El Camino Ranch has cared for a growing family of Arabian horses since 1983, when it was founded with a mission to help people connect with the intelligent creatures. The ranch itself traces its origins back even further—to the early 1950s, when Bill and LaVesta Locklin started a farm and began to grow oranges and tomatoes against the scenic backdrop of the San Bernardino Mountain range.
Today, LaVesta’s son, Scott, and her granddaughter, Vandi, continue to look after the facilities, showering their horses with affection and treating them to a healthy daily schedule of riding with guests, participating in shows, and munching on fresh treats from the orange grove. During lessons, the trainers guide students through riding techniques and teach them the basics of equine grooming, tacking, and health care. They also organize a special series of “Pony Pal” lessons for children as young as 3, saving the horses the indignity of galloping around with training wheels glued to their haunches.
