by Meg Pierce
Recently named by Equestrian Living as one of the best places for equestrians to live year-round, San Diego offers high-level opportunities in nearly every discipline, but not all equestrian communities in the county are created equally. Rancho Santa Fe stands out for its temperate weather, proximity to the beach, and rural beauty. Read on to learn more about what equestrians love about this rare city!
1. “Ranch” Life & History
Horses have always been an integral part of Rancho Santa Fe’s community from the days of Juan Osuna establishing Rancho San Dieguito to raise horses and cattle to those of Bing Crosby, who helped build the Del Mar Race Track and started the clambake tradition at the Inn. Rancho Santa Fe was founded by the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company as a home for “gentlemen farmers” in the early 1900s. Today it hosts over a dozen riding clubs, schools and stables for training and boarding. The equestrian life has drawn such iconic names as Bill and Kathy Scripps, whose 15-acre ranch features a beautiful barn for their horses, and Jenny and Sid Craig, who owned a 229-acre ranch with race track that was sold to Bill Gates, whose daughter Jennifer Gates is an award-winning equestrian. It’s not uncommon to see horses tied up to a tree in the village next to a Ferrari, while the talk around town often circulates around horses, trainers, and barns. There’s no better place to own an equestrian property than Rancho Santa Fe!
2. Top Rated Horse Shows & Races
Rancho Santa Fe is less than 15 minutes away from the world-famous Del Mar Fairgrounds, home of the Del Mar International Horse Show in the fall and the Del Mar National Horse Show in the spring, both multi-week events featuring world-class show jumping by an elite field of horses and riders. The Del Mar International Horse Show, which begins October 9, 2019, is part of the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping World Cup North American League and hosts one of only seven World Cup Qualifiers on the West Coast, where riders compete head to head for a spot in the World Cup Finals. The Del Mar Race Track at the fairgrounds is also home to the Del Mar racing season and will host the Breeder’s Cup in 2021.
The Del Mar Showpark, owned by Blenheim EquiSports, just 2 minutes away from the Del Mar Fairgrounds is home to the Showpark Series which runs throughout the summer as well as the spring Showpark Ranch and Coast Classic. Its sister location in Rancho Mission Viejo is only a little over an hour away and hosts tournaments throughout the year.
A two-hour drive to Los Angeles and less to Indio & Palm Springs, Rancho Santa Fe is also an excellent jumping-off point to horse shows like the National Sunshine series and Desert Circuit. Thus, an elite equestrian property like Willow Creek Estancia puts horse owners in the perfect position to be a part of these world-class events!
3. Trail Riding
Tranquil green golf course views and shaded tree-lined paths make Rancho Santa Fe’s trail system one of its most enviable amenities. According to the Rancho Santa Fe Trails and Recreation Committee, the network of over 50 miles through the community gives horses the right of way and is made up of different types of trails through the Covenant incorporating Association-owned trails such as those around the golf course, permanent easement trails, encroachment permits (mostly along the county-owned roadside where the Covenant has requested to maintain the trails), easement trails dedicated by current property owners and trails “in use,” which means they have been made available to users by homeowners. This variety of trails offers a diversity of landscapes for hacking like flat, wide paths that allow equestrians to chat and ride past manicured lawns and gardens, as well as more challenging hill and canyon trails. Rancho Santa Fe equestrian property owners need to go no further than their own backyards to discover the fun of owning a horse here!