Connelly stands in front of the stables, a fixture on the island for nearly six decades. “I haven’t driven a car for over 16 years, that’s probably what scares me the most,” he said. “If I have to leave the island, I’d have to go back to the real world.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Horse wrangler Michelle Savage, 26, who has worked at the stables for more than four years, plays with her dog, Puca, while she walks a horse to get saddled up. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Catalina Stables, with its rustic charm, was established when the city of Avalon was much smaller. About 1,500 residents roughly a third of the citys population signed petitions in protest of the forced closure. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Big Mack, left, and Tigger look for more carrots from Louie Maggiotto and his son, Sylvan, 2, of Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Connelly, strolling out of the barn with Bruno, said, “What theyre doing to us and our horses is downright cruel.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
