Circle K should manage city's equestrian facility

At a meeting to introduce the final two potential operators of Two Winds Ranch I listened to both Brian McQueeny of Ride On and the Perez brothers of Circle K Ranches.

Circle K clearly clearly stated that they would like to preserve the Western atmosphere of Two Winds which has served public boarders for over 25 years in the Conejo Valley. Their plan is to smoothly transition the takeover from Mr. Caddin, the current operator, continue similar activities and have minimal interruption to the boarders and horses.

Ride On, according to owner Mr. McQueeney, will completely change the ranch, the focus of the activities and serve non-equestrians, able-bodied and disabled, who do not own or know about horses. They will build classrooms where they can instruct people who want to learn and volunteer in their therapeutic riding program. Mr. McQueeny, along with his benefactor, David Murdock, have a complete disregard for the boarders who struggled over several years to keep Two Winds a public boarding ranch.

I have boarded for over 10 years at Two Winds, and many of the boarders have been there over 20 years, not owning horse property, and the likelihood of owning in California, much less in Ventura County, dwindling.

The 70-plus horse owners of Two Winds who spend most of their days before work, after work and on weekends with their horses should not be shoved aside for a program that already has two sites of operation.

Ride On is also benefitting from a lease of public land owned by Conejo Recreation & Park District where they pay a minimal monthly fee of a few dollars.

Why will all of us be forced to drive to Somis, Fillmore or Moorpark to board our horses so that billionaire David Murdock can have another tax write off?

Please do not let Andy Fox give away our boarding facility to his friends, when Two Winds, under the management of Circle K, could continue to serve all the populations and communities of this area. Patti Chiarelli Thousand Oaks