MEPS programs are
rooted in the heartfelt
belief that riding and the care of horses teaches valuable lessons for life including: responsibility, empathy, organizational skills, the value of
physical fitness and training, teamwork, leadership, self reliance, and self respect.

What is MEPS?
Metropolitan Equestrian Preservation Society (MEPS) incorporated in 1993, as a California Non-Profit Corporation.

The primary objectives and purposes of the corporation are to safeguard the future practice of equestrian arts in metropolitan
areas, and to expand public access to horsemanship and the range of equestrian sports, by the development of educational and participator programs not present in public or private facilities in the Oakland area. To provide low cost, hands-on experience for an urban public which would otherwise not have access to the equestrian arts.

To provide facilities for other non-profit organizations to carry out their programs, education and rehabilitation to various segments of the public, to demonstrate all aspects of horsemanship to the public, and to support and encourage the preservation, construction, extension and maintenance of equestrian trails, training, show and stable facilities.

The MEPS Board
The MEPS Board of Directors includes Founding members of Citizens for Oakland’s Open Space (COOS) (1990 Bond Measure K), representatives from HEIA and PEIA (adjacent home owners associations), members of the City Stables Advisory Council, and local equestrians. The MEPS board is broad based in experience and includes business and professional people as its members. The board has the know how and talent needed to make the stables operational and safe, and to extend its role as a valuable asset to the city.


City Stables and MEPS —The MEPS Proposal
Last May, MEPS answered the City's RFP for a concessionaire to run City Stables. The plan that MEPS submitted to the city is thorough and responsive to the city's needs. It describes operations in the short term and long term, describes public benefit programs and impacts, and it includes detailed financial statements.

Sensible planning, financially sound management.
Formation of the MEPS plan was driven by a shared vision to restore the facility to full operation with expanded high quality outreach programs for the city's youth and families.

At the heart of the MEPS plan is the belief that operations must be financially sound and must contribute to the long term upkeep and maintenance of the facility so that its future service to the public is assured.

The MEPS Plan includes a comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan that includes rehabilitation of the buildings, restoration of the corrals, new covered stalls, and new exercise areas. The site plan is designed to reduce impacts on the neighbor properties and improve utilization of the site. It conforms to the City Stables Master Plan and incorporates parts of the long range planning developed by the City Stables Advisory Council working with Public Works staff.

The MEPS Plan includes fund raising goals and financing details that outline contributions from private and public donors, foundations, grants and loans. MEPS will continue to seek public and private funding for capital improvement and for high quality programs that will include affordable, low cost and free programs for
qualified city youth and adults.

At this time MEPS brings to the table approximately $500,000 for the City Stables site improvements and programs. MEPS continues to identify additional funding sources for ongoing and future programs and improvements.

Broad Based Community Support
Support for the MEPS plan continues to grow in the community. In the summer of '06 MEPS board members took plans around to neighboring properties. MEPS secured the approval for its plan from all homeowners that they met with, in all over 50 homeowners.
MEPS is also supported by local equestrians, equestrian organizations,
park and recreation planners and youth program providers from all over the city.

Currently MEPS has numerous letters of intent and interest from groups and individuals interested in participating in MEPS programs. These letters are part of the materials submitted to the City.

MEPS has plans to run the following programs at city stables: gymnastic equestrian vaulting, riding lessons, summer day camps, environmental science course work, Western and equestrian theme art classes, master gardners, 4-H, public boarding and horse
training, intervention programs for at-risk youth a learning center in the stable’s classroom, horsemanship classes, and therapeutic riding.

MEPS will also run selected off site programs that will be offered to schools, recreation centers or other social centers. Last August, MEPS launched 2 such programs in conjunction with other youth program providers. One program, Meet the Riders, introduces young horse lovers to different riding styles, equipment and tack and was offered at Children's Fairyland. Another program World of Horses demonstrated different riding styles to day campers in Joaquin Miller Park in conjunction with a popular outdoor education program. The needs and interests of very young children are addressed in MEPS's Intro to Horses, an outreach program designed for very young children. Intro to Horses is taught in schools or childrens' centers.

MEPS is a 501 (c)(3) public benefit, non-profit, tax exempt corporation. ID #94-2751052

Historical Background
OAKLAND CITY STABLES
13560 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

Oakland City Stables was acquired in 1994 with Measure K (Park Open Space Bond) funding. Today the property includes facilities built in 1939. The covered arena was built in 1979 and the restroom/snack bar facility was completed in 2003.

The 7.2 acre site was once part of the Luis Maria Peralta land grant of 1820 established by the last Spanish governor of Alta California (Mexico). It was susbsequently divided between the four sons of Don Luis. Ygnacio Peralta received 9,416 acres which included this land. Ygnacio resided in the family adobe located near 34th Avenue and Paxton - that land is now Peralta Hacienda Historic Park. The City Stables site was part of the family’s winter pasturage.

Other owners of the property included Robert Simson, Realty Syndicate Company (Francis 'Borax' Smith), and the Aahmes Shrine. The Shriners used the facility to board and train their black and white pinto horses. During the 40s, 50s and 60s the stable was called Rancho San Antonio after the original Rancho. In the 70s, Harry and Mary Dunn owned the stable and ran a boarding and training business named “Vista Madera Stables” until 1994.

A Promising Future is Possible
As a publicly owned equestrian center the historic site has the potential to house interpretive programs both recreational and educational including: riding lessons for youth and adults, intervention and outreach programs for at-risk youth, horse training, trail riding and boarding as well as demonstration agriculture, stable management, environmental science, and arts and crafts.