About
ABHOA Mission Statement
The purpose of the ABHOA shall be to promote and support the pasturing of horses on the Alto Bowl/Horse Hill Open Space Preserve; to consult and cooperate with the Marin County Open Space District on all matters pertaining to such pasturing; to inform and educate the public regarding horses so as to ensure the safe and enjoyable integration of horse and human activities on Horse Hill; to be a resource for others in encouragement of equine grazing on urban open space lands; to work toward the preservation of the cultural heritage of the horse in Marin County
What is Horse Hill?
Horse Hill is a Marin County Open Space District Preserve, accessible to the general public for recreational activities. It is also open pasture land with a small herd of horses pastured under the terms of a grazing lease with the Marin County Open Space District. Horse Hill is located in the northeast corner of Mill Valley, surrounded by suburban housing tracts but with access to many miles of trails and fire roads. Horse Hill consists of approximately 35 acres of Open Space Preserve and 15 acres of Mill Valley Meadows Homeowners’ Association lands. An area called the “mesa,” at the northeastern end of Lomita Drive adjacent to Highway 101, is used for most horse care activities.
Who runs Horse Hill?
The ABHOA, a not for profit cooperative association, manages the equine activities on Horse Hill, working closely with Marin County Parks.
What does it cost to board a horse at Horse Hill?
The present board is $150 per month, which is subject to change at any time for any reason. There is also a onetime nonrefundable Membership Assessment ($2000) for all new boarders. The assessment was levied on June 1, 2014, to fund necessary facility improvements, primarily a municipal water supply system. Going forward, every new member will be subject to the assessment.
What is the process of pasture boarding a horse on Horse Hill?
The grazing lease restricts the number of horses permitted on Horse Hill to 14. When there is a pasture boarding position open on Horse Hill, it is announced in various locations and a 30 day application process is opened. At the end of the 30 days a drawing is held among qualified applicants. Potential boarders must meet all requirements of boarding to secure an available position. Pasture boarding cannot be sold or transferred. Boarding is associated with an individual, not a horse. A Horse Hill boarder must be the sole owner of the horse boarded. Each horse on Horse Hill is privately owned and cared for 24/7/365 by its owner. For more information about spot administration, please see the ABHOA’s Spot Policy and Procedures document.
What kind of horse facilities are provided at Horse Hill?
Horse Hill is a boarding pasture only, not an equestrian center. The Hill provides hitch rails, rudimentary shelters, horse drinking water and feeding facilities. There are no other amenities, including:
NO arena
NO round pen
NO wash rack or grooming facilities
NO electricity
NO overnight trailer parking
NO tack, grain, or personal equipment storage
NO club room
NO trainers, clinics, organized riding or social events
NO onsite management or security
Horses boarded on The Hill live in open pasture with its seasonal dust, insects, rain, mud, wind and cold. Horse owners transport their tack and horse supplies in their own vehicles. All of Horse Hill’s lands are open to the public and the horses are accessible to visitors to the Preserve. In the interest of safe and enjoyable public use, the ABHOA works to minimize risky horse/visitor interaction.
What kind of horse does well on Horse Hill?
Most horses benefit from being in a natural open grazing environment and settled herd situation. However, Horse Hill is not a retirement or layup pasture and may present challenges to older horses or those prone to unsoundness, overeating or those apt to be too low on the social ladder to feed properly. The ABHOA does not allow stallions, pregnant mares or foals in the herd. There are no specific breed restrictions. Horses must be at least 5 years of age but may not be older than 20. Incoming new boarders must provide veterinary certification of their horse’s suitability for placement on Horse Hill. Because of the freechoice grazing, inactive horses may be inclined to unhealthy weight gain. Even when on pasture, many horses require regular additional exercise to maintain optimum weight and wellbeing. New horses are introduced into the herd over a period of time using an adaptation corral and companion horses, to reduce the risk of injury to both the newcomer and the herd.
HORSE HILL BOARDING FAQ
While Horse Hill is a wonderful horse boarding opportunity, it’s not for every horse owner or horse. The Alto Bowl Horseowners’ Association (ABHOA) has put together the following list of frequently asked questions to give potential applicants a better sense of the Horse Hill experience.
How are the horses fed?
The Horse Hill herd is fed communally by its boarders twice a day during the late summer and through winter (approximately 30 weeks); current feed is orchard grass hay. During the remainder of the year the herd grazes The Hill. Supplemental feeding for an individual horse is the owner's responsibility. No special feed requirements can be accommodated as part of the group feedings. The herd is body condition scored and hay feeding is adjusted to the "middle" of the herd's condition. Boarders must commit to either AM or PM feed responsibilities for 4‐5 weeks each year. Feed responsibilities also include mucking in the feed area, checking water, and assessing the herd.
What kind of equestrian experience does a boarder need in order to keep a horse on Horse Hill?
Historically, Horse Hill boarders have been active trail riders and successful endurance event competitors. Horse Hill is not for the beginning horseperson or the green horse. We strongly recommend that anyone interested in gaining correct basic riding and horse ownership skills do so at supervised and well‐equipped boarding stables. Such stables can provide trainers, lessons, clinics and full time supervision, as well as the camaraderie of fellow equestrians. We also encourage prospective first time horse owners to look into a "sponsorship" arrangement at a local stable or barn.
This is an excellent way to find out if full time horse keeping is worth the time and effort.
Horse Hill is also not appropriate for those whose equestrian activities are primarily arena centric such as dressage, show, jumping, eventing, rodeo, etc. Someone active in horse events other than trail riding may not be able to efficiently board at Horse Hill while being engaged in ring or arena riding endeavors elsewhere.
Horse keeping and co op maintenance activities at Horse Hill requires boarders to be in good basic health and relatively fit. Getting your horse often requires a 15 minute hike with 300 ft. elevation gain. Feeding chores involve moving hay bales and pushing a laden manure cart, sometimes through heavy mud. Work party tasks can be several hours of invasive plant removal or fence construction.
The ABHOA is not a social activities organization. The Hill has no on site manager or staff. Horse Hill boarders see each other at infrequent intervals. While new boarders receive sufficient information and support to make the integration of their horse into the herd as safe as possible for all concerned, they should already have a very high level of riding, horse handling and horse keeping skills. It is likely that any Horse Hill boarder will encounter (perhaps alone, at night, in bad weather, or under other adverse circumstances) a wide variety of situations demanding appropriate emergency action. Examples: multiple loose horses, broken fences, serious or life threatening horse or human injuries, environmental catastrophes, etc. Horse Hill boarders depend upon each other to identify and respond to such problems efficiently and effectively. Boarders must also have sufficient horse experience to monitor and judge individual horses for changes in attitude and soundness.
ABHOA boarders do not allow minors to apply for or hold a boarding spot. Adults may not "proxy" a boarding spot as a way to circumvent this restriction. There are safety and security concerns regarding solitary minors handling horses on the Horse Hill Preserve. Horse Hill is generally suitable for the active and experienced trail rider, in particular the equestrian who has cared for their horse daily in a variety of settings, such as horse camping or backyard horse keeping. All boarding applications are thoroughly reviewed prior to acceptance. Applicants may be asked for additional information, a personal interview, and/or assessment of the horse at the ABHOA's discretion. Applicant and horse references will be checked.
What does a boarder need to know about trail riding at Horse Hill?
Horse Hill’s trail riding opportunities are varied, spectacular and some of the finest in the world, but we must offer some caveats. There is no significant riding within the Horse Hill fence line, the real riding is beyond the pasture. The many miles of available trails are quite enjoyable but are shared with many other users: cyclists, dog walkers, hikers, joggers, etc. A significant number of trails are accessed via the busy Mill Valley multi use path. The trails are not private bridle paths; they include multiple user thoroughfares, mountain fire roads, narrow single tracks, and the
occasional suburban street.
If you are not completely comfortable with trail riding that includes steep terrain, sudden surprises, and lots of people, dogs and bikes, we strongly recommend that you NOT apply for a Horse Hill spot. If you are unclear about what sort of riding is available from Horse Hill, contact the ABHOA for more information.
Does a boarder have to live near Horse Hill?
There are no requirements regarding residency but please note that travel to and from Mill Valley via all routes can be extremely difficult during peak traffic hours (7-10 AM, 3‐7 PM). Regular visits to Horse Hill may require excessive travel time. Co op feeding responsibilities will requires boarders to be at Horse Hill on approximately 4-5 weeks per year at either an early or late hour for 7 days straight, at a consistent time. All of which is to say, if you live in San Rafael, Fairfax, or somewhere farther north, boarding at Horse Hill may be very inconvenient.
What else should a boarder consider before applying to board a horse on Horse Hill?
The ABHOA strongly discourages potential applicants that:
Plan to keep one or more additional horses at other facilities while boarding at Horse Hill.
Anticipate arranging financial sponsorship or sharing the care and use of their horse by others at the Hill.
Regard boarding at Horse Hill a temporary situation.
Have the best intention of increasing their involvement with their horse as soon as more pressing personal
issues resolve.Are attracted by Horse Hill's location and cost only, and have not fully considered other practical aspects
What is expected Horse Hill boarders?
A Horse Hill boarder is expected to make a significant commitment of time and energy to the care of their horse, the herd, and to ABHOA activities:
Horse care: Regular basic grooming, hoof care, supplemental feeding, if necessary, and regular exercise (riding). Your horse is your daily responsibility.
Financial: Monthly pasture rent and vet clinic billings kept current, plus any assessments agreed upon by the ABHOA.
Co op participation: Attendance at business meetings; 4‐5 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) per year (either AM or PM) of daily feeding, manure pickup, water and herd check; Mesa Monitor duties once weekly every other week during grazing season to check herd and water; 4 group vettings per year.
Work parties: ABHOA or County Volunteer Program, 2 or more events per year.
Neighborhood: Be comfortable with having your horse on public lands open to recreational uses. Be an ambassador for Horse Hill in the community by engaging with visitors, neighbors and trail users.
Trail community: Ride the local trails. Help support and promote Marin’s equestrian culture.
What are the responsibilities of ABHOA?
The ABHOA will:
Maintain a grazing lease and a good working relationship with the Marin County Open Space District.
Maintain adequate ABHOA liability insurance to meet lease requirements, and ensure that all members carry personal liability insurance covering their horse activities.
Manage a seasonal hay feeding program, including the purchase of high quality feed, and organize boarders participation.
Set up regular onsite group vet clinics for routine procedures (vaccinations, worming, etc.).
Handle banking and bookkeeping in an efficient and transparent manner; maintain historic records; respond to member concerns; conduct regular elections and business meetings.
Oversee the filling of pasture spots in a fair, open and non discriminatory manner.
Set and enforce horse welfare policy for Horse Hill and encourage the highest level of enlightened and humane horse keeping.
Promote good relations with Horse Hill’s neighbors and the community at large.
Work to promote equestrian trail access and trail riding in Marin County.
The information above is offered to help potential applicants make an informed decision about applying to pasture
board a horse at Horse Hill. Again, if you have further questions, please contact the ABHOA. Thank you.
