may call Joe at (714) 598-5195.
Trakehner travels: Kim and Gary Tulypan have moved their Classic Crest Performance Farms--and their renowned Trakehner stallion, Beaute--from San Juan Capistrano to Corona.
Their new 3-acre breeding facility has an enclosed barn, foaling pens, pipe stalls, pastures, and jumping and dressage arenas.
“Beaute is really happy at his new home,” Kim Tulypan says. “The home-bred environment really brings out the best in some horses.”
Visitors are invited to the farm, which is at 19865 Bedford Canyon Road, right off the Interstate 15. For information, call (714) 279-8402.