In the summer of 1942, a group of Novato horsemen decided they wanted to form a riding club. 

Nine riders met on November 1 and ultimately became the founding members of the Novato Horsemen’s Club.  Just one month later, the members of the club held a general meeting, elected officers and signed the club’s constitution and bylaws.  Early on, the members agreed that they wanted to buy a piece of property and build their own clubhouse, and a suitable parcel was found on Bugeia Ranch. In October 1944, after each of the 16 club members donated $100, the club bought this parcel for $1,600.  

The club was incorporated under the current name of “Novato Horsemen, Inc.” on April 24, 1945.  Today, the organization is one of the few riding clubs in California that owns its own clubhouse and grounds free of indebtedness.  Its junior club, the Novato Junior Horsemen, first met on December 7, 1951, and continues to this day.  Since its formation, Novato Horsemen, Inc. has hosted horse shows, rodeos, parades and many fundraising events, and today continues its mission of preserving and promoting the traditions of horsemanship for future generations of youth and adults alike.