Most people who attended Saturday’s 80th anniversary celebration for the Turlock Horsemen’s Club that had been members since the organization’s early years shared similar sentiments.
“Things aren’t how they used to be. Everything has changed,” said 84-year-old member Jack Wilkey of Turlock.
“Not a lot of people have big, open spaces and ride horses. And there is all this development happening around the property” added Patti Souza, who is also 84 and now lives in Nevada. “But seeing all the people today hearing about the participation, it’s wonderful. I’m glad to hear that.”
Saturday’s event at the Turlock Horsemen’s Club headquarters on 1506 S. Tegner Rd. drew hundreds of horse enthusiasts of all ages from across the Central Valley. Older folks used the day to catch up with old friends and reflect on their days of riding horses through the vast California mountains. The middle-aged men and women took to the recently renovated arena to compete in the intense American Cowboy Team Roping Association events. Many children, including some as young as six, also participated in their own competitive roping events, while several others stood on the sidelines watching in awe.
As six-year-old Axel Cozzitorto of Gustine described it while riding proudly atop his pony, King: “It’s a lot of fun.”
Souza agreed, especially when looking back at her younger days in the club. She became a member in 1946, just two years after the club was founded, which she has always been impressed with considering many men were away, serving overseas in World War II.
“There was a lot going on. We had a drill team. Two, actually. We’d take rides up in the lower country or on the ranches or up in the Sierras every month. Like 20 to 30 couples would be there, and then it grew to be 60 or 80. And for our big rides, we used to go Fourth of July, we used to walk the High Sierras and spend a week there with our horses,” she said while sitting in the cub’s large meeting space that displays trophies, ribbons and photos from years past.
Souza explained that not only did the activities keep her and other members physically active as youngsters, but they also taught them valuable life lessons.
“It taught us responsibility,” she said. “It taught kids to put effort into things. “If you’ve got a horse, you have the responsibility to ride and care for it.”
And that’s exactly the mission of the Turlock Horsemen’s Club: To provide a better understanding, promotion and improvement of horses, horsemen and good horsemanship.
According to club president Betty Vernooy, there are nearly 20 members in their youth groups. Some members, accompanied by parents, are as young as one-year-old. There are also a handful of members in their early 20s participating in activities and events alongside those who are older.
“If it weren’t for the youth, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Wilkey. “All these decades, they are the ones who join alongside their parents, they grow up and they really keep it going.”
Vernooy was pleased with the turnout.
“An event like this can really help spread the word that we’re here and have a lot to offer,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know we’re here, and this just gave them a little glimpse of what we still do here in Turlock.”
