Church invites worshippers to come to its services on horseback

People sing during Easter service at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, Sunday, April 24, 2011. (Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer)

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PORTER RANCH - Applause and cheers greeted two riders who trotted on horseback to attend Easter services on Sunday at Shepherd of the Hills Church, where members hope to start a new tradition in an area rich with equestrian history.

"I think this is really cool," said Victor Granillo, who rode in on his champagne-colored Azteca named Buddy.

Granillo isn't a member of Shepherd of the Hills, but since the church offered to tend to his horse while he could worship, he and fellow rider Ken Polcyn decided to take on the morning drizzle and head to Easter service cowboy style.

Granillo and Polcyn, who rode in on a brown Mustang named Buttercup, began their journey at Stoney Point in Chatsworth, and used part of the Old Mission Trail, to reach Porter Ranch.

Both received orange valet-style cards to remember to pick up their four-legged friends afterward.

"It was an adventure riding," Granillo said of guiding his young, spirited gelding down an urban street. "But it was a good experience."

Sunday was the first time the non-denominational megachurch invited owners to ride in and hitch their horses at a specially designated area that could accommodate up to 50 horses. Granillo and Polcyn were the first two to take up the church's offer.

The church is expanding its parking lot at its 19700 Rinaldi St., location. So to accommodate the 14,000 for two Easter services, a giant tent was erected on a massive swath of land about

a block west of the church.

Volunteers with Ride With Pride and Special Spirit Therapeutic programs tended to Buddy and Buttercup as the riders enjoyed the spirited music and preaching by Pastor Dudley Rutherford.

The idea to invite horse owners came to churchmembers after a few riders came to church on horseback several years back, said Paula Cracium, director of development for the church.

She said the hope is that the service will spread through word of mouth within an area rich in equestrian history. One of the few communities in Los Angeles that still has a sizable horse population, Chatsworth was was once the heart of cowboy country.

But as development has encroached onto old trails and land, residents of the equestrian communities have found fewer opportunities to ride. Still, some smaller churches within the San Fernando Valley's equestrian community continue the tradition of an era when worshippers arrived at services on horseback.

"It's unique for Shepherd of the Hills, but a lot of the smaller churches in Chatsworth have hitching posts," said Kathy Alonzo, who volunteers with both Ride With Pride and Special Spirit Therapeutic.

The programs invite children and adults with learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, polio and blindness to ride and learn about horses.

"We were delighted when the church invited us to do this," said horseowner Ann LaManna, who is a volunteer for Ride With Pride. "It's pretty special."

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