Horses have always had a place in California history and at one time there were trails from the mountains to the ocean and from the Los Angeles River to the San Gabriel River.
Since 1946, equestrian activities have been a staple at the Lakewood Equestrian Center. Glenn Spiller was the original owner of the nearly 8.5 acres of land formerly known as the Lakewood Stables and presently recognized as the Lakewood Equestrian Center. From 1946 until 1976, Mr. Spiller maintained that he had a “working ranch” in the middle of suburbia. He offered children’s riding lessons and hayrides on the property and even managed cattle on the site.
In 1976, Mr. Spiller sold the property to Juan de Cordova. In addition to his ownership of the Lakewood Stables, he and his sons also owned de Cordova and Sons Horse Ranch in Cerritos.
In 1979, the City of Lakewood purchased the ranch house and its property from Mr. de Cordova and coupled it with a
license agreement with the Southern California Edison Company (SCE) to make the acreage that still exists today. Mr. de Cordova continued to manage facility operations at the Lakewood Equestrian Center from 1980 until 1985.
In 1987, Christine Baredian, and her business partner Gloria Simpson assumed a lease agreement with the city under the business name, Sandie Mercer Stables Inc.
Sandie Mercer, the facility’s namesake, would take over the business operation in 2007 serving in a leadership capacity until her retirement as the property’s lessee. The City’s lease with Sandie Mercer Stables Inc. expired on October 31, 2020, and on November 1, 2020, the city entered into a one-year agreement with SJ Equestrian to manage the facility and its day-to-day operations. The agreement with SJ Equestrian was extended through October 31, 2023. Since November 1, 2023, City of Lakewood personnel has managed facility operations and maintenance with assistance from Hacienda Sosegado, LLC. providing personnel to manage horse care.