Our Vision and Mission

Our Vision:

The Mounted Patrol Foundation believes that horses and equestrian activities have helped create a vibrant, healthy community in Woodside California and the surrounding area, and Historically, horses were essential to life in the United States for transportation, work and pleasure. The Mounted Patrol Foundation seeks to honor this legacy by continuing to support, maintain, develop and encourage equestrian facilities, activities and heritage in the town of Woodside, the county of San Mateo and the state of California. Our vision also includes the preservation of horse habitats and trail systems to provide both opportunities and environments conducive to the enjoyment of horses for horse owners and the public at large.

Our Mission and grant record:

The Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), charitable organization that works in collaboration with local government, other public agencies and other non-profits to support and promote equestrian activities and facilities in the area. The Foundation also serves the fiscal agent for CHAPS - Community Horse Advocacy Program for San Mateo County - and works closely with them to achieve our mutual goals. During the 16 years since our founding, the Mounted Patrol Foundation has made grants totaling over $330,000 to over 40 horse- and equestrian-related organizations, activities, and facilities.

These goals include:

We support programs that use horses to fulfill our obligation to veterans who have given so much, to foster kids who have lost so much, and less fortunate children, who have so little.
Fundraising to enhance, preserve and promote safe and successful operations, programs, facilities, trail development and improvements for horse-related activities.
Creating an environment that educates and reinforces the historic and ongoing contribution of horses for work and recreation.

Current Fundraising Projects and Completed projects

Center Trail Bridge is OPEN

July 20, 2020 - The Bridge is OPEN. We are pleased to announce that the Center Trail Bridge project has been completed and is now open for equestrian use. Just this week, the contractor finished installing the bridge, building the new access trail to the bridge and fixing the fence along the sides of the trail. We had planned to have a grand opening ceremony next week with the Town Council, Town Trails Committee, donors and others, but unfortunately the current COVID mandate precluded us from having any type of large gathering. Hopefully we can have a dedication event sometime this fall or when COVID restrictions allow. Stay tuned. In the meantime, we invite you to ride the entire Center trail from North Woodside to South Woodside and enjoy the renewed access to areas that have been too long closed to us. So for now, go on out and enjoy the Center Trail in North Woodside once again.

See More - Center Trail Bridge

The Woodside Equestrian Merit Scholarship

The Mounted Patrol Foundation and WHOA! (Woodside-area Horse Owners Association) are jointly sponsoring and funding a $10,000 scholarship for post-secondary education, to be awarded in 2020. The criteria will be high academic achievement, high community involvement and significant equestrian activity. Application and information will be on the Foundation's and WHOA's websites.

SUCCESS: The scholarship was awarded to Rebecca Refaee on June 11, 2020.

See more in Woodside-area Equestrian Scholarship

Request for donations to SMC Large Animal Evacuation Group

As everyone knows, San Mateo County has been under devastating damage from fires. This is an appeal for donations to help support efforts of the

San Mateo County Large Animal Evacuation Group (SMC LAEG)

SMC LAEG is an all-volunteer group that activates when called upon by the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services or other emergency agencies. Its mission is to provide qualified large animal handlers and horse trailers in emergency situations, to evacuate large animals in the face of disaster or emergency, and to lessen the burden on government Emergency Services. SMC LAEG also provides education on disaster preparedness. In the first week of the CZU Lightning Complex fire, they have transported over 1500 animals out of danger to safety

While they currently do not have an ability to accept tax deductible donations, the Mounted Patrol Foundation as a 501(c)(3) organization can and will accept donations on their behalf. In fact, we will add the support of this effort by matching contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000! Donations are tax-deductible to the amount permitted by law and may be made via check or PayPal to the Mounted Patrol Foundation.

Click for donation information

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