Expansion proposed for Oceanside’s therapeutic horse-riding school (original) (raw)

Oeanside’s historic Ivey Ranch Park has proposed expansions of its 135-year-old house and a hay barn used by equestrian facilities that provide therapeutic riding lessons for children and adults.

The ranch house was built in 1889 facing the San Luis Rey Mission at what is now the southeast corner of Mission Avenue and Rancho Del Oro Drive. Spanish and Luiseno artifacts connected to the mission have been found on the property.

The city acquired the house and about 20 acres of the surrounding grounds in 1981 from the L.O. Ivey Trust. The equestrian program is operated by the nonprofit Ivey Ranch Park Association, which keeps about 25 horses there.

“The programming consists of therapeutic riding lessons with horses cared for on the site, day programs for adults, after-school care for children, among other offerings,” according to a city staff report. “They currently serve up to 200 clients per week and would like to increase their ability to serve more people.”

The two-story ranch house would get an additional 882 square feet for more classrooms, restrooms and an office. The style would match the building’s white siding, windows and shed-like roof.

A hay barn built in 2016 on the eastern side of the property would be increased by 720 square feet for more storage space, which would save costs by reducing the frequency of deliveries.

Because of the age of the ranch house, the expansion needs a historic permit from the Oceanside City Council. The Historical Preservation Commission will review the application Tuesday and make a recommendation to the City Council.

The park also has day-care programs for adults and children, and a community garden that rents plots for $300 annually. The park and its amenities are for program participants only.

The park is run by three full-time staff members, about 60 part-timers and more than 1,000 volunteers over the course of a year.