In Memorium
It is with the deepest sadness that we lost our beloved Judi Bank on December 19 to heart failure. She was the heart of MHA, our friend, mentor, guide and matriarch. The world already feels very different without her. She brought so much to so many with her deep dedication, knowledge, spirit and love for horses, our organization and our community. She will be deeply missed. Thank you all for your support and love.
Melanie Diamond
Past MHA President
Read Judi's obituary
Judi Bank
1936–2018
Sequoia Arena Groundbreaking, May 1948
The Aahmes Shrine Rangers salute from their matched black-and-white pintos, while MHA officials deploy the first ceremonial shovel of arena footing. Mayor Frank Mott and Councilman Clifford Rishell were on hand to greet the electorate, and later they would return to present trophies at shows. In the late 1940s, MHA membership numbered more than 950. With the construction of the Sequoia Arena, the wilder MHA horse events, races, and rodeos at "Portagee Flat" made way for new Merritt College campus.
Image courtesy of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library
Poster for the MHA Annual Horse Show, 1949
Horse Show, Sequoia Arena, 1962
Image from the MHA archives
The following article was reprinted in the October, 1980 issue of the Trail Blazer. We don't know when or where it was originally published—a guess is that it was published in an issue of the Trail Blazer in late 1948 or early 1949.
Advancement of Good Horsemanship Is Aim
of Metropolitan Horsemen's Association;
Organization's History Reviewed
By Edna G. Collins
The first meeting of the Metropolitan Horsemen's Association was held at the home of Miss. Cornelia V. Cress on Monday evening, Sept. 12, 1938 with Ralph Coffey named temporary chairman, and Miss Cress temporary secretary.
The following officers were elected: Kent Weaver, president; F. B. Fernhoff, vice president; Miss Cress, secretary, and Mr. Coffey, treasurer.
Contributions were made by members present to defray principal costs of the association and 60 people were invited to sponsor the organization. Annual dues were set at one dollar. The first social affair was a Fiesta Barbecue held on April 23, 1939 at Portugee Flat.
At the end of the first year an executive committee was appointed to selected candidates for the 1940 executive committee. At the close of the first year the association boasted a membership of 255 members. Activities were limited to a barbecue in the spring and the annual meeting in the fall.
TRAIL BLAZER
In the spring of 1941 the first Trail Blazer was published, the brain child of R. C. McDonald. Mr. McDonald acted as editor and Bob Siegler as business manager. Both boys were in the army a year later and Elena and Irene Lagorio were asked to put out the magazine.
In 1948 Blanche Paul took it over following resignation of the Lagorio girls and in June 1948 Mrs. Edna Collins was appointed managing editor.
In 1943 the association decided to inaugurate an annual horse show and George Walling was appointed chairman. It was a very successful show, held at the old Leona Stables. By 1944 the MHA had a total membership just short of 800 and activities for the year had been increased to include a breakfast ride, a horse show, a field day and the annual banquet.
The MHA affiliated with the California State Horsemen's Association in 1944, another milestone in the development of the organization. In 1946 Frank Colburn submitted a plan changing the set-up on the annual horse shows.
He suggested a separate board of directors for the show consisting of 12 members. The horse show board was to be self-governing. Two members were appointed for six years, two for five years, two for four years, etc. Retiring members were to be replaced by two each year to be appointed by the president of MHA. The plan was approved by the board.
MHA PRESIDENTS LISTED
Those who have served as president of the organization in the order of their service include Kent Weaver, F. B. Fernhoff, G. Howard Robinson, Frank Moller, Harold Knudsen, William Barnett, Fred Anderson, Frank Colburn, Don Marquis, Ted Dreyer, and Jim Myers, President for 1949.
During Mr. Marquis' regime the association inaugurated the open forum meetings, held quarterly, at which all members are given a chance to make suggestions and offer constructive criticism for the improvement of the organization.
Purposes of the MHA are to provide an organization for the promotion and advancement of good horsemanship and equestrian sports; to foster and support legislation for the advancement and protection and general welfare of horse owners, including the breeding and exhibiting of horses and the interest of all those generally interested in horsemanship, and to secure the construction and maintenance of equestrian paths and trails and to provide for the protection of the said trails and paths and all persons using them.
NEW HORSE ARENA
During the past two years a new horse arena has been built in Joaquin Miller park. This year—for the first time—plans were made to fence in the arena for the MHA show, and for construction of bleachers for approximately 6,000 spectators.
The show had grown by leaps and bounds and where once it was limited to only members of the association, it has now become one of the largest of its kind in Northern California, attracting exhibitors from the entire Bay Area, as well as from many celebrated stables throughout the state.
Last year, for the first time a mammoth street parade through downtown Oakland preceded the show and this same medium was used this year in promoting interest in the show.
1000 IS MEMBER GOAL
Membership in the association passed the 900 mark in 1948 and an enthusiastic attempt is being made this year to bring the number to better than 1,000.