SWAP PARTY "Sip and Swap" 3/21/26

Come to the super fun SWAP Party.  Bring your nice clothes, shoes, boots, jewelry, or belts.   Swap for something else you might like to have.  You can swap as many things as you bring.  Your turn to pick and item is based on your poker hand.  (Don't worry, you don't know how to play poker - you just have to pick a card.)

This should be a fun party, playing poker, exchanging clothes, sharing potluck, and enjoying the beer and wine bar.

RSVP to Kathleen O'Neill (408) 590-3933 or koneill_950372003@yahoo.com

Handmade Quilt Fund Raiser

Yvonne Lee will give you the tickets and keep a duplicate with your name on it. Buy at a General Meeting or contact Yvonne directly if you want to purchase outside of the store yvonneleecdf@gmail.com.

Club Store

Buy 1 (one) ticket for $5 

Buy 6 (six) tickets for $25.

This is a handmade quilt. It is stunning. The drawing will be held on the day of the October Fall Festival.

SCCHA Exhibits Horses at the County Fair

Starting this year, the Santa Clara County Fair will move from local schools' summer break to the third week of August. This is part of a long-term strategy to secure essential Carnival vendors who are only available at that time and ensures the fair’s continued success. The 2026 Fair will be held August 19-23.

The Fair recognizes the new dates coincide with the start of the school year and has made accommodations to support 4-H and FFA youth livestock exhibitors:

• Livestock shows will begin at 4:00 PM, rather than during school hours.
• 4-H exhibitors will show first, followed by FFA exhibitors.
• This new structure ensures students miss little or no school to participate.
Fair leadership is proactively working with local high school administrators to explain the change and advocate for student participation. Participation is a vital part of agricultural education, including required experiences for FFA students.

Please share this information if someone wonders the reason for the change. The Fair organizers had children in the program themselves and do not take the required change lightly. In the coming months, we'll start recruiting for our 4th SCC Fair horse exhibit!

Prior Events 

Sweet centerpieces at February General Meeting courtesy of the dinner hostesses (Thank you Jennifer and Liz!). Also, thanks for the plethora of chocolate desserts!

 New Equine and Nature Programs Coming to Bear Creek Stables

Friends of Bear Creek Stables (FBCS) will soon offer public programming under an agreement with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen). The agreement, approved by the Open Space Board of Directors on February 25, follows a 2-year process during which community input played a major role in determining the future of the stables. Located in the heart of Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve near Los Gatos, the stables are owned by the Open Space District and trace back to an estate built on the property in the late 1800s.

"Bear Creek Stables, which has operated for over 90 years, will transform into an educational center for equine- and nature-based programs," said Rick Parfitt, President of FBCS, the non-profit group that will steward the facility. "Horses will continue to be the focal point for programs, along with other nature-based programs. Both welcome the public into the natural environment to experience the Preserve's beautiful setting where outdoor learning and exploring happen naturally!"

Friends of Bear Creek Stables, with help from many individuals and organizations, has raised $250,000 through donations and grants to begin operations. "We will ramp up program offerings for all ages beginning this Spring. The human-horse bond has amazing power to transform lives through emotional regulation, self-awareness and mindfulness. Horse work with children, teens, adults, and seniors has proven benefits that are much needed in our modern lives.

Our program will incorporate five facets: joy of learning, wonder of nature, healing power of horses, whispers of history, and value of community. We simply can't wait to welcome the public to the restorative location within the forest. We are truly grateful and appreciative of the community's generous donations. As a nonprofit serving all physical abilities and economic abilities, our programs will depend on ongoing contributions which can be made by credit card, check, corporate matching or pledges.

For more information, contact Rick Parfitt (info@friendsofbearcreekstables.org) or visit the website https://FriendsofBearCreekStables.org .

Housekeeping Alerts and New Features 

NEW!!! Donate now to Support the Junior Scholarship Program

The Scholarship program is supported by your donations.  To donate, click here and put in the comments that your donation is for the scholarship program:  Donate

Check out the details of the program.  The deadline for submission is June 30th Scholarship Program

Junior Program:  Our new Junior Hoofbeat Director, Marissa Nebenzahl, introduced our association to her children's Sunset 4-H Group. They are looking to partner with us for their Community Service Project. They invited Rachael Parakh, our Public Relations Director, to present at their club meeting last month. After discussing our club history and the unique benefits of horses, Rachael brainstormed project ideas with the 4-H youth. Since they are a creative and artistic group, they decided to paint a mural on our Snack Shack — just in time for our Playday series and other exciting workshops. This mural will pull elements from our association logo which Yvonne Lee raised money to have painted on the front wall of our clubhouse. We promise to keep you updated as the project unfolds. Thank you Sunset 4-H.

NEW!!! Join the Junior Program

We have a new Junior Director, with lots of ideas and energy.  Do you have a Junior under the age of 18? Join the fun and enroll in the Junior Program to get invitations for the fun events.  Junior Program 

Membership 

Renewals for 2026: 

Membership renewals started January 1.  You can login and renew now or print the paperwork and renew with a check.  Please complete your renewal by March 15 so you retain your membership to the club.  Renew Membership 

Membership Level	Total	Renewed
Family	38	21
Honorary	6	6
Junior	1	0
Lifetime	14	14
Single	61	26
Grand Total	120	61

Membership - Bring a Friend.  Help Grow the Association:  

Tell your friends about the "Horsemen's".  Their first dinner, as a guest, is free at the General/Dinner Meeting.  Have them apply for membership!  Membership Application     See all the benefits membership brings Membership Overview & Rules, Trainer Policy, Liability Release Waiver

      SCCHA GENERAL MEETING MINUTES 

February 20, 2026

CTO at 8:05 PM by Linda Carcioni.  Linda thanked our cooks this evening, Liz and Jennifer.  She also thanked our Bar and Beverage Counter Director, Amy.

 Stephen gave the Pledge of Allegiance.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Yvonne was not present.  Linda read the January 2026 Treasurer Report. (see Treasurer’s report on Member’s only website)

SOCIAL:  Jennifer reminded the membership that next month’s General Meeting Dinner on March 20 will be our annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner.  All chefs that can contribute a corned beef and cabbage to our dinner would be most appreciated!

Also, we still have opportunities for our membership to show off their culinary skills – we are looking for chefs for our June and September General Meetings.  If you and your friends from your barn would like to cook for our community this year, please contact Jennifer or Liz!

EVENTS: 

Liz announced that March 21 is the Tack Fitting Clinic with Amy from Saddles and Treasures, she is full, but no limit on auditors.  Contact Liz if interested.

Liz also announced Robbie Potter will have his clinic again, May 2-3, there are 3 spots left.

Liz also announced a raffle for a horse quilt, we are selling tickets, which will be raffled off in our October meeting.  Proceeds will go to our drill team, and towards our mural.

Kathleen reported that March 21, after the saddle fitting clinic, at 5:00pm, we will have an event called Sip n’ Swap - Bring your nice clothes, shoes, boots, jewelry or belt, swap for something else you might like to have.  This will be a fun party, playing poker, exchanging clothes, sharing potluck and enjoying the bar with beer and wine, courtesy of our fabulous Amy Monahan.

Linda reminded us of our 5D playdays, starting in May.

May 17

June 21

July 19

August 23

September 19

PUBLIC RELATIONS:  Rachael was not present, but reported the following:

County Fair - Starting this year, the Santa Clara County Fair will move from the summer to the third week of August. This is part of a long-term strategy to secure essential Carnival vendors who are only available at that time and ensures the fair’s continued success. The 2026 Fair will be held August 19-23.

The Fair recognizes the new dates coincide with the start of the school year and has made accommodations to support 4-H and FFA youth livestock exhibitors:

• Livestock shows will begin at 4:00 PM, rather than during school hours.
• 4-H exhibitors will show first, followed by FFA exhibitors.
• This new structure ensures students miss little or no school to participate.
Fair leadership is proactively working with local high school administrators to explain the
change and advocate for student participation. Participation is a vital part of agricultural
education, including required experiences for FFA students.

Please share this information if someone wonders the reason for the change. The Fair organizers had children in the program themselves and do not take the required change lightly. In the coming months, we'll start recruiting for our 4th SCC Fair horse exhibit!

Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Outreach & Awareness Campaign Our horse association joined the Agricultural Awareness Team being led by Julie Morris, County Agricultural Liaison. She is forming a team of partners: CA Cattlemen's and Santa Clara County Cattlemen's Association, Wineries, Visit Morgan Hill, Sylvia Arenas Office, Livestock/Natural Resources, Office of Economic Development, POST and others. The new website is SantaClaraAg.org. We have a great tagline: Santa Clara Valley – Silicon Valley's Original Startup! 

The outreach team encourages horse facilities (lessons, trail riding, boarding, education, equine therapy, etc.), farm stands and other agricultural businesses to register to be on the Santa Clara Trail Map. The link was already sent out in an email blast. The map is on the website and will have your business name, website and eventually business stories will be included. There is also a digital ad on a billboard at 101 and De La Cruz Avenue. It currently showcases The Cattlemen's. Subsequent billboards will feature other agricultural businesses. Yours can be next!

Please pass on to anyone you may know that has an agricultural business within Santa Clara County. Long before tech jobs, farm and horse businesses anchored local livelihoods. We want this advertising opportunity to be available to as many as possible so they can thrive and continue for future generations.

GROUNDS:  Last month we voted to spend up to $21,000 on a new HVAC system.  After reviewing quotes, we now have now contracted a company called Extreme Air, (bid was $15,000.) to install an entire new system, which is scheduled to begin installation on February 24. 

Membership:  Michelle reminded us  all renewals are due March 15.  You can renew on-line, by mail, or in person.

Pat reported that the movement for cemetery, mausoleum, crematorium, 1500 burial sites near Bailey Road has come up online again.  Follow Green Foothills.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Linda announced that Jane Hesley has agreed to publish our Corral Chatter.  Please submit all articles and photos to her by the 25^th of each month.

Guests: Peggy Kauffman, hosted by Linda Carcione.

Horse and human birthday prize offerings were given out by Sandie.

Motion to adjourn at 8:35PM made by Stephen, seconded by  Liz, the motion carried.

Volunteer Corner & Donations

There are always opportunities to volunteer for our activities. Check here frequently as more activities show up in the summer.

Activity	Date	Volunteer Duties	Contact
General Meeting Dinners	3rd Friday each month	Plan, prepare, set up, and serve a meal at the meeting Volunteers needed for June and September dinners!	Jennifer Lien Gonzalez jenligo@gmail.com
Craft Supplies Needed		We need to replenish our craft supplies and especially need the following:  Beads, any kind of jewelry, acrylic paint, paint brushes, bead wire, horse magazines or books to cut up, leather, and glue.  Let me know what else you want to donate!!   We recently wiped out a lot of our supplies.	Kathleen O’Neill (408) 590-3933
Donations	February	Big Thank you for the $ donations you made during your membership renewal. Cathleen Venn  Skip Lightfoot