Los Angeles Equestrian Center

Despite a warm reception in recent years by neighbors at its Hansen Dam Recreation Area site, this year's San Fernando Valley Fair will open Thursday at a new location, in Burbank--a move designed to save thousands of dollars for the annual event. The switch to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center is expected to save the cash-strapped 51st District Agricultural Assn.

Equestrian competitions may not dominate the sports pages, but for those who train vigorously to compete in horse shows, there's nothing more rewarding than scoring well for sitting tall and clearing the rails in the ring. We visited the Los Angeles National Hunter/Jumper Show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank recently to talk with some riders about what keeps them in the saddle.

The area in Burbank along Riverside Drive, east of the studios and west of Victory Boulevard, is home to a number of riding stables, thanks to its proximity to the trails of Griffith Park. The most impressive of these equine establishments is the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, which is home to some big-deal horse events throughout the year. The San Fernando Valley Fair will be held there July 8 to 11. And there's an equestrian antique show and sale the last Sunday of each month. 1 p.m.

Ride 'em, family! Oh, think not? Think that only jockeys, rodeo circuit riders, farmers, ranchers and the aristocracy go horseback riding? Well, a good ride is no farther away than the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in the Griffith Park area. And, yes, both children and adults can have a great time on the first ride over the trails through the chaparral-covered hills. It requires no prior knowledge of riding or horses; it doesn't even require a great deal of balance or nerve.

The final round of the 1992 Polo America Challenge Cup, pitting the Los Angeles Thoroughbreds against the Dallas Defenders, will be played Saturday night at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

The Rodeo Drive Christmas Cup professional arena polo event begins tonight at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. The game, featuring Joe Henderson, the world's highest rated player, is one of a three-game series.

The third annual Mercedes Grand Prix of Los Angeles, a show jumping competition, will be held Sunday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center starting at 2 p.m.

"We've got a lot of questions about what's going on out there and, until we answer them, they can no longer have arena polo at the center." --Michael Burns, district supervisor for the Los Angeles Department of Animal Regulation, which ordered a halt to the glitzy indoor polo games at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center after the death of two horses during a match.

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank, [310] 674-6555, [213] 365-3500). The 19th annual event commemorating the history of the African American cowboy features bareback riding, steer-wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding demonstrations, as well as food, games, rides, reenactments and sing-alongs. Special kids' rodeo show, Fri., 10 a.m.-noon only. Regular rodeo has three shows: Sat., 1:30 and 7 p.m.; Sun., 3:30 p.m. $6-$22.

After two years of agonizing negotiations, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a 30-year contract with a private firm to run the city's 70-acre horse-riding facility at Griffith Park. "We're very happy with today's council action," said Jana Olson, spokesman for the franchise-holder, Los Angeles Equestrian Center Inc. LAEC won the franchise in May, 1990, and then triggered a lengthy City Hall review when it asked that its rent be sharply reduced.

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank, [310] 674-6555, [213] 365-3500). The 19th annual event commemorating the history of the African American cowboy features bareback riding, steer-wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding demonstrations, as well as food, games, rides, reenactments and sing-alongs. Special kids' rodeo show, Fri., 10 a.m.-noon only. Regular rodeo has three shows: Sat., 1:30 and 7 p.m.; Sun., 3:30 p.m. $6-$22.

Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, the former Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra stalwart, was winner of the Down Beat 2000 critics poll on his instrument. Here, he's leading a quartet of talented associates. * Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, 8 p.m. $25. (310) 506-4522.

Just 4 years old, Eden Jade Smith was thrown from a horse and trampled at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center last week. Her parents are not angry about the accident but over the response by the nearby equestrian school, which they say refused to immediately summon an ambulance for the girl, who suffered seven broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

* Equestrian--The Los Angeles Equestrian Center will host "Evening Under the Stars" on Friday at Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Sponsored by the California Dressage Society, the event will feature dressage musical freestyles plus the Rainbow Riders Drill Team, the Vaughn Smith Andalusians and the Fabulous Flyball Dogs. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. The center is at 480 Riverside Drive.

* Equestrian. "Evening Under the Stars--an Equestrian Event" is slated Aug. 25 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank. $10-$150. (818) 842-8444. * Broadway. Valley Cultural Center will present a musical tribute to Broadway composer Jerry Herman on Aug. 27 at Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. Free. (818) 704-1587. * Rock. 1960s rock legend Eric Burdon and the New Animals will perform Aug. 27 at Newhall Park, 24933 Newhall Ave. Free.

Susana Bruce, 17, whistled, and legions of teens and children on horseback followed her into the arena. Audience members clapped when they heard the "Mission Impossible" theme song in the background. There was no going back, Bruce sensed. It was time for perfection. "It's like ballet, but with horses," she said. "We cannot make one single mistake. Everything has to be perfect."

* Equestrian. "Evening Under the Stars--an Equestrian Event" is slated Aug. 25 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank. $10-$150. (818) 842-8444. * Broadway. Valley Cultural Center will present a musical tribute to Broadway composer Jerry Herman on Aug. 27 at Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. Free. (818) 704-1587. * Rock. 1960s rock legend Eric Burdon and the New Animals will perform Aug. 27 at Newhall Park, 24933 Newhall Ave. Free.

The city Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners voted Monday to seek from Gibraltar Savings nearly $1 million in back rent for the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. But the five-member panel agreed to negotiate with Gibraltar on the debt, noting that forcing immediate repayment might hinder a Burbank developer's proposal to purchase the center. The board said Gibraltar inherited the debt when it foreclosed on the facility's previous operator, Equestrian Centers of America, in April, 1988.

Under the glare of arena lights, a rider rises up and down with every other step of his mount, struggling to match the rhythm of the trot. Nearby, another rider in leather chaps zipped over jeans moves in perfect balance with his horse as he effortlessly cues for a canter, forming giant circles in a figure eight.

Under the glare of arena lights, a rider rises up and down with every other step of his mount, struggling to match the rhythm of the trot. Nearby, another rider in leather chaps zipped over jeans moves in perfect balance with his horse. He guides the big bay through an imaginary serpentine, then effortlessly cues for a canter, forming giant circles in a figure-eight. Perched in the viewing box of an adjoining arena, a riding instructor clucks directions to her pupils.