News and Information

Important Information for the Equestrian

The Summer/Fall 2018 Newsletter is here! Grab a printed copy from Novato Horse Supply, Marin Tack & Feed, and Martin Bros. Supply, or download your copy here!

Highlights from this issue:

See “Excitement at Morgan Horse Ranch Pt Reyes and Stewart Horse Camp improvements in the National Seashore " on page 5

First issue of the Marin Horse Council Newsletter from 1973. Click to Download!

Archival Newsletters:

2017 Summer Newsletter
2016 Fall/2017 Winter Newsletter
2016 Summer Newsletter
2016 Spring Newsletter
2015 Fall/Winter Newsletter
2015 Summer Newsletter
2015 Spring Newsletter
2014 Winter Newsletter
2014 Fall Newsletter
2014 Summer Newsletter
2014 Spring Newsletter
2013 Winter Newsletter
2013 Summer Newsletter
2012 Winter Newsletter
2012 Fall Newsletter
2012 Summer Newsletter
2012 Spring Newsletter
2011 Winter Newsletter
2011 Fall Newsletter
2010 Winter Newsletter
2010 Summer Newsletter

To send in articles you would like to see published in our newsletter, please send stories to: pr@marinhorsecouncil.org

Connie Has Ridden On…

We lost a hero of the horse world on August 8th. Connie Berto's legacy and her example of a life lived purposefully has touched us all. Jean Berensmeir, a Marin community leader, said that Connie "...was a dear friend that I trusted and a strong and outspoken advocate representing equestrians on the County Parks and Recreation Trails Committee that I chaired for 20 years..." Rich Gibson, former Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) Ranger and Volunteer Program Manager, shared that Connie "...was a solid, strong, and often joyful person to be around and to have as a volunteer. She contributed so much to our Volunteer Mounted Patrol..." Jan Tharsing, former president of the Tamalpais Trail Riders, wrote that Connie won their Trail Test twice on her Morgan horse, Billy, and "...over all these decades she advocated tirelessly for equestrians and trails."

So many more of Connie's friends have shared a story and a tribute to her. All who knew Connie recognized that she was smart, straight forward and principled. She had a flair for living and about 100 different cowgirl hats of varied styles and colors, which she paired with matching outfits and wore with aplomb! When she found something funny, you knew it. As we honor Connie, and try to live up to her example, it is inspiring to note the many equestrian benchmarks in her life.

1958 Connie and her husband, Frank, moved to Sleepy Hollow where Connie sponsored a horse at Sleepy Hollow Stables. She began riding the local trails.                                                 

1986 Connie and Billy scale Cougar's Rock - Tevis 100 mile ride

1969  Purchased her first Morgan horse, Nuchief's Misschief. She founded the Horsemen's Association of Sleepy Hollow. She also joined the Tamalpais Trail Riders (TTR). Connie helped resist the efforts of some environmental groups who wanted to exclude horses from trails.

1973  Marin Horse News first newsletter published with Connie on the front page. She and Nuchief's Misschief crossed the finish line at the North American Trail Conference Ride that started from San Geronimo Valley Horsemen's Arena (author's note: now the MMWD Treatment Plant) for two days of competitive riding around Mt. Tam and the Marin Municipal Water District.

1975  Bike riders proposed paving over equestrian trails to make a bike trail from Sleepy Hollow to Pt. Reyes National Park. Connie rallied the equestrian community to defeat the proposal.

1976  Appointed to represent the equestrian community on a sub-committee of the MCOSD's Parks, Open Space and Cultural Commission. She served on that committee for 29 years until the MCOSD reorganized and eliminated the committee.

1979  Became a member of the MCOSD Volunteer Patrol, serving as trail ambassador until her passing.

1980  Purchased her second Morgan, GNR Kid Pecos ("Billy"). They competed from 1983-1997 and rode 6,135 miles in competitive distance rides, finishing 97.5% of the rides. This included four 100-mile rides and ten 5-day 250-mile rides.

1981 Founding member of the Marin Horse Council (MHC) on which she served as a board member for two decades.

1986  Rode and finished the Tevis Cup with Billy.

1991  With Billy and other friends, rode the Pony Express trail from Salt Lake City to Carson City, Nevada.

1992, 1993  Won the TTR Trail Test with Billy.

1992, 93, 96 Billy won the National Championship Endurance Horse award from the American Morgan Horse Association

1990  Founding member of the Trails Committee of the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) and worked tirelessly for AERC on the trails committee for many, many years. 

1990's  She put in 12,000 racing miles between 1985 and 2015; 239 long distance race events with 233 race completions. Connie served as the Novato Horsemen's Inc. contact between Norm and Lois Simms when they made improvements to the Club's connector trail.

1996  Bought her third Morgan horse, Eco Stardust ("Dusty") and they competed in countless rides.

2000  Connie became a charter member of California Equestrian Lands and Trails Coalition.

2004  Dusty won the National Championship Endurance Horse award from the American Morgan Horse Association.

2006  Dusty won his 3000-mile medallion.

2010  Connie was a Co-researcher with a team from Dominican University, The Role of Horses as Potential Vectors of Non-Native Plant Invasion: An Overview. Connie and her colleagues' work determined there is not a direct causal link between horses/horse manure and plant invasion, which was a frequent argument about not allowing horses on trails.

2012  Inducted into the Marin Horse Council Hall of Fame.

2012  Founding member of FootPeople, an organization dedicated to safe access for hikers and equestrians on public lands.

2013  Connie on the cover of Endurance News; she was inducted into the Century Club, in which the combined age of the endurance rider and horse are over 100 years. Rumor has it that her nickname on the endurance circuit was "Iron Butt".

2019  Became president of Marin Stables and Trails, Fairfax.

2019  TTR awarded Connie with the Leo Stanley Trophy for the member that makes significant contributions to the Club and for equestrian advocacy.

There is just so much to Connie's career as an equestrian. Her daughter, Louise, shared that, "I think about her riding sidesaddle in the Renaissance Faire, or driving Dusty in the cart around Sleepy Hollow with the jingle bells..." Beyond Connie's true love of riding and driving, It is clear that she has been looking out for equestrian's "access" to trails for her entire life. Gifted with a deep sense of right and wrong, she did not hesitate to offer her opinion when it mattered. As her life's history shows, when there was not an organization to promote or defend an equestrian cause, she founded one! Connie attended hundreds of meetings, wrote letters, and advocated for equestrians with various agencies that manage county, state and federal lands. Delos Putz, a close friend, said, "Connie was a very private person-but her natural dignity, intelligence, and persistence made her an extremely effective advocate for the equestrian community.  Every land manager in Northern California knew her.  Her calls were returned.  Her letters got read and published.  She played a large role in protecting equestrian access to the trails we ride on.  All of us in the horse community are forever in her debt." Through her dedication and sustained efforts, Connie has helped protect Marin County's trails for equestrians today and in the future.

For me, personally, I am proud to call Connie a good and dear friend, someone I looked to for advice and council, with whom I rode, and who I will miss deeply. Connie's trusted companion, Dusty, now 27, just headed off to his next adventure with Connie's son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Dianne, where he will spend his remaining days on their ranch in Oregon.

Robert Eichstaedt, one of Connie's many friends, said that "Connie has ridden on," and Lauren Terk, former MHC President, lamented that, "Connie has taken her final trail ride." But, Jim McDermott, manager of Marin Stables and a close friend of Connie's who often stabled Dusty when Connie was out of town, counters that notion. The other morning he told me that Connie's already saddled up on Billy, and headed out the door for a hundred miler, telling her husband, Frank, "I'll be home for dinner".

Ride on, Connie.

Linda Novy

Connie's children, Louise, Ben, Joseph, and Tom, may be reached at 39 Jordan Avenue San Anselmo, CA. 94960