BURSARY WINNERS ANNOUNCED!!!!
Thank you to all those that submitted letters and pictures for the NSC and Betty Thibeault Bursary. The winner of the NSC Bursary is Amanda Howard and the winner of the B Thibeault Bursary is Cailey Stronks. Congradulations to the two winners, we are pleased to help these girls better their riding skills with funds for clinics and riding lessons.
Read Cailey's Letter
Read Amanda's Letter
Work Bees:
Thank you to all the people who came out to fix the indoor arena footing. We got it all pulled in raked and salted.
Thanks to John Brown we had a tractor to make the work easier, to Tammy for the ATV for raking, Harley who ran the tractor and to all the others who put their backs into it. We also got all the snow out of the outdoor round pen so it is ready for use.
The next work bee is planned for Sunday April 28th Starting at 10:00 am. Please come and help get the grounds ready for the busy summer. Bring Hammers, Shovels,
Rakes, Paintbrushes and as many people as you can get to come. We will be having Pizza and Pop for lunch, supplied by the NSC.
JUNIOR BURSARIES:
The NSC awards two annual $100 bursaries to youth involved with horses in the Bulkley Valley to use towards lessons or clinic fees. It is payable directly to the clinician or instructor and is decided at the May meeting of each year.
Northern Saddle Club Annual Bursary
Criteria: Must be a current junior member of any equine club in the Bulkley Valley
Requirements: Submit a letter about you and your horse (ie your riding level, club you are a member of, horse activities you participate in, what you will be using the funds for, etc). Picture is recommended.
Amount: $100
Submission: Due before the May NSC meeting of each year (May1/13)
Betty Thibeault Annual Bursary
Criteria: Must be a current junior member of the Northern Saddle Club
Requirements: Submit a letter about you and your horse (ie your riding level, horse activities you participate in, what you will be using the funds for, etc). Picture is recommended.
Amount: $100
Submission: Due before the May NSC meeting of each year (May 1/13)
NSC SHOW SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
June 8th & 9th - Schooling show
Aug 3rd & 4th - Schooling show
Sept 28th & 29th - Fall Show
Currently, we need someone to take on the Flat Classes or there will be none.
And of course we need helpers to like an announcers, score keepers, jump crew, etc. Please contact Lory Howard or Jill O'Neil (250-847-5781) if you would like to help in any of the upcoming shows.
A huge thank you to Lory Howard and Jill O'Neil for organizing the NSC shows this year!!!!
NEW NSC WEBSITE
We will be revamping the NSC website in the next month. If you would like to submit any photos of related horse/member photos that may be chosen to be on the new site, (such as photos of clinics, shows, poker ride, driving, reining, jumping, dressage, or any other function or event, or just nice scenic horsey pics too) please send them digitally to Leah @ lkd@live.ca. Thank You!!
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES:
With the new NSC site (launching end of March), there will be very affordable adertising oppotunities for anyone who would like to promote their farm, horse for sale, tack for sale, product, etc. Rates will be $10 for 3 months - very affordable!!! Ad will also be featured on the NSC Facebook Page for maximum exposure. If you would like to get in on this great deal , please email Leah at lkd@live.ca
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New Clean Shavings Bin on the NSC Grounds
Here is a picture of the new clean shavings bin erected at the grounds. Thank you to the BVCU, HCBC and the BV Foundation for your financial contribution to this project.
Bulkey Valley Credit Union Donates $1,500
Thank you to the BVCU for their generous donation of $1,500 for the clean shavings bin! The members of the Northern Saddle Club are grateful for your continued support.
NSC Fun Day - Schooling Show & Gymkhana - June 9th
The first Schooling Show and Gymkhana of the season is fast approaching. Information and a list of classes is available on the Events page.
NSC Driving Clinic - June 15th & 16th
We are fortunate to have Lesley Flint organizing a Driving Clinic. It will be held at the grounds on June 15th and 16th. If you would like to register for the clinic or have some questions please contact Lesley Flint at 250-846-5833 or email.
Glenn Stewart Natural Horsemanship Clinic
Hard to believe April is just around the corner with all the snow we still have on the ground. Glenn is coming back to Smithers April 13 & 14th for an Advanced Natural Horsemanship Clinic. Spectators are welcome for a small fee. This clinic will be fun to watch as the participants are well passed the basics and ready to experience the true magic of horsemanship. Control without force, communication without ropes, the critical difference between lack of understanding/confidence vs disrespect and the way to deal with both are just a few things you will learn during this clinic.
Doug Mills Horsemanship Clinic
Last Friday Doug Mills treated an audience to a demonstration of his Training Thru Trust training program with two of his AQHA stallions. He ended the show by laying down one stallion and had the other one side pass over him. Very cool!! He held training clinics throughout the weekend to a sold out participant list. Mark your calendars because Doug will be back in Smithers May 18th - 20th.
Membership Renewals
Thanks to all of you who have already sent in your membership fees and proof of HCBC membership. For those of you that haven't please download the membership form and send it in soon!
2012 Events Calendar is now available
The NSC Calendar of Events was finalized at our recent AGM. A few events and dates have been added since so check out the Calendar of Events for the most recent list.
Bulkley Valley Pasture Fertilization Demonstration Trials
Back in 2008 the NSC provided funding to the Smithers Farmers Institute towards a pasture fertilization project. The focus of the study was a comparison of commercial fertilizer vs manure. At our recent AGM, Leah Sheffield provided us with a powerpoint presentation on the results of that study. A detailed report and brochure have been developed and the NSC is pleased to make both available to you via our Links and Resources page.
NSC Bylaws and Functioning Rules now available on website
The 2011 Bylaws and Functioning Rules have been posted on the website under Links & Resources.
Glenn Stewart Natural Horsemanship Stage 3/4 Clinic - April 13 & 14, 2012
Time is going quickly and we are already in the middle of January. Before we know it, Spring will be here (well, maybe that is wishful thinking...) but for those of us who ride during the winter, we could be practicing for the upcoming clinic in April or maybe finalizing our Stage 2 assessments. As early bird special for this clinic, we will be offering two free spectator passes (value $80) to every rider who signs up before Feb 15, 2012.
This clinic is open to those who have passed their Stage 2 assessment. Stage 3 + 4 are where the magic of horsemanship starts. Can you imagine knowing the secrets of control without force, of communication without ropes? Learn to tell the critical difference between lack of understanding or confidence vs. disrespect and the different ways to deal with each. Learn about impulsion and how to encourage positive reflexes both on the ground in the saddle.
Please email me or phone 250.846.5494 for more information. In the meantime, we hope you stay warm! Anika
Annual General Meeting - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Please note there will not be a monthly meeting in January and the Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 7:00 pm in one of the 2nd floor meeting rooms at the Hudson Bay Lodge. We Hope to see lots of you there. Happy Holidays and all the best for the coming year. AGM AGENDA
Fall Work Bee - Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Fall Work Bee will happen Sunday, Oct 23rd at 11:00 am. All the jumps need to be put away for the winter; Raking of the sides in the indoor; Harrowing all rings; Put hoses behind the bleachers. Weather permitting we will have a BBQ lunch so plan to attend with rake in hand and enjoy an afternoon of physical activity.
The Sun Came Out for the Final Fun Day of the Year
Thank you to all the volunteers and participants who came out on September 24th to participate in the Schooling Show, Gymkhana, Jumping and Dressage. We definitely lucked out on the weather - we actually had some sunshine! A special thank you goes out to Cindy Jeffery for judging the schooling show.
Schooling Show & Gymkhana - Sept 24, 2011
If you've been wanting to come out for one of NSC's Fun Days but haven't yet, this will be your last opportunity of the season to compete in a fun, supportive, schooling type environment. The Schooling Show starts at 10:00 am with a fun Gymkhana starting at 1:00 pm. The show classes will be Showmanship, English & Western Pleasure; English & Western Equitation. The cost is $15.00 for the whole day or $7.50 for half a day.
If you saw this gifted horseman at the Trainer of the North Challenge than you will be thrilled to hear he is coming back to Smithers. As always space is limited so if you are thinking about attending this clinic with a horse, don't "think" about it any longer, just do it! You won't regret it. Contact Erin Rowsell to book your spot. 250-847-5223
Fun Day Well Attended
Thank you to all the volunteers and participants who came out on July 30th to participate in the Schooling Show and Gymkhana. It was great to see so many people out for the day. A special thank you goes out to Chrisandra Barengregt, George Ewald and Ronja Schippers for judging the day's events. The next Fun Day is Saturday, September 24th. Hope to see you there!
Jackpot Gymkhana Pays Out $$$
The Jackpot Gymkhana, held July 31st, saw competitors come from Fraser Lake, Houston and the Hazeltons to compete for a chance to win a piece of the Jackpot. And win they did! Every competitor left with a little (some with a lot!) extra cash in the pocket at the end of the day. A huge thank you to George Ewald for judging and providing his knowledgeable leadership with setting up each event. Results
Jump Rounds to be Included in July 30th Fun Day
The next Fun Day is on July 30th and will include a Schooling Show, Gymkhana and now also, Jumping. The Jump Rounds will start at 1:00 in the Jump Ring. Super low entry fees - only $7.50 for the horse show; $7.50 for the gymkhana; $10.00 for jumping! There will be something for everyone so plan to come out for a day of Fun!
Great Turn Out For Schooling Show & Gymkhana
The NSC Fun Day Schooling Show and Gymkhana was held yesterday with folks from Houston, Terrace, Hazelton and the Smithers area all in attendance. A special thank you to Chris Hassel and George Ewald who judged the events throughout the day. A big thank you to all the volunteers who came out to help make the day a success: Patti Schwegler, Leslie Collins, Janice Plumstead, Harley Golder, Pete Barriage, Phil Schwegler, Nicole Ewald, Ginny Kimmett and Katherine Gattiker.
The next Fun Day is Saturday July 30th. Hope to see you and your horse there!
Music Festival - Grounds Closed to Horses
This is a reminder the NSC grounds will be closed to horses for riding, stabling, etc. from Thursday June 30th to Sunday July 3rd, 2011 - reopening to horses Monday July 4th.
Jackpot Gymkhana - July 31, 2011
The NSC is hosting a Jackpot Gymkhana this summer. 3D format with cash payouts. Click here for the Entry Form.
For more information contact Ali Shervill (250) 877-7183 or email
Whipper Snipper Party
Thanks to those who came out last night and trimmed up the grounds. Awesome job and much appreciated. Some brought mowers and others whipped'er up! Thanks Tom and Lexy, John and Geri, Tammy, Pat, Shawna, Larry, Erin, Gail and Leisl. Also, thanks to Tammy who brought her quad and harrowed, much needed. Like the saying goes, many hands make light work. Great team effort everyone!
Whipper Snipper Party - June 22nd at 6:30 p.m.
Mowing has been done at the grounds and it now needs whipper snipping! We will be having a fun evening of weed eating on June 22nd at 6:30 p.m. All areas need trimming and it is a big job, so everyone bring your trimmer and let's get 'er done!! If you have an electric trimmer bring a longggg extension cord. Please RSVP to Gail.
Schooling Show Update
Chris Hassel has been confirmed as the Judge for the June 26th
Fun Day Schooling Show . Five classes will be offered: Western & English Pleasure, Western & English Equitation and Showmanship. The show will start at 11:00 A.M. and the Gymkhana will start at 1:00 P.M. Since the May 28th Fun Day was cancelled Chris has agreed to Judge a few reining classes if there is enough interested participants. Hope to see you there!
If you have any questions please call:
Pat Barriage - 250.846.5988 (
Horse Show) or Ali Shervill - 250.847.9716 (
Gymkhana)
Cancellations
Due to a severe outbreak of Canuck Fever the June meeting has been rescheduled to June 9th. Go Canucks Go!!
Due to too many unforeseen circumstances the
Equine Trade Show, Horse Show & Gymkhana have been CANCELLED. We may hold the Trade Show in the Fall if there is enough interest. The first Gymkhana and Schooling Show will now be June 26th. We apologize for any inconvenience but due to the following reasons we will not be hosting the Show in May:
- the strong possibility of flooding
- the Rhino (Equine Herpesvirus) outbreak that is extremely dangerous and not worth the risk.
- Huge decrease in Trade Show entries, probably due to the late cold spring we are having.
- Graeme Johnston |
