A Mentor to all Howard’s on Horseback
Jose de la Luz Machado otherwise known to all simply as “Lou”, was born in 1868 on his family’s ranch-Rancho La Ballona- now the present-day Culver City area of Los Angeles County. It was a vast ranch reaching all the way to the Pacific Ocean made up of land his grandfather had been granted by the King of Spain. Through the years this ranch raised cattle, sheep, wheat, corn, barley, grapes, citrus, hogs, dairy cattle, and all manner of vegetables.
The family also became famous for raising horses that excelled at virtually everything from being stock horses, to driving and saddle horses. They became the first in the Los Angeles area to turn to Thoroughbreds and became a much sought-after source of both racehorses and polo ponies. Lou’s father raised many of the great foundation thoroughbreds in the 1870’sand 1880’s.
Lou called the thoroughbred, “the greatest horse in the world. There is no other horse that can compare with him in any type of work- with cattle, polo, racing, or just riding for pleasure. He stands alone. Properly handled, he can do anything.”
Lou’s manner of training young horses was one of extreme patience. He never went faster than the horse was ready. He could read every stage of progression the horse was making. He worked calmly without pushing too far and causing the horse to lose interest or balk. He added, “You must never yank or haul him about! If you have done your job properly, you will not need it.”
Lou’s reputation as a trainer of top polo ponies soon spread far and wide, making him one of the most sought-after trainers of many top riders in the west. He worked with many of them as the sport took a foothold in this country.
One of those riders would become a lifelong friend. Lindsey Howard (son of Charles S. Howard of Seabiscuit fame) owned the Howard Stock Farm north of Moorpark, California. Lin hired Lou to come to his farm and train his horses, and even built a small house on the farm for Lou to live in. Lou considered Lin Howard to be “an excellent polo player and horseman. He was always quick as lightning, and you had to be that if you are to handle a quick pony. He won many prizes in the show ring on ponies I trained for him.”
When asked about racehorses he had known, he said, “Seabiscuit and Noor were the two greatest racehorses I ever saw or had anything to do with. The love Mr. Charley Howard had for Seabiscuit was the finest I ever knew between a man and a horse. He was such a fine person. I miss his very much. Had it not been for Mr. Howard’s care and work with Seabiscuit he would never have come back to the races to win the Santa Anita Handicap. The man’s faith in the horse was deep and strong, and the horse knew it.”
He continues, “Noor, as he stands today, is the best made thoroughbred I’ve ever seen. He has enough of everything in the right places, and not too much of anything. He is the perfection of balance and power.” Noor retired from the track to the Howard Stock Farm as a breeding stallion and Lou became his caretaker and turned him into a wonderful saddle horse.
The association of Lou and Lin Howard lasted for more than 35 years until Lou passed away on the ranch he loved so much. His training legacy lives on.
*Portions of this article from the magazine “California Thoroughbred” Dec. 1960.
*Photo’s courtesy of the Howard Family Collection