The early history of this area, which became Ranchos La Ballona and Rincón de los Bueyes, was often told in terms of cattle, horses and other animals. Rincón de los Bueyes, land owned by the Higuera and Lopez families, is actually translated “Cattle corner” due to the way the hills sheltered the animals.
Early rancheros rode their horses and drove their horse-pulled carts. The transportation was the same for the zanjero, also known as the water-overseer, who regulated the water from Ballona Creek and made sure that every farmer received a fair share of water for irrigating crops. The zanjero was also the unofficial lawman in this area, so far from the pueblo of Los Angeles.
Many residents are too young to remember the Culver City Mounted Police, also called the Mounted Posse. According to city records, the posse “was formed in July of 1948 as an outgrowth of a city ordinance. It was formed to provide an emergency unit of men to assist the City of Culver City and the County of Los Angeles in disaster and rescue work and to represent this community in outstanding events of the Southland…The 32 members have been trained in all phases of police work and represent a cross-section of residents and businessmen of this area who volunteer their services for the community.”
The Members of the Culver City Mounted Police were listed under this photo as “Ronald Perkins, CCPD, Officer in Charge, Floyd Horton, President, Walt Unsworth, Vice-President, Dr. Leonard Parker, Secretary, George Saunders, Treasurer, and Bernard Browne, Public Relations.” The other members listed were: “John Grant, Jesse Horton, Mac Hunter, Leon Sowell, Dave Nelson, Leonard Smith, Edward Smith, Mickey Dexter, Gil Funston, Hugh Reed, William Spence, Shelby Niccum, Erwin Weiss, Jimmy Kimmick, Ed Hueston, Dave Green, Sol Sherman, Charles Burmeister, Jack Semple, Phile Eades, Brad Payne, Conrad Sonneborn, David Boldbuck, Charles Clarke, John Glen, Charles Meyers, Carl Pitti and Ed. Maltby.”
With our caballero heritage, it is no wonder Culver City residents enjoy horses. Recently, mounted police have returned to the city, thrilling everyone from the very young to the old-timers.