KEEPING HOMES FROM PUSHING OUT THE HORSES; AGENCY PICKS SITE FOR EQUESTRIAN CENTER.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

Planning to bring a permanent full-service equestrian center to the Conejo Valley, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency has tentatively identified a corner of Broome Ranch south of Potrero Road as a site.

The agency has begun work on a more detailed environmental analysis of the location, scheduled to be presented to the COSCA board at its September meeting, said Mark Towne, COSCA coordinator.

``We would like to get something permanent set up as a commitment to the equestrian community in the Conejo Valley,'' said Mark Jacobsen, COSCA board member, and a director of the Conejo Park and Recreation District. ``We hope to build a first-class facility that won't impact on neighboring homes.''

COSCA evaluated nine potential sites for an equestrian center that would offer a boarding facility, riding lessons and trails, as well as areas for special events.

Last month, the COSCA board selected the old Olympia Farms site, one of four proposed sites on Broome Ranch, for further study.

Towne said the agency is currently looking into the cost of utilities and the the grading requirements to set up a permanent site, in addition to working on a preliminary site design.

A permanent facility would fill the gap in equestrian centers left after three recently closed their doors or were displaced.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church's Academy Equestrian Center was displaced by a commercial and residential development in 1993.

California Lutheran University closed its stables and riding arenas in May 1995 after dwindling use and high maintenance costs became prohibitive for the school.

That same year, the Two Winds Ranch managed by Alvin Caddin was scheduled to be displaced by the Dos Vientos residential development.

``There is a great need for a equestrian center here in Conejo,'' said Caddin. ``It's down the road, but we need at least two sites in the area.''

The city asked the ranch to set up a temporary equestrian center located on a northeastern portion of Broome Ranch, a 326-acre ranch COSCA acquired in 1995 with a $1.8 million contribution from the Conejo Recreation and Park District and an additional $1 million contribution from the city of Thousand Oaks.

But the temporary equestrian ranch, which offers a boarding facility for horses near a network of trails, as well as a practice area where riders can take lessons and prepare for equestrian shows, will again be displaced after its lease runs out in three years, said Caddin.

Jackie Weatherman moved to the area six years ago from Torrance after a stable she was using to keep her horse was closed.

``I thought Thousand Oaks was supposed to be an equestrian-oriented community,'' said Weatherman, who has boarded her three horses on a private farm since CLU closed its stables two years ago.

``It would be nice to have a horse somewhere for more than a couple of years,'' she said.

In addition to offering a facility to board horses, Weatherman said a permanent equestrian center in the Conejo Valley would make it possible for families without big back yards to own and keep a horse and would help make riding more accessible to youngsters just starting out.

For Twain Lockhart, owner of the Newbury Park Feeds, the Conejo Valley couldn't stand to lose any more equestrian centers without completely losing what is left of its rural appeal.

``Twenty years ago, most of our feed was for horses. Now more than 60 percent is for small animals,'' said Lockhart. ``The city is moving all of the horses out of Conejo. And the bottom line is Conejo is changing.''

With the Two Winds Ranch lease up within just a few years, Lockhart said he hopes to see a permanent center up and running to pick up the slack.

COSCA officials said they are aware of the valley's equestrian needs and intend to ensure no break in the services offered. Once a full-service equestrian center is established in the Conejo Valley, Jacobsen said COSCA would turn its attention to identifying a second location for another equestrian facility.

``We had anticipated a need for a separate second site because of the size of the Conejo Valley,'' said Jacobsen.

Of the nine locations it considered last month, the COSCA board eliminated Wildwood Mesa on the western terminus of Avenida de los Arboles, Lang Ranch Open Space northeast of Westlake Boulevard and Avenida de los Arboles, Rancho Conejo Open Space and three different sections of Broome Ranch.

COSCA will continue to consider three locations for a second site: Conejo Ridge Open Space on the southern terminus of Sundown Road, Los Robles Open Space on the southern terminus of Moorpark Road and a city-owned parcel just south of Highway 101 near the Moorpark Freeway.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Colleen Cates, 16, jumps her horse, Mac, at Two Winds Ranch equestrian center in Newbury Park.

(2) Zorro, Jackie Straw's riding partner, gets a grooming from her at Two Winds Ranch, the Conejo Valley's only public equestrian center.

David Sprague/Daily News