October 20, 2005


Petie’s Pumpkin Fest

A celebration of the season offers up pumpkins and ponies

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Trees leaves are turning golden colors, chill winds nip at children’s bare arms and it’s getting dark earlier. Yep, fall is here—and with it traditions that come with the season.

The SCCHA Hoofbeats have a good time organizing Petie’s Pumpkin Patch. Left: Charle Lewis on Sarah, Megan Burton, CJ Rand, Taylor Pennings, Emillie Feenan, Ally Lewis, Jamie Lee, Cappy, junior and horse activities director Meshelle Lewis and Misty Behning. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

The third annual Petie’s Pumpkin Fest, sponsored by the Santa Clara County Horsemen’s Association [SCCHA] and held last weekend in Almaden, drew a crowd of regulars as well as a few newcomers.

In addition to choosing your favorite pumpkin, there were games of horseshoes, ping-pong toss, bow and arrows and darts. Face painting and temporary tattoos were a must for the many kids in attendance.

But the real stars of the festival were the gentle ponies and horses that provided rides for the attendees, along with other animals, which were available for petting and photographs.

Petie’s Pumpkin Fest is organized by the SCCHA junior group, the Hoofbeats [under age 18] under the supervision of Meshelle Lewis and other members. Ten percent of the proceeds are donated to “Project Ride,” a riding center for handicapped children.

“The kids worked so hard to arrange this day,” said SCCHA president Yvonne Lee. “We’re so lucky. Our kids have so much and we want to teach them to give something back. It’s a good way to give them a chance to help. They are our future leaders.”

SCCHA began in 1939 and first held meetings at the DeAnza Hotel. They acquired their first clubhouse on Alum Rock Avenue. The McKean Road property was purchased in the mid-1960s and meetings have been held there ever since. SCCHA is the oldest established club associated with the California State Horseman’s Association. Their goal is to sponsor, cultivate and foster an interest in horses and increase knowledge and kinship of equestrians. They sponsor many events throughout the year.

The club is open to the public and even those who don’t own a horse are welcome to join the 200-member group.

According to Lee many members live outside of Almaden but travel to the McKean road site to gain the information and kinship that is supplied by SCCHA.

Misty Behning, a member of the Hoofbeats, is leading cart rides pulled by 33-year-old pony “Cappy.”

“I’ve been with the Horseman’s Association forever,” said Behning. “My mom and dad would come here when I was little and now I come all the time.”

Misty Behning took festivalgoers on cart rides with 33-year-old pony Cappy.

Barrett Overhoff is another member who began as a Hoofbeat.

“I was one of the juniors when I was young,” said the 23-year-old Overhoff as he helped with the festivities.

Matt and Angelica Fahy brought their young daughter Sasha to Petie’s Pumpkin Fest.

“We saw a sign at Albertson’s and came last weekend,” said Matt Fahy. “So we had to come back this weekend. Sasha loves ponies. She’s really into animals. And we’re coming back tomorrow so that Angelica can have a ride.”
One question that begged to be asked was obvious. Who was Petie?

“Petie was a horse who died after everyone had left the arena during the first festival,” said Meshelle Lewis as she pampered her Shetland pony Tillman (named after Almaden native Pat Tillman) in between visits from Halloween costumed kids. “So we decided to name the festival after the horse.”

For more information on SCCHA go to www.horsemans.org or call (408) 268-4215.