No horsing around: Travis Equestrian Center takes care of animals, aids community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On the southwestern edge of Travis, nestled at the end of Cordelia Avenue off W Street, is more than 200 acres of open land.

This land is home to all of the active duty, Reservists, civil service employees and retirees who board their horses on base, though priority is given to active-duty members.

The 60-cell barn at the Travis Equestrian Center is a self-care facility.

"Members are required to take care of their horses," said Kristine Moyer, 60th Force Support Squadron equestrian center worker. "We have monthly work days when we come in and turn the horses out into the fields. All the other care, feeding and cleaning the stall, that's on the member."

All members must provide the feed for their horses as well as put in at least four hours of monthly work.

The facility has stringent vaccine requirements and horses must have all their shots before they are allowed to be boarded. All horses must go through a quarantine period before boarding.

The center not only has the boarding facility, but an event course, enclosed arena,
dressage court, a centralized fly spray system and a rental horse trailer.

Members also are able to give access to other individuals to care for and ride their horses.

"This associate membership allows individuals to come out, meet the members or horses and, if that member allows, for the individual to ride their horse," said Kelsey James, wife of Senior Airman Colton James, 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "This allows them to get involved."

These individuals are able to have any use of the facility.

Kelsey James uses this program to give lessons to individuals on Sundays at the equestrian center.

The center offers open houses every couple years, with the last one in October 2013 during the October Harvest Fest. Kelsey James said they are usually seen at events on base and are scheduled to support the Travis Open House May 3 And 4. The equestrian center will provide demonstrations and pony rides.

Boarding fees are $65 per stall per month. There is also a $10 membership fee per family.

For more information on what the Travis Equestrian Center has to offer, call 253-732-4841 or visit www.facebook.com/travisequestriancenter.