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As the San Mateo County Parks Department searches for a vendor for horse boarding at Wunderlich Park in Woodside following the end of a 10-year contract with a controversial multi-stable corporation accused of abusing its horses, local equestrians are closely watching the county’s decision on a replacement.
The Woodside stable is operated by Chaparral Corporation, a stable management company that stirred controversy in 2024 after its closure at Golden Gate Park when an SF Standard investigation revealed mistreatment of horses and employees. Recently, a manager at Chaparral Ranch’s Bear Creek Stables in Los Gatos was charged with animal cruelty after a horse died from malnutrition and neglect.
According to the county, Chaparral’s contract in Woodside has been extended through the end of September as the proposal review process has taken longer than anticipated.
The company has been providing horse boarding and recreational activities including trail rides and horse riding lessons since 2015. The new contract however, is explicitly for the operation of Folger Stable facilities and boarding services.
Chaparral currently owns stables in Woodside, Sunol, and Marina and previously in Los Gatos, San Francisco, Milpitas and at Camp Mather in Yosemite. There is no evidence of animal mistreatment in Woodside, according to county parks Communication Officer Carla Schoof.
She added that the Peninsula Humane Society animal control, park rangers and Wunderlich Park staff have never reported any violations on Chaparral Ranch’s operations. When complaints have been made to the department in the past, animal control has been notified and have conducted several unannounced visits.
Public records from the San Mateo County Parks obtained by The Almanac in 2024 revealed that there were multiple instances of shared concerns from equestrians and former stable employees about the operations at Wunderlich Park. One email to Parks Director Nicholas Calderon included images from 2021 of overworked horses with head injuries, overdue hoof care and untreated saddle sores.
Records show that concerned individuals have been reaching out to the county about removing Chaparral Ranch from Wunderlich Park since 2022. Following the SF Standard investigation into the corporation, the county received an influx of letters from the horse community about personal experiences witnessing horse neglect and abuse.
Schoof stated that although there have been findings of mistreatment in other facilities, it does not warrant an investigation in Woodside.
“We have to be very mindful of the fact that something that occurs at another facility or park location by a manager at that location doesn’t really affect the operations at Wunderlich,” said Carla Schoof. “We couldn’t use something that’s occurred elsewhere to be a decision maker in terms of how we proceed through this existing contract at Folger Stable.”
But a local equestrian vendor disagrees and told The Almanac that among the community, it’s no secret that Chaparral’s owners mistreat their horses and employees.
Shelly Cannon, a South Bay community equestrian, said when Chaparral became the operator at Bear Creek Stables a quick look at its records, operations and employee feedback was enough for her to remove her own horses from the stables.
“I left the barn before they even moved in because I didn’t want to be associated in any way,” she said.
Cannon said she has been in touch with former employees who have described their experiences of being overworked and being ignored after reporting Chaparral’s abuse of horses to the county. She said she personally witnessed the neglected conditions of an abused horse named Honey, in Los Gatos. Cannon photographed the horse with a lice infestation and an unattended wound in March 2024 before she was moved to another location without treatment and was eventually euthanized in Milpitas in July 2024.
“It’s like peeling an onion. Every time you find out more information, every layer makes your eyes water more and more,” she added. “It’s been painful to read and hear these stories from people who are personally affected.”
Cannon noticed that Chaparral’s “better looking horses,” are often kept in Woodside, a community that carries a strong equestrian culture.
Equestrians on “Bad Horses Trainers/ Traders/ Haulers All Over,” a private Facebook group, have been posting about Chaparral Ranch and its owners since 2016. The group includes 11,000 members from across the United States, serving as a platform where equestrians can report the operations of specific horse trainers. Several posts about Chaparral include images of underweight horses that were continuously being used for horse riding lessons and trail rides.
The owners of Chaparral Ranch, Shawn Mott and Sue Pennel did not respond to a request for comment, but according to San Mateo County Parks public records, a person who worked at the stable and whose name was redacted, employees witnessed horses at Wunderlich Park being starved for days, being worked despite injuries, not receiving proper medical and foot care and being worked to exhaustion.
Mira the horse is washed down after a morning ride at Folger Stables in Woodside, CA on August 19, 2025. Photo by Lizzy Myers. 
Interior view of Folger Stables in Woodside, CA on August 19, 2025. Photo by Lizzy Myers. 
Exterior view of Folger Stables in Woodside, CA on August 19, 2025. Photo by Lizzy Myers. 
Horses rest near the training arena at Chaparral Ranch in Woodside, CA on August 19, 2025. Photo by Lizzy Myers.
The former employee alerted the county in an email that they had reported abuse to the Peninsula Humane Society and the county during their time of employment, however, “(the owners) continue mistreating horses within our county parks.”
Schoof told The Almanac that recently, they received reports from equestrians who observed a Chaparral horse that had stumbled on a trail and fallen twice. In response, the parks department contacted animal control officials, who got in touch with Chaparral and visited the horse.
She said officials learned the horse was under the care of a veterinarian, and staff were following the veterinarian’s directions. The horse had markings on its side that were scabbing and healing, but nothing showed signs of concern, Schoof added.
“Obviously we would take contact from anyone, whether it be an equestrian or a member of the public, that had serious concerns,” she said. “We would investigate and address any of those observations (and) if there are real concerns, we find the appropriate person or entity to follow up.”
The county is currently reviewing submitted proposals and hopes to move forward in contract discussions and negotiations to decide on a vendor. During this process, previous experience and other qualifications will be considered when determining a contract, said Schoof.
Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to accurately describe the locations currently owned by Chaparral Ranch.
