Board of Directors

DAWN POSTON

Member since 2015, director since 2023. I was raised in North Monterey County. I attended North Salinas High School, Hartnell Jr College, and received a B.S. at Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo. Later I completed a Master’s degree in Special Education.

I grew up riding bareback like a banshee all over the hills of Prunedale. As a teenager I competed in local horse shows, gymkhanas, and team roped (including at the CVT&SC!). I was on the Rodeo Team while attending Hartnell. After college I lived and worked in the Bay Area. In 1981 I moved to Carmel Valley and spent many years at the Monterey County Office of Education as a special education consultant. At age 35 I began riding jumpers and and fulfilled dreams by showing successfully throughout the western US and Canada as an amateur. I admit to loving “the adrenalin.”

I married the love of her life, Steve Bloch, in 1998 and took a hiatus from showing horses. Instead Steve and I traveled the US in our RV attempting to visit as many of the National Parks as possible. Missing competition, I took up showing Golden Retrievers in numerous dog sports. When I heard about Ranch Horse Versatility, I was intrigued, took lessons from Sarah Clifford, and bought my current horse Fred. Fred and I have been extremely successful during the last 8 years, being Western States Champion in the Advanced Amateur Division 7 years out of the 8. I love the thrill of competing and the hard work it takes to be successful.

I love the Club, ride there several times a week, and have been active in fundraising and committee work in recent years. I’ve shown all over the western US and Canada and there’s no place like the CVT&SC. It’s a gem. At a recent fundraising event I challenged the attendees to “become a part of the legacy and join the Club.”

As a board member I want to support, sustain, preserve, and make sure the Club is well-loved for generations to come. I will work unceasingly toward those goals.

SUSAN BANCROFT, President

Member since 2000, Director since 2010, President since 2023.

In addition to the Presidency, I’m responsible for the club’s website and the emails sent to members. So, when you register online for one of our club-sponsored events or send an email to info@trailandsaddle.club, it’s me that responds.

Since 2008 I have been the show manager for the Ranch Roundup, the club’s September event, which is an annual community gathering promoting and supporting the rich and unique horsemanship traditions here on the California Central Coast.

I own and manage a 25-acre boarding facility 30 minutes east of the Village, in Cachagua, where I care for my own horses plus a few others.

The Trail & Saddle Club is truly a one-of-a-kind non-profit, dedicated to our Central Coast horse community. It exists only because of, by and for its membership. I encourage all to step up their level of volunteerism and involvement to preserve this treasure for its next 60 years.

Lifetime member of Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club since 1989; honored to serve as Treasurer since 2024.

Born and raised in Carmel Valley, graduating from Carmel High School onto Monterey Peninsula College, and finishing my degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting at Oregon Institute of Technology.

I have spent many years working in the construction industry starting as a Field Coordinator to Bookkeeper, Office Manager, Payroll Specialist, Project Accountant to my current position, Lead Estimator at a high-end General Contractor and Finish Carpentry Specialty Sub-Contractor Company while also working as a Bookkeeper/ Accountant for multiple private client accounts.

My passion for horses started at birth riding with my parents at the roping arena, ranch rodeos, brandings, and western horse shows. From teaching my dad’s rope horses to jump, competing in 4-H, California State Horseman’s Association, California High School Rodeo Association to later professionally hauling horses across the country, fitting horses for sales, starting young Quarter Horses and operating a boarding facility; you can say horses are in my blood. Last year I started competitively showing again in Ranch Horse shows with my 10-year-old AQHA mare, Anuther Kawah (Kiwi) and won CSHA Region 6 Ranch Champion and Reserve Champion at Kern County Fair Ranch Versatility. Currently, I have taken the year off from showing to focus on Ranch Cutting and plan to be competing in the cutting pen next year.

Being a third-generation Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club member I have had the opportunity to watch the club grow and share how unique and diverse our club is. I am proud to be a part of our club where over the years I have managed shows, organized camps, worked as Cow Boss for the GSVHA shows and now am honored to serve as the club’s Treasurer and look forward to this new role. This club and its history run deep in my heritage; when you see me riding stop and say howdy.

MEGHAN CARR

Meghan Carr, a member of the CV Trail & Saddle Club since 2015 and currently honored to serve as a board member since 2023.

Roots and Education: Born in Mountain View and raised in Bakersfield, I attended Bakersfield High School and California State University, Bakersfield. There, I majored in Business and Accounting.

Professional Ventures: For many years, I worked as an Event Manager at the Bicycle Leadership Conference, a corporate-level business event synchronized with the Sea Otter Classic Cycling Festival. Presently, I work part-time with a local Investment Adviser.

Home in Salinas: Salinas has become my home, where I share my life with my husband, John, an avid cyclist (who rode his bike 11,221 miles last year!), and our seven animals. We have two grown children, Jane & Andrew.

Equestrian Passion: My love for horses has been a constant thread in my life. Currently, I find myself immersed in the world of Ranch Versatility, riding and competing with my 8-year-old Quarter Horse, Louis Bonner.

Honored to Serve: Being a part of the CV Trail & Saddle Club is a privilege I hold dear. Serving on the board allows me to contribute to the thriving community that shares a passion for equestrian pursuits. The club’s commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for riders resonates deeply with me.

I look forward to continuing this journey, bridging the worlds of community service, professional dedication, and the boundless spirit of equestrian pursuits.

Originally from a small town in central Massachusetts, I was lucky enough to work at a riding stable as a child, shoveling manure in exchange for being able to trail ride. Eventually, we purchased backyard ponies that my cousins and I would ride all over
town, and competed in local 4H shows.

My family (husband and three children) moved to Carmel Valley in 2015, and I immediately fell in love with the area and the warm and welcoming community. Boarding our horses at a local stable, we were introduced to the Trail & Saddle Club as my daughter Elizabeth competed in the Western Play Days as a youth.

Becoming members in 2018, my daughter and I have spent countless hours at the Club, and have enjoyed the beauty and tranquility as well as getting to know the members.

My favorite events are the play days, initially working for Ardith T. in the registration booth, I took over the event summer of 2024. My goal is to expand the play days and get more youth involved at the club, and the local community shows. I love the welcoming environment and friendly competition, and encourage members to attend.

I was honored to become a director in 2024, and also serve as a director for the Community Foundation.

GRETTA WILLIAMS
Member since 2020, director since 2023.

I grew up on a dairy ranch in The Netherlands. Horses were part of my life since early childhood. My dad loved horses as he grew up with workhorses to work the land. We always had ponies around to ride and play.

In my teenage years I rode English (jumping and dressage).

After a 15 year hiatus due to college and a move to the US, I started riding again. I now enjoy riding dressage, and love anything to do with horses.

The Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club is so unique in that it caters to so many disciplines of riding. I love the interaction and team spirit for our common love.

I am honored to be part of the Board and hope to contribute to keeping the club a happy place for horse people to gather and learn.

Member since 2023, director since 2024.

Born and raised in Big Sur, the Trail and Saddle Club has been a hugely impactful part of my life growing up, from running wild at Ranchers Days as a kid to the long but rewarding days of riding and training there in later years.

Coming from a cattle ranching family, I spent most of my youth riding and competing in cowhorse, cutting, and rodeo events. I’ve been fortunate enough to be immersed in the equine industry from a young age with support and guidance from my family and so many incredible horsemen and women.

After graduating college at UC Santa Cruz and the Middlebury Institute, I worked in both the private and public sectors for many years before recently finding my way back to horses in a professional capacity. Currently, I am riding under trainer Sarah Clifford learning the ranch horse versatility discipline and helping others achieve their equine goals here locally in Carmel Valley.

I am proud to be a part of this board and excited to join in the effort of preserving such a historic and important community resource that continues to shape so much of my life.

Born and raised in Carmel Valley, I attended Tularcitos, Carmel Middle School, and Carmel High School. After graduating from CHS in 2009, I went on to get my degree in Social Science from MPC. Throughout my schooling, one theme persisted: horses.

Horses have been the center of my life since I can remember. Growing up, my sister and I rode at a Hunter/Jumper barn on top of Laureles Grade. We would muck stalls on the weekends in exchange for riding lessons. I never lost the “horse bug”. In high school my incredible parents made it possible for me to get my own horse. I worked part-time at a pizza place to pay for my horse’s board. My first job out of high school was working as a groom at Stonepine Estates for a dressage rider with 4 horses. After a non-horse-related knee injury, I was unable to work with horses for several months. Once I recovered, I was given the opportunity to manage a private ranch in Carmel Valley. I worked there for 10 years managing, riding, training and showing in Dressage, Ranch Versatility, Working Equitation, and Icelandic shows. The opportunities I had there were incredible and I learned so much working with such a vast selection of horses and disciplines.

Currently, I am working as an assistant trainer for the phenomenal horsewoman, Jessica Kent. In addition to helping Jessica, I have my own set of amazing clients throughout the valley. Watching my clients grow and learn with their horses has been an absolute privilege.

CVTSC plays a big role in my life as a horse trainer as I often meet my clients at the club for lessons. I continue to be amazed by the beauty of the club and its members and I am honored and excited to serve on the board.