8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Charlie Meza is flanked on either side by beach sagewort and dune tansy, plants that thrive in the coastal air sweeping through the dunes near Salinas River State Beach. The wind whistles across these dunes on a Friday afternoon, a perfect complement to the intense sun blanketing the landscape in warmth. “You know what that river is over there? That’s the old Salinas River,” says Meza, a guide for the Monterey Bay Equestrian Center. Sitting atop a horse named Tadpole, Meza explains how this river is a remnant of the historic waterways that have since been engineered into a very different system we have today. Few places around Monterey Bay offer such an experience, a chance to do what was once common in the region’s early days: ride horseback through a wild stretch of Monterey County. Both beginners and more seasoned horseback riders alike can sign up with the Monterey Bay Equestrian Center for a guided ride through the dunes and along the coastline near Castroville and Moss Landing, to clear the mind and enjoy panoramic views, which stretch all the way to Santa Cruz on a clear day. In fact, the equestrian center is the only company left offering tours like these. Through an agreement with California State Parks, it has operated horseback rides on the beach near the Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve since 1988. “There used to be commercial horseback riding down in Big Sur and Pebble Beach,” says Michael Mastroianni, one of the company’s co-owners, “but those closed down.” The region’s equestrian footprint has been gradually diminishing in terms of boarding options and commercial excursions. Marina City Council evicted the former concessionaire Chaparral Country Corporation from the Marina Equestrian Center earlier this year and will seek a new operator, while Pebble Beach Company closed its century-old equestrian center in 2024. “While the Equestrian Center has a storied history, it is no longer economically viable,” Pebble Beach Company spokesperson David Stivers said in an announcement at the time. Revenue from the equestrian center had been declining for years, the company reported, down by 40 percent in 2024 compared to 2019. The Monterey Bay Equestrian Center is a small business, run by Meza and his wife, Madaline Mastroianni. They field requests over the phone, gauge riders’ experience levels, and pair them with one of the 25 horses kept at their stables in Prunedale. The clientele comes from all backgrounds, many of them first-time riders. Most are visitors to the area, meeting guides and horses in the parking lot at Salinas River State Beach before heading out. Tours typically range from a few riders to groups of eight, traveling single file up through the dunes and along the shore. But in reality, there are two main characters in the equation: you and the horse. The charm of horseback riding lies in the unspoken communication between the two. In an era dominated by screens, relentless productivity and overscheduled lives, horseback riding offers a rare kind of mental and physical stillness. On this particular Friday afternoon, Meza walks a honeymooning couple visiting the area through the basics before leading the group out onto the sand. Some horses love the ocean and enjoy staying close to one another. Others are more temperamental. They’ll let riders know, and the rider’s job is to listen, and lead accordingly. Meza or one of the other guides on duty is there to help with this. The group strolls along a mostly empty beach, with the exception of a few fishermen and a couple eating lunch, with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories visible in the distance and the smokestacks from the old power plant riding beyond them. Meza leans down to give Tadpole a pat, who responds with a gentle shake of the mane. “Nothing beats this,” he says. Monterey Bay Equestrian Center is located at 19805 Pesante Road, Salinas. (831) 663-5712, montereybayequestrian.com. Coastal Canter Monterey Bay Equestrian Center offers one-of-a-kind horseback riding excursions through coastal dunes. By Katie Rodriguez There are two main characters: you and the horse. TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Charlie Meza (left) leads a group of horseback riders on a trail near the Salinas River State Beach. Meza serves as a guide for the Monterey Bay Equestrian Center, explaining the horses’ temperament and the surrounding scenery to the riders. SUMMER FUN Join us for an informative update from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. From the bottom of the ocean to the stars and a new generator too! Find out what's new with FNMOC. Presented by the City of Monterey, the Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, and the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. GET TICKETS! PRESENTED BY THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM FERRANTE’S AT MONTEREY MARRIOTT TICKETS: $45/MEMBERS • $65/NON-MEMBERS • INCLUDES BREAKFAST QUARTERLY BUSINESS INSIGHTS BREAKFAST Join us for an informative presentation titled “Special Districts, Big Impact”. Enjoy a panel discussion moderated by Richelle Noroyan of the California Special Districts Association with representatives from Castroville Community Services District, ReGen Monterey, Monterey Peninsula Airport District, and Monterey County Mosquito Abatement District.
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