User:Greghenderson2006/sandbox1

Coordinates: 36°34′25″N 121°57′23″W / 36.57361°N 121.95639°W / 36.57361; -121.95639
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Pebble Beach Equestrian Center
Pebble Beach Stables
Equestrian Center is located in Monterey Peninsula
Equestrian Center
Equestrian Center
Location in Monterey County
Location3300 Portola Road, Pebble Beach, California, US
Coordinates36°34′25″N 121°57′23″W / 36.57361°N 121.95639°W / 36.57361; -121.95639
Built1924; 100 years ago (1924)
Built byFred Ruhl
Built forSamuel F.B. Morse
Original useStables
Current useEquestrian facility
Architectural style(s)Ranch-style house
Websitewww.pebblebeach.com/equestrian-center/

The Pebble Beach Equestrian Center is a historic equestrian center in Pebble Beach, California. Founded in 1924 by developer Samuel F.B. Morse, it was a boarding stable that sponsored riding lessons, horse shows, and team trials for the 1960 Summer Olympics. The Equestrian Center has a 100-year history.[1] People from all around the world have come to the Equestrian Center, including Jackie Kennedy, the The Beatles. Alois Podhajsky of the Spanish Riding School came to judge and instruct at the Equestrian Center. Movies have been made at the Equestrian Center, including Susan Slade staring Connie Stevens in 1961.[2]

History[edit]

In 1920, Samuel F.B. Morse, the developer of Pebble Beach, California, cleared a field near the present-day Equestrian Center. This was initially intended as an airstrip, catering to the aviation enthusiasts among the Resorts' visitors and landowners who piloted their own small aircraft. With the number of residents in Del Monte Forest, including Morse, increased, there was also a demand for boarding stables to accommodate their horses.[3][4]

In 1924, Morse hired Fred Ruhl to build a quadrangle-style of stables with an open retangular interior courtyard adjacent to the airfield. The main purpose of this structure was to function as a boarding stable for the horses owned by residents. The stables were linked with an extensive network of forested and ocean-front bridal trails covering almost 100 miles (160 km) maintained by Del Monte Properties. These were basic quadrangle stables with a rectangular, open-interior courtyard, made of simple board-and-batten construction that cost $12,000 (equivalent to $213,344 in 2023).[1][5]

In 1928, Grace Douglas (1880-1968) opened the Douglas School for girls and hired Richard "Dick" Collins (1908-1984), a skilled horseman, as the buisness manager and athelict director. The school organized riding lessons, polo, an annual Gymkhana, and horse shows at the Pebble Beach stables.[1][6][7] In 1941, Collins was chosen to oversee the equestrian facilities in Pebble Beach. However, before he could assume the role, World War II erupted, and he enlisted. After the war, Collins returned to the Monterey Peninsula and assumed management of the Pebble Beach stables, later rebranded the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. Over the following three decades, Collins transformed Pebble Beach into a significant equestrian hub.[1][5]

On June 30, 1933, an article in the Carmel Pine Cone noted, "Situated in the heart of the Monterey Peninsula's incomparable beauty are the Pebble Beach stables," "Here at Pebble Beach can be found horses to suit the abilities of everyone. From willing but gentle horses, to spirited jumpers, polo ponies, and horses with all gaits. Here, too, at Pebble Beach are broad fields, an excellent assortment of jumps and a large circular track for racing, or where the beginner can practice and rest at ease."[8]

The Equestrian Center quickly expanded its offerings to encompass a variety of equestrian activities. It served as the backdrop for numerous film scenes, featuring the 1944 MGM production National Velvet, starring Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor,[9] as well as the 1961 film Susan Slade, staring Connie Stevens and Troy Donahue.[2]

On August 4, 1946, Collins hosted the first Pebble Beach Summer Horse Show, featuring 87 participants competing in 15 distinct classes. The event progressively grew and became an annual event. In 1954, he founded America's first Pony Club, modeled after the English approach to training young riders. Collins also took charge of managing the U.S. Equestrian Team's three-day event for the 1955 Pan American Games in Chicago, and the team trails for the 1960 Rome Olympics were held at the center.[10][1][5] On September 14 and 15, 1960, the U.S. 1960 Summer Olympics dressage trials were conducted at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center hosted under Collins' leadership.[11]

2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

The Pebble Beach Road Races were held in Pebble beach from 1950 through 1956. Not all of the "track" was paved. The original 1950 route consisted of both paved two-lane roads and sections of dirt or loose gravel. Races started along Portola Road near the Equestrian Center. The equestrian center occupied some of the space on the infield by the old start/finish line.[12] The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, annual automotive event, was founded in 1950 as an addition to the Pebble Beach Road Race. Due to heavy rain at the event in 1963 and 1965, that made the lawn area unusable, the cars were shown at the old start/finish line of the Pebble Beach road race, near the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center.[13]

In 1966, Col. Alois Podhajsky, of the Spanish Riding School, came to judge and instruct the national dressage championships at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Trials.[14]

Later Years & Expansion[edit]

In 1970, a hay barn was incorporated into the facility. Following Dick Collins' retirement, the facility underwent additional expansions overseen by Abby and Jay Foss (1980 – 1984), Derek and Bea diGrazia (1984 – 1992), and Tim Postel (1992 – 2013). These enhancements comprised the addition of 20 stalls and the construction of a Polo Barn. Furthermore, the Pebble Beach Summer Horse Trials were reinstated and expanded during this period.[1] In 1984, Derek diGrazia and Bea assumed the roles of directors at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. At that point, the center functioned as a diverse equestrian operation, organizing A-rated horse shows and dressage shows. Derek handled the design aspects for the show jumping classes during the horse shows, while Bea managed the dressage shows. Throughout the years, they trained numerous event riders at the center and played a crucial role in developing numerous horses for the sport of eventing.[15]

The Pebble Beach Company assumed management of the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center on July 1, 2013, marking the initial instance since the era of Dick Collins. Consequently, the Equestrian Center had a team of 15 employees full-time and an additional five working part-time dedicated to providing care for our horses and riders throughout the year. The stables housed approximately 60 horses, with about half privately owned and the other half participating in the trail and riding lesson programs.[1]

On March 4, 2023, David Stivers, CEO of Pebble Beach Company, announced the closure of the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center as "no longer economically viable," after operating as a loss for many years and the need for $15 million of renovations. There are currently no plans for the property after its closure in June.[5] A petition was initiated with the aim of keeping the center open.[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Neal Hoteling (June 2014). "Forest News" (PDF). dmfpo.org. Pebble Beach, California. p. 3. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Gail Harris (May 29, 1969). "Collins Keeps A Busy Stable". The Pacific Grove Tribune and Pebble Beach Green Sheet. Pacific Grove, California. p. 6. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  3. ^ "Pebble Beach Plans Plane Landing Field". San Francisco Bulletin. San Francisco, California. February 10, 1920. p. 9. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Story of Pebble Beach Equestrian Center". Pebble Beach Resorts. Pebble Beach, California. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Molly Gibbs (March 4, 2023). "Pebble Beach Equestrian Center will permanently close in June". Monterey Herald. Monterey, California. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "Youngest Pebble Beach Girls Polo Team". Oroville Mercury Register. Oroville, California. June 9, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  7. ^ "Children in Gymkhana". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. June 6, 1930. p. 14. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "Horseback Riding At Pebble Beach Stables Is a Delightful Treat". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. June 30, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Kelly Nix (March 8, 2024). "Horse enthusiasts dismayed by decision to close equestrian center Equestrian Center" (PDF). The Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. pp. 1, 13. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  10. ^ "Richard Collins". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. August 30, 1984. p. 31. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "Olympic Dressage Trials Slated for Pebble Beach". The Californian. Salinas, California. September 4, 1968. p. 22. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "A Wild Ride: the 7-Year History of the Pebble Beach Road Races". Special Events, Centennial. Pebble Beach, California. August 5, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "Venue Sponsorships". Pebble Beach Concours. Pebble Beach, California. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "It's Stirrup Cup Time". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. August 23, 1966. p. 21. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Jaffer, Nancy (2020). Riding for the Team. Trafalgar Square Books. Retrieved March 5, 2024.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pebble Beach Equestrian Center.



Category:1924 establishments in California Category:History of Monterey County, California Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1924

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