Contra Costa County

 By Jennifer Walker

From Richmond by the bay to inland Brentwood, Contra Costa County offers a wide range of terrain and amenities for horse lovers.

History
Incorporated in 1850, Contra Costa County was one of the original 27 counties of the State of California, and the city of Martinez has remained the County Seat to this day.  Contra Costa means “opposite coast,” named for its location opposite San Francisco (to the east) on San Francisco Bay. In 1853, Contra Costa gave up a portion of its land to the formation of Alameda County. 

Cities/Communities
In some towns, such as San Ramon, you may find it difficult to find boarding and nearby horse shows, although they do exist.  However, some new communities (such as Dougherty Valley, Windemere and Shappell), signed clauses when they bought their land stating that they would keep a certain amount of acreage as open space.  They will open trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians. 
In contrast, Knightsten hosts more horses than people, and Trails End in Walnut Creek is an all-equestrian community, including 88 horse properties and access to trails.  Horses can also be found in Brentwood, Rodeo, Livermore, Lafayette, Danville, and more.  Jane, who lives in Clayton, lives on acreage nestled among picturesque hills less than an hour away from many English and Dressage shows.
With the median home price in the county at just over $500,000, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for a house with horse property.  Prices start at around $750,000 for a small property with a house and barn, and go on up to $19 million for a 600-acre ranch, and all prices in between.

Boarding, Lessons and Training
Although there are many places to board in Contra Costa County with excellent facilities, you’ll find few places to keep your horse in a pasture.  However, a number of the facilities have excellent access to the county’s trail systems.  Expect to pay anywhere from $150 for self-care to $800 for first-rate accommodations.
In addition to the excellent veterinarians and farriers in the county, there are trainers for all breeds and disciplines.  The husband-and-wife team of Steve and Carol Dal Porto of Dal Porto Ranch (www.dalportoranch.com) breed, train and sell champion Appaloosas on their 25-acre ranch in Brentwood.  They stand four stallions and offer training and instruction in halter and performance.  Since there aren’t any Appaloosa shows in the county, the Dal Portos travel all over to attend horse shows, including the World Championships in Texas.  Steve was born and raised here.  “It’s a gorgeous county and a fun place to live.  There are all kinds of horse activities here in Brentwood.  Every day you see horse trailers on the road.”
Looking for a summer camp or lesson program for your kids?  There are many options, utilizing a variety of breeds from ponies to horses.  Lessons can be had for jumping, dressage, western, english, halter, and natural horsemanship…whatever your skill level or experience is, almost anything you want to learn about or with horses is available.

Clubs/Shows and Events
Many residents of Contra Costa County find themselves within one or two hours of schooling and rated horse shows of all disciplines.  Knightsten resident Marialaina says, “Gymkhana, English, Western, Dressage, Trail Trials, and Endurance competitions are a few of the activities here in the area.  It is quite possible for someone to compete every weekend and never leave the county!”
The California State Horsemen’s Association is particularly active in the county, and they work on educating the public, host horse shows and events, and do general community service such as protecting trails, hosting first aid classes, preparing locals for emergencies, and more.  In addition, you’ll find 4-H, Future Farmers of America, the Concord-Mount Diablo Trail Horse Association, the East Bay chapter of the California Dressage Society, and a number of other horsemanship clubs.

Trails and Places to Ride
There are endless amounts of trails to enjoy in Contra Costa County.  Feast your eyes on a view of Mount Diablo, the beautiful foothills, or the delta waterways.  Mount Diablo has a state park, regional parks, and watersheds that boast plenty of trails for horses, or head over to Oakland Hills or Berkeley Hills.  From any of these places, you’ll be treated to outstanding views of the delta, San Francisco Bay, and even the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. 
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park comprises 2,428 acres and miles of trails.  Horses are welcome; in fact, if you don’t currently have one, you can rent one there to ride.
Sue, an endurance rider who lives in San Ramon, notes: “I have done a 5 day 100 mile ride from Martinez to Castro Valley without getting off the trails, an annual event with Tilden Wildcats Horsemans Association.  It is a great place for endurance riders conditioning horses and pleasure trail riders looking for a variety of trail options.  A few of the parks offer overnight camping with your horse.”
Organizations such as CSHA, Bay Area Barns and Trails, and the Muir Heritage Land Trust are working to keep the open spaces easily accessible.  
With so many choices in Contra Costa County, it’s easy to see why so many horse lovers make their home here!   We love Contra Costa because it’s centrally located to so many things that are important to us -  San Francisco, for shopping and entertainment, the Sacramento area for horse showing, the Delta and Lake Tahoe for outdoor activities - and Contra Costa itself is very beautiful with Mt. Diablo as a central focal point.  If you have horses, it’s a great place.