Attending a Show at the W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center

Awhile back I was reading Hollywood Hoofbeats: Trails Blazed Across the Silver Screen by Petrine Day Mitchum which tells the story of movie horses. While reading a section about Arabian horses in film I learned of the W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at Cal Poly Pomona. As often is the case when I read non-fiction I immediately grabbed my phone to research more about it. I discovered the center still exists and regularly holds Sunday horse shows so you know what that means. I immediately put it on my list of things to do and last weekend I headed out to Pomona to check it out.

Will Keith Kellogg (of Kellogg’s cereal) had a winter home in Pomona and there bred Arabian horses with several being used in Hollywood films. In 1925 the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center was founded and on Sundays horse shows were presented. In 1932 the center was given to the state with the agreement that the horse shows would continue and in 1949 it joined Cal Poly Pomona which holds the shows (on the first Sunday of the month from October to May) to this day.

After hearing a story like that I knew I had to attend a show but, as things go, I never got around to it. This year, I made sure to add it to my 2019 “must visit” list and I finally made it to the April show.

Cal Poly Pomona students are a major part of the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. They may be employed as stall-cleaners and grooms, students of equine studies or belong to the Horsemanship Club and show team. They also run the the monthly horse shows which are open the public for a nominal $4 admission fee.

Over the course of two hours the students showcase the work they have done with the horses while promoting the skills of this beautiful breed. The incredible prowess of the horses are on full display and the work the students have done is quite impressive. Attending a show feels like an old fashioned small town event with an all ages crowd oohing and ahhing at the fascinating animals on display.

The show I attend was Disney themed with the students and horses dressed as favorite characters and it was fun to see the “real life” Disney heroes perform.

After the show the stables are opened and everyone is welcome to view the horses up close. On our visit we had an extra special treat as several foals had recently been born and we were lucky enough to observe them with their moms.

I had never seen a foal up close before and they are Cuuuuute!

Most of the horses are super friendly and it was such fun to meet them and give them lots of gentle pets. The horses at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center are so beautiful and well cared for and it was such a joy to visit with them.

I’m so glad I added W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center to my 2019 “must visit” list as it’s a true SoCal gem. Thanks to the legacy of Will Keith Kellogg the Arabian Horse Center has bred and cared for these magnificent creatures for nearly 90 years and the public has had access to them the entire time. It’s a true gift and is certainly worth taking advantage of – you won’t be disappointed.

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