Rusty Connelly, owner of Catalina Stables, rides his horse Bruno on Monday, his last day on the job. Santa Catalina Island’s only horseback riding concession has been ordered to close down by Tuesday, but the community is rallying to keep it operating. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Connelly stands in front of the stables, a fixture on the island for nearly six decades. “I haven’t driven a car for over 16 years, that’s probably what scares me the most,” he said. “If I have to leave the island, I’d have to go back to the real world.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Horse wrangler Michelle Savage, 26, who has worked at the stables for more than four years, plays with her dog, Puca, while she walks a horse to get saddled up. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Catalina Stables, with its rustic charm, was established when the city of Avalon was much smaller. About 1,500 residents roughly a third of the citys population signed petitions in protest of the forced closure. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Big Mack, left, and Tigger look for more carrots from Louie Maggiotto and his son, Sylvan, 2, of Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Connelly, strolling out of the barn with Bruno, said, “What theyre doing to us and our horses is downright cruel.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
