Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association

Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association of California was formed in 1969 by Arabian horse breeders in Santa Cruz and Monterey.

Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association’s goal is to promote the beauty & versatility of the Arabian horse and also to encourage support various all-breed equestrian events. They started with several clinics, lectures, trail rides, a tack auction and a potluck dinner; added an all Arabian horse show, as well as a contest for the Club logo. The winning design is still the Gold Coast Trademark and a source of pride for its members. The Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association’s newsletter, Paisa Ahkbar (“Penny News”) was started in 1970. In 1985 Gold Coast AHA acquired its own charter. Over the years the GCAHA Class A show in August which focuses on the amateur exhibitor has become a favorite, providing a fun weekend of classes, Saturday night BBQ, and a half day All Breed Opportunity show. Open all breed classes have also been added to the regular show schedule. Current activities for the Club include group participation in local parades, club promotion at area equine fairs, hosted trail rides, clinics, and special club outings. GCAHA also has an Achievement Program wherein members can earn points towards rewards while enjoying and having fun with their lovely Arabians. Monthly board meetings and committee meetings are open to members and their guests.

New to horses? Start here. 🐴Our youth riders do too, and every small win matters.At Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association...
08/14/2026

New to horses? Start here. 🐴

Our youth riders do too, and every small win matters.

At Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association, beginners are welcome, all breeds are welcome, and there is a place for you to grow. From gentle mentoring to fun local events, we make it easy to get involved.

Join us, volunteer, or learn more at https://www.goldcoastarabian.org

Did you know? Arabians are the ONLY horse breed with just 17 ribs (most horses have 18)! 🐴 This unique skeletal structur...
08/12/2026

Did you know? Arabians are the ONLY horse breed with just 17 ribs (most horses have 18)! 🐴 This unique skeletal structure is one of the things that makes them so distinctive. Plus, they have one fewer lumbar vertebra and one fewer caudal vertebra than other breeds. It's all part of what makes the Arabian horse so incredibly special. Have an Arabian? We'd love to meet them at our next event! ✨

Here's something special about Arabian horses: their bones are incredibly dense and fine-boned compared to other breeds....
08/08/2026

Here's something special about Arabian horses: their bones are incredibly dense and fine-boned compared to other breeds. This refined skeletal structure gives them their elegant, graceful appearance and contributes to their exceptional endurance and athleticism. It's part of what makes them so beautifully unique! 🌟 Every Arabian has this special built-in advantage. Have you noticed this elegant structure in person? 🐎

Meet one of our Gold Coast hearts today. 🐴Every horse story starts somewhere. Ours starts with community.  We would love...
08/07/2026

Meet one of our Gold Coast hearts today. 🐴

Every horse story starts somewhere. Ours starts with community. We would love to hear some of your heart warming stories and a photo of your horse too.

At Gold Coast Arabian Horse Association, members come for the horses and stay for the friendships, the learning, and the joy of getting out and enjoying a ride.

We welcome Arabians and all breeds across the Central Coast. Come see what makes our barn family so special at https://www.goldcoastarabian.org

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM GCAHAPlease read through to the end for updates on our upcoming events.It is with great disa...
08/07/2026

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM GCAHA

Please read through to the end for updates on our upcoming events.

It is with great disappointment that we must announce the cancellation of our August 29th ALL BREED Schooling Show at the Santa Cruz County Horsemen's Association.

This is the second time this season we have had to make this difficult decision, and it does not get any easier. We are cancelling out of an abundance of caution in response to continued Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) alerts in our region. You can follow the latest updates at https://www.equinediseasecc.org/alerts?disease=72.

As we shared during our July cancellation, EIA remains an active concern. The outbreak originated in a neighboring county, and the quarantine has not yet been released — which is why we are being especially careful. The health and safety of our horses and our community will always come first. We are simply not willing to take any chances.

LOOKING AHEAD

We know it is hard to lose another show day, and we are just as disappointed as you are. But there is still plenty to look forward to!

Assuming the EIA is in good standing, Wild Wednesdays are returning in September — stay tuned for dates and details coming soon. We hope you will join us for some good horses, good food, and good company!

And mark your calendars: our rescheduled Horse Play show is still on for October 17th. We cannot wait to see everyone there.

Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and support. This community means everything to us, and we are committed to keeping every horse and rider healthy while finding every opportunity to come together and celebrate what we love.

— The GCAHA Team

Arabian horses have been domesticated for more than 6,000 years! Originally from the Arabian Peninsula, they were treasu...
08/05/2026

Arabian horses have been domesticated for more than 6,000 years! Originally from the Arabian Peninsula, they were treasured by Bedouin tribes for their intelligence, loyalty, and ability to survive in harsh desert conditions. 🌟 These incredible horses have influenced almost every modern breed and excel in endurance, dressage, western pleasure, and more. We celebrate Arabian heritage while welcoming ALL breeds at GCAHA. Who's bringing their Arabian to our next show? 🐎

What a magical day we had last Saturday! Our youth event was filled with laughter, new friendships, and some serious hor...
08/01/2026

What a magical day we had last Saturday! Our youth event was filled with laughter, new friendships, and some serious horsing around—exactly what GCAHA is all about. 🐴

We watched kids' faces light up as they got their first real introductions to our beautiful horses. There were gentle hands on soft noses, questions asked with wide eyes, and that special moment when a young rider realizes their horse is their partner, not just an animal.

But the real magic? The pony painting! Brushes in hand, our young artists turned our patient horses into living canvases of color and creativity. Pink, blue, rainbow swirls—and the joy on those kids' faces? Absolutely priceless. The horses stood calm and proud, like they knew they were part of something special.

Add in amazing food, new introductions all around, and the kind of community spirit that's been the heart of GCAHA for over 55 years, and you've got a day nobody will forget. These are the moments that create lifelong memories and a genuine love for horses and this incredible club we're all part of.

This is why we do what we do—to welcome every kid, every family, every horse through our gates and let them know they belong here.

Can't wait for the next one! 💛

We're writing to update you on our August 29 schooling show in light of recent equine disease alerts in our region. We'r...
07/31/2026

We're writing to update you on our August 29 schooling show in light of recent equine disease alerts in our region. We're closely monitoring the situation and consulting with local veterinary professionals.

Here's where we stand: We're evaluating whether to proceed, postpone, or cancel the show. Our priority is keeping our horses—and your horses—healthy and safe. We know how much our community values these shows, and we're not taking this decision lightly.

Why this matters to us: GCAHA thrives because riders like you bring your horses to events and build community together. We never want health concerns to become a barrier to that participation. If we do cancel, it's because we care about keeping your horse safe and your trust strong—not because we're stepping back from our commitment to you.

Here's our timeline: Our board will meet and review the latest disease information to make a final decision by August 5th. We'll communicate our decision to you immediately after.

In the meantime, check the disease alert updates at https://www.equinediseasecc.org/alerts?disease=72, reach out to us with questions—we're here to listen, and watch our website (goldcoastarabianhorses.org) for updates. We're hopeful the situation will improve.

Thank you for being part of GCAHA. We'll get through this together. 💛

Did you know? The Arabian's iconic "dished" face isn't just beautiful — it's a masterpiece of desert engineering!Those w...
07/31/2026

Did you know? The Arabian's iconic "dished" face isn't just beautiful — it's a masterpiece of desert engineering!

Those wide, flaring nostrils allow them to take in more oxygen during hard work. The large, prominent eyes set wide on their head give them exceptional field of vision. The broad forehead houses a larger-than-average sinus cavity, which is thought to help warm and filter dry desert air.

Every feature of that gorgeous face has a purpose. Nature at its finest. 🤩

Which physical feature of the Arabian do you love most? We'd love to hear from you!

Did you know? The Arabian horse was so treasured by the Bedouin people of the Arabian Peninsula that they were often bro...
07/29/2026

Did you know? The Arabian horse was so treasured by the Bedouin people of the Arabian Peninsula that they were often brought inside the family tent — especially mares and foals — to protect them from harsh desert conditions and raiders.

This centuries-long practice of living side by side with humans is a big reason Arabians are so famously people-oriented and sensitive today. They weren't just livestock. They were family.

The Bedouins even had a saying: "The Arabian horse is a gift from God." We'd have to agree. 🐴

Do you feel that special bond with your horse? Tell us about it in the comments!

Address

AHA Discovery Farm
San Martin, CA
95004

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