The video has more info than just the text so make sure you watch it. What a lose-lose situation. I can’t believe the city of San Jose has to choose between owls and cats.

As a kid, we’re talking pony rides at events, trail riding on family vacations, the Saddle Club, and My Little Pony. Forget Barbie Dolls and Cabbage Patch Kids, give me a horse plushie any day. As an adult, I am embarrassed to admit that I chose Wells Fargo as my bank because they have horses in their ads (and a very cute horse plushie). Basically, I am as horse crazy as an urban/suburban gal can get.

Now that I’m older (and more importantly, have my own source of discretionary income to spend) I try as often as I can to go riding short of buying my own horse (not THAT much discretionary income just yet).

So to celebrate this wonderful obsession of mine, I thought I’d do a round-up of bay area horseback riding locales:

Garrod Farms Stables: [Saratoga] This is a nice big stable. Very fine and right next to a vineyard. They offer trail riding up the mountains where you can see spectacular views–even a bit of San Francisco on a clear day. They offer western and english style for $30-$35 per group lesson. Each lesson is an hour, and they’ll have the horses all saddled up for you so you get to ride the full hour. Very casual atmosphere though I thought the instructor did more talking than instructing sometimes. Still, this was the very first time I got to play groups games while on horseback and went out for drinks with classmates for the holidays. I actually felt like I could bond with my classmates and teacher. And dude, they even offer vaulting lessons!!!! (think gymnastics on a horse’s back!!)

Sea Horse Ranch: [Half Moon Bay] I only do their early bird special. $45 for a two hour ride on trail and beach. I’m not talking about nose to butt trail rides either as they often have groups of 30-40 people riding at the same time. Once you’re on the beach, you’ll get to canter/lope as you please. One of my favorite places to ride on the weekend, and I have a favorite horse (Grumpy!!!). Lots of new riders and tourists with a few more experienced folks sprinkled in. I wrote a way long post on Yelp here.

Hampton Place Stables: [San Jose] Very tiny and hard to find but a wonderful place for rescue horses to go. They take in horses that have been mentally and physically abused and rehabilitate them. I don’t have too much else to say about them because I only managed to volunteer once before we moved out of San Jose. I spent the afternoon grooming horses there. I noticed lessons going on so if you live in San Jose, check these guys out. I doubt their lesson fee is too expensive, and your money will go to a great cause.

3K9 Ranch: [Sunol] I’m currently taking western lessons here, and I wholeheartedly recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn to become a better rider. This is a small establishment and is privately owned by a family who lives on site. This means for the price of a group lesson elsewhere, you get a private lesson on horses that the owners ride competitively at local competitions. No lifeless school horses here. Lessons are $40 for an hour and a half, and if you have time, you can stay longer too!! I got to drive an atv dummy cow, learn how to rope, and herd cattle too. The only downside for some people is that he is not always available every week for lessons. For me, this just means I get to go ride at Sea Horse Ranch so it works for me.

Did I miss anything? Here’s a great website that’ll give you a list of all the possible places you could ever hope to ride at in the bay area.

Photo Credit: From Garrod Farms Website

Just google: “foreclosure abandoned pets” and you’ll see all the articles out there about animals being abandoned because people are losing their homes. Read this one. Or this one. Or this one. All about animals found starving, dehydrated, or dead because they’re locked up in an abandoned house. The kitchen sink is ripped from the walls because it can be sold but an animal? I guess all lives aren’t created equally.

A new California bill was recently passed making it mandatory for anyone who encounters an abandoned pet to immediately call animal control. Previously, anyone finding an animal in an abandoned house had to leave everything untouched until the foreclosure process is complete. This is a step in the right direction but doesn’t take into account the dumb ass morons (can I say that on this blog?) who abandon their animals in the first place. ( I propose stoning.)

Humane societies, shelters, and rescue groups are trying to rally together. The Humane Society of the US now has a grant program for shelters and tips for folks who are facing foreclosure. The East Bay SPCA has a page on their website about foreclosure and pets. If you’d like to help, go to your local shelter and support them!

I’m going to go and hug my cats now.

Photo credit: Me! This was one of my foster kittens.

Unfortunately, a rescuer’s work is never done. A local ranch in San Jose that has been the home for 80+ cats will be demolished soon. The city won’t allow ferals to be neutered and returned (for more information on the TNR process, check this article out) AND beginning Oct 3rd, any cats seen on that property will be trapped and killed.

Visit the Town Cat’s website and help them out! They’ll update their website soon but at the moment, they need fosters, volunteers, and folks to write letters to the city council. Most of these cats have been there for years as local residents just dump them there. (Don’t even get me started on that…)

What’s great about Town Cats is that they are a no-kill shelter and rescue group. Please support them!

This weekend is the Fremont Art Festival AND the San Francisco Aloha Festival. Both are free events for both Saturday and Sunday. On one hand, there are crafts. On the other hand, there are electric ukuleles.

What to do…what to do…

 Photo from Fremont Festival Website.

I think women who are technologically savvy and aren’t afraid to show it are hot.

Animal Control was called to a home in Morgan Hill where there are around 100 cats/kittens. All are healthy and happy but need a place to stay immediately. The cats will be taken from the home this coming week, and have no where to go. If Town Cats can’t find room for them all, I don’t know what will happen.

If you can’t foster, Town Cats still needs help at their already very full shelter. Please visit www.towncats.org for more information.

Commuting is getting more dangerous every day.