GO TO: Membership Application Information and Form
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

     The purpose of the Santa Cruz County Horsemen's Association (SCCHA) is to promote interest in horses and horsemanship, and to bring people together to share this common interest. As a group, we aid and support activities concerning the welfare of horses, and acquire, build & maintain equestrian trails in our community.
   The membership year runs April 1 to March 31. Renewing members should remit their dues in March. New members who join in January or February are covered through March of the following year. Dues supports facility maintenance, improvements and supplies, utility costs, as well as local trail maintenance and our monthly newsletter. Members receive a card key to the main entry gate at the Graham Hill Showgrounds. Our facility currently includes two arenas, round pen, cross-county course, campground with campsites and paddocks (available on a first-come first-serve basis) and access to miles of trails through and between Henry Cowell and Wilder State Parks. READ AND LEARN CLUB RULES. Each member is responsible to know and abide by our rules. Every rule exists for a reason: either helping to foster considerate sharing of the showgrounds or to protect and enhance the grounds for all of us.  A few of our rules  exist due to agreements we have with our neighbors or to adhere to insurance requirements. We have many members and must share the grounds responsibly; access to the grounds may be forfeited if rules are not followed. Thank you for your cooperation! Members receive a copy of our Rules & Guildelines document each year.

   SCCHA volunteers organize trail rides, campouts, poker rides, horse training clinics, shows and youth activities. The club organizes trail workdays to help remove downed trees and repair unsafe portions of trail. The club's annual Fireworks Endurance Ride traverses beautiful mountain terrain of redwood forests to the sunny beaches above the Monterey Bay. The success of our club depends on the participation and adventurous spirit of our members. Many opportunities to volunteer your time and talents will arise. Your ideas and energy increase the diversity of club activities and strengthen our presence in the larger community.

   Club news, horse related events and articles are passed along to members in our monthly newsletter. Contributions of written articles and artwork are encouraged! Horse-related classified ads are printed at no charge to members. Business ads in the newsletter are available for a very reasonable fee.

   Our membership meetings are generally held the 3rd TUESDAY of every month. Date and location are reported in the newsletter. Guest speakers include veterinarians, farriers, representatives of trail organizations, trainers, accomplished riders from a variety of equestrian disciplines and many other interesting members of our community. These meetings, open to nonmembers as well as members, are always fun and informative. The SCCHA Board of Directors Meeting is generally held the last MONDAY of every month (check newsletter). All important decisions about the club are made at these meetings and we encourage those interested to attend. Always check the current newsletter/web page for potential changes in the planned schedule or meeting place.

   For further information about club activities and how you can become involved, join us at our general membership meetings, or contact any of our directors listed in the current newsletter.


Rules - Membership Year 2009-10

The Showgrounds is intended for members' activities with horses. Members and trial members should have horses with them when using the facilities.
Camping is exclusively for members who wish to remain overnight with their horses.
All members, trial members, and group/event participants are to know and comply with SCCHA rules as stated in this document. Members and group/event leaders are responsible for the actions of accompanying participants. The SCCHA Board of Directors reserves the right to revoke membership (without refund) and/or deny entrance to Showgrounds if any person or group/event does not comply with these rules. In case of a dispute, members may contact the Board of Directors to interpret a rule or arbitrate dispute. Rules will be enforced as follows:
1st offense:
Board of Directors is notified, offender receives a copy of rules document with precise rule circled or quoted within notifying letter.
2nd offense:  
 Offender must appear before the Board of Directors or lose all rights to use of Showgrounds.
3rd offense:  
 Offender loses all membership privileges and/or all rights to use of Showgrounds.


These Offences Are Subject To Immediate Loss Of Membership and Will Be Expelled from Grounds:
ANY PERSON ENGAGING IN VERBAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE TOWARDS ANYONE
INHUMANE GEAR OR ACTIONS TOWARD ANIMALS ON THE GROUNDS

NON-COMPLIANT BEHAVIOR DEEMED SEVERE BY A MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS

Showgrounds Access

1.    MEMBERSHIP The membership year runs April 1 through March 31. See Membership Application for current fees.
Single Membership authorizes only  the individual member listed on his/her application to use the Showgrounds.  
Family Membership authorizes only  the persons listed on member application form to use the Showgrounds. Children under age 18 must be listed on member application/liability waiver and always supervised by an adult member. Family memberships are limited to 2 adults and the children residing in a single household.
Junior Membership authorizes only  the individual junior member (under 18 years of age) listed on his/her application to use the Showgrounds when accompanied by an adult member.
2.    CARD KEYS
Card keys are purchased by all NEW Single & Family memberships and function as long as their membership is kept current. They provide access through the front gate (put card key up to scanner to the left of the entry gate approach to trigger the gate opener). Gate opens automatically upon exit. Do not loan card keys to nonmembers or leave card key by front gate for unsupervised use by nonmembers. Cardkeys also provide access to bathrooms and showers.
3.    PARKING PERMITS
Current windshield parking stickers are valid through March 31. Regular Membership and Camping not included memberships have different parking stickers. An extra sticker can be purchased for $3 by contacting the membership secretary. Parking stickers must be placed in right corner of vehicle's front window and visible at all times while at the Showgrounds. All Guest vehicles must have a temporary parking pass placed on their dashboard immediately after entering the Showgrounds. Unidentified vehicles may be towed at owner's expense.
4.    TRIAL MEMBERS (GUESTS)
(a)    Anyone accompanying a Member to the Showgrounds who is not listed on the member's application form is a GUEST. An adult member may have up to 2 guests when at the showgrounds.
• Guests visiting for the day: each day use guest must pay a day use fee of $10 and sign the waiver of liability.
• Guests staying overnight: each guest staying overnight must pay an overnight horsecamping fee of $25 ($10/person+$15/horse) per night and sign the waiver of liability. (Overnight guests do not pay day use fee.)
• Remit fees and waiver: make checks payable to SCCHA; cash is acceptable. Completed forms and fees must be deposited immediately upon arrival at the showgrounds in the “Box” at the camping area bulletin board.
(b)    MEMBERS ARE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR GUESTS following all rules, paying fees, and signing waivers & displaying temporary parking passes immediately after entering the showgrounds. Every vehicle on the grounds must have a current permit or a guest parking pass. Failure of guest to sign waiver may result in revocation of HOST’s membership privileges.

Rules Governing Day Use and Horsecamping
1
 Any person under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not permitted on the grounds and will be expelled.
2
 Any inhumane gear or actions toward animals on the grounds is cause for immediate dismissal.
3
 Jumping requires approved hard hats, with chin strap in place and appropriate saddle. Junior hard hats must be currently approved ASTM/SEI. Cross-country jumps may be used by juniors only when supervised.
4
 If there is no scheduled event in the arena, arena may be used on first-come first-serve basis, with 30 minute limit when others are waiting.
5
 Damage to SCCHA property or Showgrounds must be reported immediately to the Board of Directors or Caretaker, especially if it creates danger.
6
 Dogs must be leashed and kept out of arenas.
7
 No cutting of any trees or wood on the grounds.
8
 No trespassing on adjacent private property.
9
 No locking/reserving paddocks.
10 Please be extremely fire conscious. No wood-burning fires or open fires at any time. Between May 1st  and the first rains of autumn: use only gas grills or the large BBQ near the clubhouse (do not move it). All grills need a minimum of 10 feet of clearance from all flammable material (including tree limbs and dry leaves on ground).
11
 No generators may operate at anytime. No water or eletrical hookups to RVs.
12
 No off-highway motorized vehicles.
13
 Horses may not be left loose on the grounds, except in fenced arena or round pen (if unused by others).
14
 Horses on grounds must have full time, adult supervision.
15
 Don't run or trot horses in parking areas, campground, or around people on foot.
16
 Bicycles must be walked through the grounds, on paved road only, away from horses.
17
 Tie horses to hitching racks or trailers ONLY:  do NOT tie to fences, arena or directly to trees.
18
 Park cars, rigs or RVs at least 15 feet from the base of any tree. Do not park anywhere inside of the tie-rail or in front of equipment: obey signs.
19
 Trash: NO MANURE, HAY, SHAVINGS OR BBQ COALS in trash. Put cans and bottles in recycling bins or haul away. Pick up litter and deposit in trash container.
22
 Manure and bedding must be cleaned from all paddocks and areas used and must be taken to the manure bunker; never scattered in the trees or elsewhere. Don’t muck out trailers in parking areas. Wheelbarrows and rakes are provided for your convenience.
  
 
Additional Rules Governing Horsecamping
1 ALL Campers must register when they come to the showgrounds to camp overnight. Members camp free when they use paddocks on a first-come first-serve basis. Members with reservations (as part of a group reserving paddocks) pay a fee of $15 per night per horse. Guests pay horsecamping fees (per item 4 on page 1).
2
 Camping is confined to the area to the north of the access road (Cowell side) only.
3
 No overnight camping within 100 feet of the fence along the adjacent subdivision.
4 
 No noise or lights after 10:00 p.m.
5
 Camping is limited to a maximum of 4 consecutive days, with a maximum stay of 2 weeks in any quarter. Quarters run Jan 1 – March 31, April 1 – June 30, July 1 – Sept. 30, Oct. 1 – Dec. 31
6
 Paddock use is on a first-come first-serve basis. If you plan on camping, check the current newsletter events calendar or web site (www.SantaCruzHorsemen.org) to see if the grounds or any of the paddocks have been reserved for an event.
  
Rules Governing Trainers & Horse Care Professionals 
1 Trainers and Horse Care Professionals must be SCCHA members in order to use the grounds to work with clients unless a clinic is scheduled and fees are paid. Horse Care Professionals include (but are not limited to) hoof care practitioners, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and masseurs.
2 Trainers and Horse Care Professionals may NOT work with NON-MEMBERS or guests at the showgrounds. Those found working with non-member clients risk immediate loss of membership privileges.
3 Trainers and Horse Care Professionals must follow each of the rules herein and trainers must also abide by rules in the SCCHA Trainer Policy (separate document). To comply with the club’s insurance mandates, trainers must submit a precisely worded certificate of insurance and must wait for confirmation of receipt and accuracy of certificate from the board prior to training at the showgrounds.
4 Veterinarians have access to grounds to deliver care to a member's horse, or to administer emergency are to any horse.

Rules Governing Groups/Events
 All participants of meetings, work days, groups and events must comply with all SCCHA rules. Group/event leaders are responsible for the actions of their participants. The grounds must be picked up during the event and thoroughly cleaned within 48 hours of the event.
Any group activity held on the grounds must be scheduled by calling the SCCHA voicemail at 831 458-3198 to avoid possible conflicts with other groups using the grounds.

PLEASE NOTE: There are only a few events each year that may interfere with an individual member's use of the showgrounds. If such an event is taking place when you arrive,  you may not be able to use the grounds. Check ahead!  Read the current newsletter events calendar or go to our calendar web page.