By David F. Rooney
The Selkirk Saddle Club is getting ready to explore new horizons as construction of its long-awaited riding arena got underway this week.
The 60 x 120 wooden structure will allow the club to expand its offerings to the public in ways that may surprise you.
“We are very excited about this,” said Club Secretary Tanya Secord as she watched K&W’s Dale Muldoon dig the riding arena’s foundation trench with an excavator.
She said the club can realistically offer year-round riding lessons, teach rodeo skills like barrel racing and offer therapeutic riding to physically and developmentally challenged kids.
“Horses don’t judge children,” Tanya said. “Therapeutic riding helps children connect with the horses.”
She said a number of people in the community have expressed an interest in working with children and horses in that kind of program.
“We have been working extremely hard planning and fundraising for this project, which has been needed for many years,” Tanya said.
The club has managed to raise $115,000 towards the project’s $128,000 cost and it expects to raise more in the months ahead.
Ongoing maintenance for the building once it is finished will be minimal as it is designed to be self-supporting. Snow removal for the building will be included in the club’s regular snow-removal program as the entrance to the arena is on the same road that must be maintained regularly. And, if at some point down the road it the building should be electrified there is room in the club’s regular operating budget to cover this expense, Tanya said.
Quite a few businesses and organizations that contributed in one way another either to the club by donation of material, labour or a cash donation include the Columbia Basin Trust, Revelstoke Credit Union, K&W Trucking, Score Construction, H&J Ready Mix, Vic Van Isle, Rona and the Rotary Club.
That support is a real vote of confidence in the club’s ability to expand and contribute to the larger community.
Having a riding arena may also increase the appeal of the club’s temporary stables that can be used by people travelling with their horses.
If you’d like to help the Selkirk Saddle Club realize its dreams you can do so by taking your children or grandchildren down to the stables for a pony ride this Saturday .
