Bulletins

8.9.2011 DRC | Meeting tomorrow night


Potluck!

I have SOOOO much news to share with you about the ultra-fantabulous show this past weekend HOWEVER … I also have a job so this is a shorty!!

We wanted to invite you to our regular monthly meeting which is tomorrow night, Wednesday, August 10. Becuuuuuuuuuz we feel like a celebration is in order, we’re going to have burgers and corn on the barbie. I’m bringing the meat (locally raised Angus, of course!), the club has the buns, Sheila is good for tomatoes and onions and you need to bring your beverage-of-choice ;) and (if you’re feeling really inspired) maybe a salad to share.

Meet us at the club about 6:30 for some networking the old-fashioned way; we’ll follow with a mini-meeting!

RSVP please by return email ( cathyglover@telus.net ). Spouses, family welcome for dinner. (I hope I haven’t bitten off TOO much!)

And check our Delta Riding Club page on Facebook – I’ve started to post the best of the … 400 or so pics I took. You can post yours, too!

More – MUCH more – to come!

8.5.2011 DRC | One more sleep!!!


Are you ready?

We are!! Oh my goodness!! The grounds have NEVER looked so nice! We have spent hours and hours and HOURS this week getting ready for this weekend’s Summer Classic!

We had an awesome group of ladies (and Bruce) show up Wednesday night for the work party. I’m afraid I might leave someone out but I’ll take the risk because we need to give credit when credit is due!!! Here goes: THANK YOU THANK THANK YOU to Teri, Moya, PAM (oops!), Louise, Sheila, Devon (token youth/ONLY youth!), Allan (oh ya, the other man – MY man!), KIM, the incredible DIANE and Cindy, and FIONA!

We set the dressage surrounds up in about seven minutes FLAT!! (It was awesome!!) Fiona and Cindy disappeared with weed wackers to hit the stalls again while some went into the clubhouse and washed chairs and WINDOWS (yippee!!) and the rest of us mulled over the hunter ring, then moved all the jumps to the main ring! (But we ARE making progress on that Hunter ring, you’ll be pleased to know!)

It was just SO refreshing (and revitalizing) to have some new faces and energy join us!! Thank you SO much for coming!

You can still enter the show (but it will cost you)

Well, it won’t cost THAT much more:

Even though this weekend is a pre-entry show (to get your pre-entry discount), you can STILL ENTER THE DAY OF THE SHOW, just like all our other shows. You just pay a little more – which is good for our bank account, actually!! Especially since we’ve actually lowered our fees for the EW day – well not lowered, actually – but you can ride more classes for the same moola!

That said, if you want to save a few pennies, you COULD email or fax (604.946.5919) your entries TODAY before 6 pm, or drop them off at my house (6055 Brodie) before 6 OR tonight at the riding club. Call 604.328.3814 to make sure I am there, which I expect to be between 7 and 9. As long as we can process the paperwork TONIGHT, you can get the discounted rates. (We’re NOT desperate for entries – we just want to minimize the chaos in the entry booth!)

Stalls available

I still have a few day stalls available on the EW day (Sunday). Call or text to reserve: 604.328.3814.

Coffeeeeeeeeeeeee

Gates open by 7:30 am both mornings and the coffee will be on! We’ve heard thru the grapevine that “Auntie” Marg – the breakie burger QUEEN – is making an appearance in the concession on BOTH mornings!! Yay!

Remember to follow the parking instructions for our gate peeps (Bruce and Rick). Passenger vehicles should park on the hayfield to the east of the driveway, before the gate!

It’s the loneliest job …

And that’s why I prefer to have volunteers only do one hour shifts on the OUTGATE – but it’s really REALLY important to keep the EW show running smoothly. We still need volunteers, so if you’re able, come on down – or if your mom, sister, brother, grampa, aunt or grunt has an hour to give us while they’re at the show cheering you on, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE encourage them to lend a hand. Training is free! Coffee (or some other refreshment of choice) on us!!

Riding on the grounds

Remember, no cantering outside of the rings. If you need to longe your horse, do it in the dressage ring (which will be closed after the Handy Horse is set up early Sunday afternoon) and NOT the main or hunter rings. (And if someone is longeing in the dressage ring, riders are probably better off riding in the other rings to give those horses their space. (Duh …) Safety for everyone is paramount and common sense needs to prevail! Ya!

For those coming to DRC for the first time, horses are NOT permitted on the grass surrounding the clubhouse (except for those tied to trailers that may be parked there). That area is for spectators. Please listen to announcements carefully.

If you are bringing a horse just to orient him or her to the grounds and the activity at a show but are not entering classes, please come to the office BEFORE you unload to sign a waiver. The reasons are pretty obvious!

BC Heritage

We haven’t had any riders submit log book applications with their entries and I had a couple of folks ask me what BC Heritage is all about.

Basically it’s a championship show held annually (this year’s show was in July at T’bird) where riders need to qualify in order to attend. Shows like our Summer Classic are BC Heritage “qualifying” shows – you need to ride and place up to fourth place in at least two BC Heritage qualifying shows during the qualifying period (July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 – and we’ll have several) to show at the show NEXT July. Pretty good sources tell me it’s July 6-8 at Maple Ridge. Or thereabouts.

Last year (or this past year), they extended the list of championship classes offered at the BC Heritage Finals. They include:

Western: Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Western Equitation, Command Class, Western Horsemanship, Reining, Trail, Pole Bending, Barrel Racing, Stake Race and Keyhole Race.

English: English Showmanship, English Pleasure, Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Hack, Road Hack, Show Hack, Handy Horse

Hunter Over Fences 2' - 3' / 3' - 3'6", Jumper 2' - 3' / 3' - 3'6",

Dressage: Training / First Levels

And …
Driving; Reinsmanship, Pleasure, Command, Games-Barrels, Poles

You need to apply for your Log Book (in which the show secretaries verify and record your placings) from HCBC, and it’s just $11.20. You can fill out an application for your log book at our shows and we will submit it and your show results on your behalf. Your log book will be mailed to you from HCBC.

This is a provincial program, and exhibitors from all over the province attend. Frankly, it has been around for several years but only now seems to gathering some momentum. I think that addition of quite respectable prize money this year (see the last bulletin) has raised a few eyebrows, so I am actually feeling quite hopeful that this event might finally attain the stature it was meant to have. (Oops! That’s me editorializing again … )

All the poop is on Horse Council’s website [http://www.hcbc.ca/BC-Heritage.html?]. If you have any questions, please hunt me down and I will try to esplain more-the-better. Whether you think you will go to the show next year or not, for $11.20 it’s nice to have a log book that journals your success at shows like ours and Mission and Langley and Chilliwack, and even some of the breed shows. (More work for us, but that’s why we get paid the big bucks, right?)

What else?

Hmmm … I don’t think there IS anything else! We’re ready, set, GO!! Make sure you give our “English at a Glance” chart a boo before you show. We don’t want to DQ anyone but you will be penalized if you sneak past the whipper in with training or inappropriate equipment. (It happens; not intentionally, we don’t think.) It’s just better to have that learning curve under your belt BEFORE you go in the ring! Check the website [deltaridingclub.com] for the show schedule.

Oh ya!

We do have one vendor coming with … stuff like sleezies and tail bags, Christmas cards and gift items. Silly me – I didn’t get the NAME of her business! But she’ll be setting up Sunday morning so don’t forget some pocket change!

Even if you’re NOT showing, drop by this weekend for some eatz and a look-see!
We appreciate your support!

Oh oh ya! Bring your sunscreen!! (The breeze can be deceiving!)

8.1.2011 DRC | YOU'RE ALL INVITED!!!!!!!


Work party this Wednesday

With already almost 25 man (and WHOA-man) hours of volunteer time into the riding club this past Saturday, there is STILL a pile of work to be done – and we desperately need some FRESH bodies to help! Can you join us between 6:30 and 7 this coming Wednesday, August 3rd and do the many-hands-make-light-work thing with us?

It’s not that the grounds are neglected or bad … it just takes TIME to weed-eat and harrow and mow. There is a lot of ground to cover with three big rings, the parking area and the area around the clubhouse. We’ve moved ALLLL the dressage surrounds to get at that blessed horsetail THAT IS TAKING OVER – so, they all need to be put back. The stalls need weed-eating to get the really ugly tall weeds in check, there is painting to be done (I am still looking for someone more bendy than me to get the parts of the skirting I can’t get to); we need to unload jumps off the hay wagon and we may be moving the show jumps into the main ring. The chairs should be washed, and the windows could be cleaned (in my perfect world). And someone VERY brave could hit the BBQ, if they dare. (Ew.) It’s not hard work – it just takes time and some elbow grease, and we need some of yours!! Bring your metal rakes if you have them – we’d also like to hit some of the “swells” in the main ring. It’s getting better – it’s just not there yet!

FYI -- in case you think grounds maintenance comes easily -- we had TWO tractors, THREE weed-eaters and SIX of us going all out on Saturday. We’ve got the heavy stuff done; now we need some finishing touches to make it PERFECT for this weekend’s SUMMER CLASSIC.

Westway will take your entries

I don’t know why we didn’t organize this earlier in the season, but I checked with Jess at Westway and they would be DEE-lighted to accept your show entries on our behalf. Entry deadline is Wednesday, closing time. I’ll be making the rounds to Westway, RODDICKS and DOG & PONY Thursday morning. (Failing that, you could bring them directly to us at the CLUB on Wednesday night when you come to help!! Refeshments on us!)

PS: We are REALLY getting excited. Have you seeeeeen the forecast?!?!? YIPPEEEEE!! I was harrowing for an hour and a half this morning, and with that ocean breeze, it would have been PERFECT for riding!! The mountains still have some snow on them – we have THE MOST BEAUTIFUL riding club of all!!!

Parking protocols

We will have people at the gate and inside helping you park on both show days. Please follow their directions as we want to make the most of our space. (We have lots of space but when parking goes amuck – especially on an English/Western day – it can really choke the place up!). Please remember it’s not all about you!!

Passenger vehicles (without gear or trailers) will be directed onto the hayfield, outside of the gate. We’re going to try to keep the gravel area near the dressage ring clear enough so those with trailers can make the turnaround. (Yolanda, you’re on the gravel!) We may be parking trailers on the south end of the Hunter ring, so that won’t be for passenger cars early on.

If you have a passenger vehicle with gear, we ask that you park in the same line as your rig, unload and then park on the hayfield as directed. Especially on Sunday.

If you’re parking your truck and trailer on the grass, be sure to pull your truck up to the roadway so other vehicles and rigs can park behind you once you’re unloaded and we’re full. It’s not rocket science; just use some common sense and please humour the parking peeps and do what they suggest …

NO SMOKING!!

Oh yes! While the grass is still lush, the rings and track are already tinder dry. If you must smoke, please do it IN YOUR VEHICLE.

BC Heritage qualifier

In case you missed it, this is a BC Heritage qualifying show for 2012. Rumour has it the show is staying in the Fraser Valley next year, so if you haven’t already ordered your log book (there’s only one now) for this new season (July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012) from Horse Council, bring your moola and get us to download and complete your application for you. Go to [hcbc.ca] and click on competitions for the particulars. They’re $11.20 including HST. We would prefer you pay by a separate cheque made out to HCBC (we’ll forward it for you). If you’re pre-entering, download the application and submit it with your entry (with a separate cheque made out directly to HCBC if you please).

Oh … and congratulations to Devon Smith and Tamara Jameson on their success at this year’s championship show. Devon and SW Roxy Barlink won their Showmanship (well, duh) and Horsemanship and Handy Horse. And Tamara rode Super Miss Luuuuucy to a big win in the … English Pleasure. Of course, Lucy is the showmanship QUEEN, so they won that, too!

HCBC awarded PRIZE MONEY to fourth place this year -- $60 bucks for first!! With their placings, both girls won almost all their (and in Devon’s case – ahem – MY) entry money back. It was just like the old days when we used to show at the PNE. (Remember that?!?!?) Anyways, with that in mind, get your log books and start qualifying now! THE HUNTER DAY IS A BC HERITAGE QUALIFER TOO!!!!

That’s it for now. Hope you got some riding in this BC Day long weekend? As for me, I’ve spent a lot of time riding a tractor. Horses, not so much. But we’re all getting pretty pumped about the show! Hope you can make it!! (And yes, we are still looking for extra hands – especially on the Sunday!)

SUMMER CLASSIC THIS WEEKEND! HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT! OH! WORK PARTY THIS WEDNESDAY!!! DON’T FORGET!!

7.29.2011 DRC | Summer Classic pre-entry deadline next week!


Show time!

Delta Riding Club’s big two-day SUMMER CLASSIC is less than two weeks away (August 6/7), and exhibitors who pre-enter by next Wednesday, August 3 will save lot$ with pre-entry discounts. Hunter riders will save $10 per division by pre-entering and this year, we are offering a new DAY RATE for English/Western riders!! Now, you won’t have to pick and choose just six classes for a discount – show in as many classes as you like for one flat fee! We want you to make the MOST of your day with DRC!

As always, we offer beautiful rosettes to sixth place, and all first place winners will get $10 in DRC “Bucks” along with their first place “goodie bags.” (They were SUCH a hit last year!)

Don’t forget to enter our stakes classes (they aren’t included in the day rate, by the way), and do consider making a run for a high point! Denise from Embroidery Plus just dropped off 11 coveted “Summer Classic” directors chairs – one for each Hunter division, and five more for our English/Western day. (We have reserve high point awards, too!) Riding an APHA-registered Paint horse? We have a high point for you, too, courtesy of the BC Paint Horse Club!! This show is APHA PAC-approved and is a 2012 BC Heritage qualifying show to boot!

Jan Blackhall has been booked to judge the Hunter day on Saturday and Virginia Allen will do the honours on the English/Western day on Sunday. We have lots of parking, three big rings, a full concession, a great crew and Mother Nature on our side. (The forecast is for SUN!)

Pre-entries are encouraged, but you can post enter on the day of the show as well!

Day stalls still available

There are still day stalls available on both days. If you’re looking for stabling, be sure to reserve in advance by dropping me an email as stabling is limited and is offered on a first come/first served basis.

Use the Summer Classic entry form please!!

Drop your entries off at Dog & Pony or Roddicks by Wednesday closing time, or pop them in the mail to our post office box (but do it soon). The address is on our Summer Classic program which you can download from our website [www.deltaridingclub.com]. Make sure you use the SUMMER CLASSIC entry form – the fees are not the same as for our regular shows.

All hands on deck

While the regular crew will be at the show for the whole weekend, there are still not enough of us go around – especially on the Sunday for the English/Western show. We desperately need HELLLLP! If you can spare a few hours to help give out ribbons or manage the outgate, or even help with the parking on Sunday morning for an hour or so, we would REALLY appreciate it. (And all volunteers get free eats AND – even better – they are eligible for one of FOUR volunteer draws!)

Email and let me know when you would be available to lend a hand; your help goes a long way into making this a successful weekend for everyone!

Oops!

It appears in my haste to get the Summer Classic show schedule ready before the last show in June, I left out a class. It’s now class 29A, English Pleasure Intermediate.

Best wishes

Our thoughts and good wishes go out to DRC member Keya Milaire, who had a serious fall off a young horse earlier this month. Even the best riders can get hurt bad – and Keya is among the best. She rides her palomino gelding Kahlua Cream at our shows – and while he can be a handful, he’s not who she was riding when she got hurt. She’s nursing a broken back (ouch) but is home now in good spirits with lots of family and friend support, according to her updates on Facebook. Hope you’re back in the saddle soon, Keya!

Good show

Our Father’s Day English/Western show turned out to be quite the blast!! We had – oh let’s see how memory serves me – 43 exhibitors and lots of filled classes! Lisa Mander judged, the weather was respectable, our crew top notch! It was a happy day all around! Congratulations to our volunteer draw winners: whipper in Phylicia McIvor and to Cassidy Mintzler who helped out in the concession when we REALLY needed help!! Thank you both – and to everyone who came to show and/or lend a hand (like Lynne Carter who arrived just in time to help me with the Handy Horse and Trail – always nice to have an expert on hand!).

Congratulations to our high points for the day:

Walk/Trot

Teri Agle on Clairvoyant
r/ Megan Schiewe on Tuxedo

Junior English

Lauren Proudlove on Fall ‘En Rain
r/ Ashley Arnoldt on Free Time

Intermediate English

Devon Smith on SW Roxy Barlink
r/Vanessa Melney on Pacific Mackenzie

Senior English

Tamara Jameson on Super Miss Lucy
r/ Keya Milaire on Kahlua Cream

Western

Devon Smith on SW Roxy Barlink
r/ Tamara Jameson on Super Miss Lucy

Your memberships are “in the mail”

I didn’t realize we had received so many more new members (woo hoo!) at the June 20th show – that is until I finally got around to doing the bookkeeping a couple of weeks ago (between deadlines). For those of you who joined in June, THANK YOU! We love you!! Your membership cards are in the mail!

And don’t forget – your 2011 DRC membership gets you a 10% discount off show gear (some restrictions apply) at DOG & PONY! Make sure to carry your membership card with you and ask for your discount!

If you’re shopping at STAMPEDE TACK (as I was this week), don’t forget to ask the ladies there to credit your purchase to DRC. We get a percentage of your purchases back in sponsorship loot, and it adds up! Show your support for DRC!!

PS: It’s not too late to join DRC for 2011! There are still two English/Western shows in which to qualify for year ends – after the Summer Classic on August 7, we have an English/Western show on September … 11, and Jodie Moore is judging. Even if you’re not showing this year, we do appreciate your support! We’ve reached the 100 mark in members!! Woo hoo!!!

We couldn’t do it without our sponsors

We’ve tried really hard this year to keep our exhibitor fees as low as we can while still offering really nice “incentives” (read prizes) at all our competitions. We couldn’t do it without the help of our individual and business sponsors and we are so grateful for their support. Thank you, once again, to:

PLATINUM

Delta Agricultural Society
The Dog & Pony Shop www.thedognpony.com
Hylee Training www.hyleetraining.com
Greenhawk Vancouver www.greenhawk.net
Roddick Feed & Farm Supply www.roddickfeedandfarm.com
Adiva Murphy Natural Horsemanship www.adivamurphy.com
Westway Feeds

GOLD

Crescent Stables www.crescentstables.com
Four Season Equestrian Facility
Country Life in BC www.countrylifeinbc.com
Kim Rose
Bates Tack Shop www.batestackshop.com
Stampede Tack & Western Wear www.stampede.ca

SILVER

Camelot Stables www.camelotstables.ca
Blue Meadow Farm www.bluemeadowfarm.ca
Centaur Awards www.centaurribbonworld.com

BRONZE

Vanderveen Hay Sales www.vanderveenhay.com

That’s it for now! Let me know if you can lend a hand at the Summer Classic and don’t forget:

SUMMER CLASSIC PRE-ENTRY DEADLINE: NEXT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM & ENTRY FORM FROM

6.16.2011 DRC | English Western show this Sunday!


BC Heritage qualifier

Delta Riding Club’s English / Western show this Sunday is the last BC Heritage qualifying show on the coast for this summer’s championship show! That show is scheduled for July 15-17 at Thunderbird, where cash prizes will be given for 1st thru 4th place finishers! If you’re looking to qualify to compete at the 2011 championships, put us on your “to do” list for this weekend!!

Lisa Mander is back judging. She did our Hunter show in May, and last judged EW here two years ago. Our show is also APHA PAC-approved and DRC members will be qualifying for OUR year end awards! It’s the last English/Western show until our big Summer Classic on August 6 & 7. It’s also been s-e-v-e-n-l-o-n-g-w-e-e-k-s since our last English/Western show so we’re anticipating a crowd! Bring dad along – coffee for Dads is on us!

Day stalls are still available for $15 each for the day. Gates open at 7:30 and our show gets underway promptly at 8:30 with class 2, English Showmanship. The Leadline class runs at about 10 am. Download the show program and your entry form from the website [www.deltaridingclub.com] and if you haven’t already paid your membership, we will be happy to receive it in the entry office bright and early Sunday morning! Members still have three opportunities to qualify and compete for year ends in our English and Western classes: this Sunday, on August 7 AND September … 11. You can read up on our year end eligibility rules on the website! You need to compete at two shows minimum to qualify for year ends – and we give out class awards for every English and Western class! (Reserves, too! We like to spread the wealth …)

Yup, we need help

Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered to work the show! Many hands make light work and a seamless show day experience for EVERYone – especially those of us overworked and underpaid! We still need a couple of trusty folks to hand out ribbons and manage the out gate. C’mon – we know you wanna! It feels GRRRREAT to wear the DRC-I-did-my-good-deed-for-the-day halo – not to mention, all volunteers are automatically entered in our TWO volunteer draws for the day! Send me an email if you can work a shift, or even a few hours!! We really REALLY appreciate your help!

High scores

By all accounts, the Percent Day last Sunday was another big success. Sheila ended up with 25 rides booked, starting at a respectable 9:30 and wrapping up shortly after 1. Congratulations to Megan Schiewe and Tuxedo on being the high score for the day and to Diane Prosser and She’s Amusing for a respectable reserve place score! And many thanks to judge Joan Simmons for her encouraging remarks! The next Percent Day isn’t until – egads – September!! ?

See you Sunday!

6.2.2011 DRC | Hunter Show this Sunday!


Rain, rain go away …

Well, today’s forecast for showers shows no signs of letting up until after dark, so we’re re-scheduling our work party at the club until TOMORROW – Friday – at 7 pm. If you can come and lend a hand, we would sure appreciate it. We’ll be re-setting the jump course and doing the tidy. Come and join us!

Percent Day high points

I was remiss earlier this week in not mentioning the highlights of our May 22 Percentage Day! Sheila reports another excellent turnout of riders for judge Virginia Allen. Congratulations to Pamela White and Cavalier for achieving the highest score of the day and to Jill Andersen on Sophista; they were reserve high point!

Another oops …

And … in my haste to wrap up the last bulletin, I neglected to acknowledge Sue Thompson and CRESCENT STABLES as one of our valued “gold” sponsors for 2011! My bad – how embarrassing! Sorry about that, Sue!

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Hunter show this weekend

It may be miserable outside right now, but the forecast is looking positively BRILLIANT for the weekend! Hope you have our Hunter Show on your agenda! Show starts with the Cross Rail Division promptly at 8:30 am. Gates open and coffee on at 7:30!! Email me to reserve your day stall! It’s going to be a perfect day for a show!

6.1.2011 DRC | Hunter Show this Sunday!


Like to jump?

This Sunday not only marks day three (if you can trust the weather forecast) of 12 days of SUNshine (mixed with a few scattered showers), it is also Delta Riding Club’s second HUNTER SHOW of the year!! Drop your entries off early at Dog & Pony or Roddicks (Friday by 5). We have great high points in all six divisions, starting with Cross Rail all the way to 3 Foot. Meghan Parlee is our judge (after two others had to cancel: NOT that she is third best at all – she comes HIGHLY recommended by our good friend and Silver DRC sponsor KIM ROSE).

We are looking for a few good hands to help out on show day, although the Hunter days seems to require the minimum number of warm bodies! (What I am really REALLY going to be begging for is help on June 19th, our next English Western show!).

Regardless, THIS Sunday is promising to be one of the nicest days of this ridiculously long and soggy spring, so plan on spending it with us! Our hunter shows are friendly and easy going – suitable for allllll levels of riders. You can download the show schedule and entry form from our website: deltaridingclub.com. Call Ms. Francie Shuttleworth at 604.940.8960 if you have any questions or email ME to book your day stall! Hope to see you Sunday!!

Work party this Thursday

Sheila is suggesting we pull together the clan for a work party THIS Thursday. We have jumps to re-arrange and horse tail to pull. Meet us there at 6:30!

Monthly meeting next week

The second Wednesday of the month comes early in June. Our regular monthly meeting at the clubhouse gets underway PROMPTLY at 7 pm on June 8th. Everyone is welcome to come and put in their two cents!

Another Percentage Day on our radar

I don’t know if you realized it, but we snuck an extra Percentage Day into our show schedule this year. (Sheila is a bear for punishment, alright!) It’s coming up rather quickly, on SUNDAY, JUNE 12. Percentage Days are always pre-entry the Sunday before the show (that would be THIS Sunday – egads!!). Why not drop your entries off while we’re all there at the Hunter Show? Looks like Joan Simmons is officiating! The next Percent Day isn’t until September, so pitter patter …

Put the Summer Classic on your calendar

June is going to be a busy month at DRC – the year AND the show season will be half over, although I think none of us can believe that, given the (ahem) weather … That said, you should be making plans to attend our two day SUMMER CLASSIC, August 6 and 7. This is our BIG show of the season. BIG prizes! BIGGER high points! Awesome competition! And just so you know, we have Maureen Walters lined up to judge the Hunter Day (Saturday) and … Virginia Allen will be back to take on our English/Western competitors. We’ll be working on the program in the coming weeks so watch for it!!

Is there a handyman among us?

You know, we spent almost allllll of last year working on the clubhouse renovations and I don’t think anyone would argue that it wasn’t worth the investment and effort. Running water, fancy grill, new and just-too-efficient entry office – bells and whistles up the whazoo – everything – almost -- except ... the backsplash in the kitchen. We HAVE the tiles; we just don’t have anyone lined up to put ‘em up!! Know someone with some tiling experience and a couple of hours to spare? We would love to meet him or her and have this loose end tied up before the August shows -- and we would be ETERNALLY grateful!! ?

Let’s hear it for our sponsors

Speaking of eternally grateful, we would like to acknowledge and thank our 2011 DRC sponsors! Their support goes a long way in helping us manage our expenses, maintain our good prizes and boosting our morale! If you have a chance to thank them personally, please do so on our behalf! And it’s not too late to sign on as a 2011 sponsor!! See the website for details!

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Coming up

  • Sunday, May 22 Percentage Day sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
  • Thursday, May 26 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Riding Patterns
  • Sunday, June 5 DRC Hunter Show, Francie, 604.940-8960
  • Wednesday, June 8 Regular monthly meeting, DRC clubhouse, 7 pm
  • Sunday, June 12 Percentage Day sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
  • Sunday, June 19 DRC English Western Show cathyglover@telus.net 604.328.3814
  • Saturday, August 6 DRC Summer Classic – Hunter Day
  • Sunday, August 7 DRC Summer Classic – English/Western Day

SEE YOU SUNDAY AT THE HUNTER SHOW!

5.21.2011 DRC | Percentage Day tomorrow


Could we PLEASE catch a break with the weather?!

Last weekend, Sheila told me she already had 16 rides booked for tomorrow’s Percentage Day at Delta Riding Club. I’m pretty certain more have come in since then, so it looks like it’s going to be a full morning and early afternoon affair. Drop by, if you like, for a coffee and some munchies and watch as judge Viriginia Allen scores riders as they go through their paces.

Hunter people are hard core

The forecast wasn’t in our favour last Sunday, May 15 as the first Hunter show of the season got underway. HOWEVER … it wasn’t as bad as it could have been (the horses didn’t balk at the brollies!) and 14 exhibitors made for a very nice showing in all but the three foot division. We had five and six and even seven horse classes and the show paced well, wrapping up about 1:30, with no break for lunch. Judge Lisa Mander made good use of our Judge’s Palace (on wheels ?) and we had a wonderful slate of volunteers, which is always refreshing! Congratulations to our high point and reserve winners who took home DRC-branded saddle pads and totes, respectively:

CROSSRAIL

Kim Taylor on Izzy
r/ Virginia Nicolls on Espresso

TWO FOOT

Megan Kenney on Hylee Classical QT
r/ Diane Prosser on She’s Amusing

2’3”

Diane Prosser on She’s Amusing
r/ Jennifer Andrews and Peaches

2’6”

Katie Andrews and Catalina
r/ Shelby Yule and Sugar & Spice

2’9”

Sarah Brown on Changed the Stars
r/ Katie Andrews on Rrrrrrrhumba

Don’t let your guard down

The next Hunter show is coming up on Sunday, June 5 – just two weeks away! And … the long range forecast is looking (finally) consistently sunny. Maybe Bruce will even get a chance to mow – there was standing water on the infield and in the parking area last week! Again!

Remember, you can drop your entries off early at Roddicks or Dog & Pony and save time in the morning waiting in line at the entry office.

The next English Western show is Sunday, June 19th and is a BC Heritage qualifying show.

Not too late to compete for year ends

If you haven’t already paid your membership dues, it is not too late to ante up and compete for coveted DRC year end awards. Exhibitors must compete in at least two shows (two hunter of three offered, or two EW or dressage of four offered). You still have a chance! You can download our membership application at [deltaridingclub.com]. We really appreciate the support, too, of “social” members – folks that will not be riding or competing with a horse at DRC, but just want to demonstrate their appreciation for the effort we put into Delta’s horse club!

We have a winner!

Congratulations to DRC director Lynne Carter. Lynne dutifully trucked Webster up to Kamloops for the Wish Ride on the May 7/8 weekend where riders raised over $9000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation. Lynne – as is always the case – raised a staggering $2,645, earning her two tickets to anywhere Westjet flies!! Well done!!

Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM)

We are continuing to monitor the plethora of information online about the status of horses that are being tested for this potentially fatal and highly contagious virus that gained notoriety during a cutting competition in Utah. The latest is that a horse in the Fraser Valley has tested NEGATIVE – it does NOT have EHV-1.

Paton Martin Veterinary Services have been providing timely updates to their clients and online on any news related to the outbreak and how it may or may not affect horses in the Fraser Valley. You can access their latest updates at [http://www.pmvetservices.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=563].

Of course, everyone is being urged to practice due diligence. If your horse is not 100%, keep it at home and isolate him or her. If symptoms persist or get worse, don’t delay in calling your veterinarian. There are no vaccines and isolation is key to keeping this international “outbreak” to a minimum.

Hors concurs

We allow riders to show “hors concurs” at our regular season shows – that means they are in the ring for a class but are not being judged. Those riders will remove their numbers or have their numbers turned around. They pay the regular entry fee but are – essentially – schooling without disrupting the competing members of the class.

It’s important to note, however, that you can only ride hors concurs in a class that you are eligible to compete in. For instance, a senior exhibitor cannot ride hors concours in an English Pleasure class for Intermediate riders. If you are riding hors concurs, you are forfeiting the opportunity to compete with your peers, not warming up in a class you wouldn’t otherwise be eligible to ride in. It was a discussion that came up at our May meeting that needed clarity. It’s all good.

Coming up

  • Sunday, May 22 Percentage Day sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
  • Thursday, May 26 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Riding Patterns
  • Sunday, June 5 DRC Hunter Show, Francie, 604.940-8960
  • Wednesday, June 8 Regular monthly meeting, DRC clubhouse, 7 pm
  • Sunday, June 12 Percentage Day sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
  • Sunday, June 19 DRC English Western Show cathyglover@telus.net 604.328.3814

      • 5.2.2011 DRC | Without a hitch or hiccup!


      The perfect day for a show

      What a difference a day makes! Today, it’s socked in (as it has been most of this spring) and the rain has been relentless. Yesterday, however, we woke to a flawless sky and just a gentle breeze out of the southeast. It was THE PERFECT DAY for a horse show! So, that’s what we did!

      Nearly 40 horses and their riders started to parade into the club grounds shortly after 7:30 am for the first of four Delta Riding Club English Western shows this season. From the east side of the club to the west, trailers were pulled into place, horses were unloaded, their blankets removed and given a final buff before the show started – as always – promptly at 8:30 am.

      As judge Mellissa Buckley (Pyke and Buckley Performance Horses in Langley) and DRC president and perennial ring steward Bruce Walker headed into the ring, France had the coffee perking and the grill sizzling in the clubhouse while Cindy and FrancIE tidied up loose ends in our high-tech entry booth. It was surely going to be a great day!!

      It’s no secret I lose a lot of sleep worrying about the forecast leading up to our horse shows; what you may not know is how much sleep I lose worrying about filling our roster of volunteers! (I don’t sleep much!) Will we – or won’t we -- have enough good-willed souls to fill allllll the positions we need filled to make it through the day? Well, I needn’t have shortchanged myself on zzz’s last week; yesterday we had volunteers coming out of the woodwork – including many NEW faces!! For the handful of us hard-core DRC pot scrubbers and elbow greasers, it made the day as PERFECT as you can imagine!!

      We would like to thank PHYLICIA McIVOR and her trusty right hand COURTNEY HENDERSON for spending most of the day co-opping on whipper-in duties! You guys rock!! And then we had T.H.E. M.O.S.T. C.H.A.R.M.I.N.G. out gate volunteer EVER in JEAN-FRANCOIS SANTERRE [santerreshowstables.com]. No matter how your class went, I’m told, he made you feel like you were leaving a winner! TAYLOR DHALIWAL is taking a year off from showing (she was a big winner at year ends last year), but came back and spent the better part of the day as our ribbon girl! (A beautiful one, at that! ?) And then there was FRANCE LAVERDURE on that grill with her sidekicks TANYA and little MARY! (Remember to thank your handsome hubby, Tanya, for use of the tow line! Uh-huh. And whew!)

      BABS BAIRD arrived at lunch as promised to take over on the out gate but we found her REAL calling! Babs is a CLEAN FREAK! She and MARY WATERHOUSE (who is soon to take over at Silverwood after Wendy heads up to join Charlie in Merritt) swept and vacuumed and collected up the garbage cans post-show – all the stuff we are normally too whooped to do!! THANK YOU!! And for your help, too, ladies, setting up the Trail course. It was SO refreshing to have so many on hand for that!

      Of course, the regulars were there – Francie and Cindy in the entry booth, Sheila on the mike, Bruce in the ring, Diane Moon finished up the day as whip … but I especially want to thank my “personal assistant” (wink wink!) for the day, FIONA WALKER! A girl could get SO used to that, having a personal assistant!! Thanks, Fiona!! Yer the best! And – whether by fluke or design – Fiona is also one of two winners of our “volunteer draw” – gift cards to Timmies. (I couldn’t have planned that better if I tried!) Courtney Henderson was the other! (And how great to be able to reward a newcomer with a TOKEN of our appreciation, eh?) Thank you to all of you and to others who lent a hand as needed throughout the day!!

      Giddy-up

      But a horse show is so much more than just the crew! Whether it was the sunshine that made us giddy, or just the fact it was the first show of the season for most and the first show EVER for some, we had a great group of happy-faced exhibitors grace our show ring yesterday, and we are SO GLAD THEY CAME! The senior rider class was probably the most competitive ever – and exciting!! There were – shall we say? – some VERY fresh horses in that first class but their riders managed the silly ones with ease while the rest kept their distance. OUTSTANDING!

      We didn’t have to split the canter in any classes (anything over 12 and we split, for safety!), but we were close! A huge English Showmanship class. Sheila finds them “boring” – I get GOOSEbumps watching exhibitors execute their pattern! Love it! The show paced as most do – we broke for lunch right around noon and resumed a half hour later with the hunter division. Western started a little after 2-2:30 and we were done by 4! Except for the clean-up crew! It was great to see Diane Prosser ride the full day, and Shauna Gough, too – we love our all-arounds! And Keya, too! And Kiana Krahn, one of our 4-H friends from Langley on a striking red dun Quarter Horse, who promises to come back! In fact, she won’t be the only one! I received an email from June Allen this morning saying how much she enjoyed the show and how her friends were so impressed, they say they will be coming next time! BRING IT ON!!

      Congratulations to our high point winners of the day:


      WALK TROT

      Tuxedo & Megan Schiewe
      r / Clairvoyant & Teri Agle (Hey, aren’t they from the same barn?!?!)

      JUNIOR RIDER

      Black Rambo Shadow & Victoria Fryer (all the way from Mission!)
      r/ Fall En Rain & Lauren Proudlove

      INTERMEDIATE RIDER

      Pacific MacKenzie & Vanessa Melney
      r/ Cuz Im Purdy & Devon Smith (Did anyone miss Roxy?)

      SENIOR RIDER

      Super Miss Lucy & Tamara Jameson
      r/ She’s Amusing & Diane Prosser (if we had an award for happiness …)

      WESTERN

      Super Miss Lucy & Tamara Jameson
      r/ Kahlua Cream & Keya Milaire (air! AIR! I get it now!!)

      Vanessa and Lauren, your prizes await you in the clubhouse. We’ll be there on Wednesday, May 11 for our monthly meeting OR you can pick them up at our next show on May 15. High point winners took home those really cool storage stools for high point (courtesy of our pals at Greenhawk Vancouver – thanks, Laura, for the special delivery!), and our reserve awards this year are DRC-branded brush totes in your choice of colour – blue, yellow or Cindy’s favourite: purple!

      The next English Western show is SUNDAY, JUNE 19th – we’ll all be wearing our ties in honour of DAD!


      Hunter show next up

      Our first Hunter show of the season is less than two weeks away! Mark SUNDAY, MAY 15 on your calendar – we have Lisa Mander booked to judge and it promises to be a great show, too! We already have four stalls booked!!

      We’ve taken out our jumper classes and added a 3’ HUNTER division this year, so we’re looking forward to seeing some more competition in the bigger courses!! We’ll have more news soon – we’ll probably be looking for muscle to set up the course the day of our meeting or the 12th (a couple of us are already commited on the 13th – it’s grad night in Ladner!) and we’ll be looking for crew members, too!

      If you have any questions about the Hunter show, Francie is in charge. She’s not so computer-savvy, but you can call her at 604.940.8960 if you have any specific questions, or you can email me and I’ll pass your message along. Save time in the entry booth by dropping off your entries early at Dog & Pony or Roddicks! And don’t forget to send in your membership so you will be eligible for year end awards, too!

      Clinics cancelled

      It appears clinics are a hardsell here in Delta! I heard from Leslie Dowler last week that she has had no one show her the money for the Susan Norman French Classical Dressage Clinic she was trying to organize on behalf of the club in June. And then Susan Randall emailed just the morning to say she hasn’t had enough response for the Paul Dufresne clinic she was trying to pull together for this coming weekend. Are we all too smart for our own good? I dunno. I know they’re both disappointed … as are we! We would love to see the club used on more occasions for more events!

      New sponsors

      We’d like to welcome two new sponsors to our 2011 roster: Vanderveen Hay Sales out on the hill between Cloverdale and Langley are bronze sponsors and Westway Feeds (your Proform dealer) has come through with a Platinum sponsorship this year!! Thanks, Jess & Brett!

      Adiva Murphy evening clinics start next week

      I can’t believe how fast time flies!! There are still a couple of spots available (I think) to participate in the Adiva Murphy Evening Riding Clinics starting next week. The clinic on Thursday, May 12 will focus on Lateral Work, and the one on May 26 on Pattern Work. They’re JUST $30 a rider with a maximum of six people! I’ll be there – guess I better ride a horse before then. It’s been weeks!! Contact Cindy at cindy@adivamurphy.com for more information and to reserve your spot! (You don’t have to take both – you can choose one or the other – Cindy and I are in for both, though!)

      Percentage day later this month

      Don’t forget we’ve added a fourth Percentage Day to the schedule this year! (There is no rest for the wicked!) The next one is SUNDAY, MAY 22. Contact Sheila at sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com for info. Percentage Days are pre-entry events only and the deadline is SUNDAY, MAY 15.

      Well, time to put the hip waders on and waddle over to the barn. Thanks again to all who came out to Delta Riding Club yesterday to make our first English Western show of 2011 such a success!!

      Coming up

      • Wednesday, May 11 General membership meeting at the clubhouse, 7 pm. EVERYone welcome!
      • Thursday, May 12 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Lateral Work cindy@adivamurphy.com
      • Sunday, May 15 DRC Hunter Show, Francie, 604.940.8960
      • Sunday, May 15 Entry deadline for Percentage Day, May 22 sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com, 604.940.9698
      • Thursday, May 19 (tentative) Rain date for Advia Murphy Lateral Work (if necessary)
      • Sunday, May 22 Percentage Day sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
      • Thursday, May 26 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Riding Patterns
      • Sunday, June 5 DRC Hunter Show, Francie, 604.940-8960

          • PS: Special message to our Prez and Senior Grounds Keeper, Mr Walker: I bought you a tow rope of the Canadian Tire persuasion today! If all goes according to Murphy, you may never have to haul another rig off the grass again!! Yer welcome!! Give the Mrs a hug from me!

          4.13.2011 DRC | First English Western show this weekend


          We’re countin’ the sleeps …

          Are you ready? We are! Bruce spent allll of Good Friday mowing the grass (and yes, you can park on it now!); I hauled out the paint roller on Saturday and made a good start of the skirting around the clubhouse (finally!), and – if the weather EVER warms up – we’ll get the pressure washer out again and attack the stalls and deck! The club is lookin’ GOOOOOD!

          Mellissa Buckley of Pyke & Buckley Performance Horses in Langley has graciously found time in her busy schedule to be our replacement judge. Mellissa has lots (and lots!) of show and judging experience in both English AND Western – she’s an all-around trainer and coach. She’s also just about the nicest horse person on the planet so we’re really excited to get her at the 11th hour – especially for this show!

          We’ll also be introducing our new Novice Rider classes in English Pleasure, Road Hack, Hunter under Saddle and Western Pleasure at this show. I’m so excited!! (I think it was my idea!) DRC novice classes are based on the EXHIBITOR’s show record, NOT the horse’s, so if you’re new to the show ring (or feel like you’re always a bridesmaid!), these classes are for YOU!

          Exhibitors are reminded to pick up their patterns for Showmanship, equitation and Handy/Trail horse classes in the club house. (They’ll be posted by the in-gate as well.) If you want to save time in the entry office on Sunday morning, drop off your entries by close of business THIS FRIDAY at Dog & Pony or Roddicks! If you would like to have your number laminated for a small donation, make a note on your entry and we’ll have it ready for you! And don’t forget your DRC membership, too – your points won’t count for year ends unless you’re a member first!! (All exhibitors are eligible for high points.)

          The show gets underway promptly at 8:30 am Sunday morning with class 2, Showmanship. (Leadline – class #1 -- runs about 10 am. And for those of you with little ones, we scored some ADORABLE prizes for the leadliners this winter!)

          There are only a couple of stalls left for those of you looking for day stalls. (We think we’re gonna have a BIG show!) We’ll have a full concession (with all that sizzle!) and … (shhhhhh) have you seen the forecast?!?!? Eeeeeeek!!! I don’t want to jinx it – but it says SUN!!!!!

          Gates open at 7:30 am and the coffee will be ready shortly thereafter!

          Help wanted

          Ahem. Yup. Different year, same tune! It takes a lot of volunteers to keep our English Western shows running like clockwork and while the core group of us will be there, WE NEED HELPERS!!! If you can spare a few hours in the morning or afternoon, please please PLEASE email and let me know! I especially need an extra helper this year as my blessed knees will prevent me from bounding from one end of the club grounds to the other!! We have TWO volunteer draws – one for the morning crew, and one for afternoon, so ante up and you may be enjoying your Timmie’s coffee on us!

          Work party this Thursday

          If you can’t help us out on Sunday (or even if you can), why not lend a hand this Thursday evening? We’re meeting at the club at 6:30 for the final spit and polish before the show. We are always nicer when there are new faces among us! Come on down! Many hands make light work!

          Missing a Rubbermaid?

          We have somehow acquired a very nice Rubbermaid with a few tidbits leftover from the carboot sale? Is it yours? Email me to arrange pick up on Sunday at the clubhouse! Laura?

          Oh glorious day!

          EVERYone was in awesome spirits on April 17 – our first Percentage show of the season – as much to do with the SUNSHINE, we think, as the competition (which was fine enough, too)! Judge Hanneke Saunders christened our new “judge’s hut” – a mobile PALACE that Francie’s dad, Bryan, spent the better part of March and April custom building for us! It’s AWEsome!

          As for the show, we had 29 (!!) tests booked – including our first-ever driving test -- and I know Sheila was able to accommodate a couple of post-entries that took the place of a couple of scratches! Congratulations to high point winner Francie Shuttleworth and Miss Daisy and to reserve Pam White and Cavalier! It was a fabulous day made all the more special because we had some new and enthusiastic help in the kitchen. Many thanks and WELCOME to France Laverdure and her daughter, Brianne, for filling in for Auntie Marg! You guys ROCK! And a special thank you, as well, to our volunteer of the day – scribe Claire Austring (of Dog & Pony fame!).

          Need a recap?

          Natalie Amoore emailed to say she took some not-too-shabby pics at the show (and she’s right – they’re lovely!) and asked if we’d pass along the link to her page. You betcha, Natalie! And thanks!

          http://natalieaaphotography.smugmug.com/Photography/DRC-041711/

          The next Percent Day is Sunday, May 22, so mark your calendars! Sheila puts on a pretty good show!

          Carboot capers

          So, we had a trailer, some horses and a whole lot of really good stuff at the carboot sale – REALLY good stuff, and I think if sales weren’t quite as fruitful as hoped, getting together with friends and acquaintances was well worth the effort! There was a lot of friendly chatter among sellers AND buyers, in addition to some excellent finds: LOTS of nice saddles, for instance, that could be posted (for free) in our classifieds on the website [deltaridingclub.com]. Many thanks to Bruce for collecting the loot – it was a good fundraiser for the club – and thank you to the buyers for YOUR support!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

          Agility finds its niche

          Adiva Murphy’s Agility Clinic and Competition at the club this past Saturday went over well! She had more horses than expected – and that’s always a good sign! Adiva covered the basics in safety and skill sets for the first portion of the day and after lunch, each handler led their GALLANT steeds thru a series of obstacles, including one she dubs the “Carwash”!! (Freakyyyyyy …)

          Adiva has the club booked for a five MORE days of agility fun (May 21, June 18, July 23, August 20 and September 24), so if you’re thinking this is something you might want to do, check her website or Facebook page for details! And there are still a couple of slots for riders in her evening clinics on May 12 and 26 – they’re coming up fast and furious! Oh my! Contact Cindy for information (cindy@adivamurphy.com).

          Thank you!

          Once again, we would like to welcome and thank our 2011 Delta Riding Club sponsors! Your support is extremely important to our success and we appreciate your confidence in us!

          PLATINUM

          Delta Agricultural Society
          Adiva Murphy Natural Horsemanship
          Dog & Pony Shop
          Four Seasons Equestrian Facility
          Greenhawk Vancouver
          Hylee Training
          Roddicks Feed & Farm Supply

          GOLD

          Bates Tack Shop
          Country Life in BC
          Crescent Stables
          Kim Rose
          Stampede Tack & Western Wear

          SILVER

          Blue Meadow Farm
          Centaur Awards
          Camelot Stables

          Savvy shoppers

          Don’t forget to take advantage of your 10% discount off all show gear at the Dog & Pony. You need to flash your DRC membership card to get your discount. (Some restrictions apply). And … help us build a credit for Delta Riding Club at Stampede Tack & Western Wear by letting them know you are a DRC member! (They’ll give us credit for 5% of your purchase – and that could add up!).

          If you have the opportunity, please let ALLLLL our sponsors know how much we appreciate their support!

          Coming up

          • Sunday, May 1 (pray for SUN!) DRC English/Western Show, BC Heritage qualifier, cathyglover@telus.net , 604.328.3814
          • Saturday/Sunday, May 7/8 Paul Dufresne Clinic, Susan Randall, sacsdelta@telus.net or 604.319.5226
          • Wednesday, May 11 General membership meeting at the clubhouse, 7 pm. EVERYone welcome!
          • Thursday, May 12 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Lateral Work cindy@adivamurphy.com
          • Sunday, May 15 DRC Hunter Show, Francie, 604.940.8960
          • Thursday, May 19 (tentative) Rain date for Advia Murphy Lateral Work (if necessary)
          • Sunday, May 22 Percentage Day sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
          • Thursday, May 26 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Riding Patterns

              • WE’LL BE READY FOR YOU ON SUNDAY!!!

              4.13.2011 DRC | Meeting tonight / Carboot on Sunday!


              Weather Network says SUN!

              Oh my goodness! The forecast for Sunday has remained DRY (and hopeful!) for the past FOUR days!! I can barely stand it!! Of course, the 2011 DRC show season kicks off bright and shiny on Sunday morning, April 17 with our first Percentage (Dressage) Day of the season – and our third annual CARBOOT SALE!!

              I’ve already had a number of inquiries from sellers for the Carboot – and that tells me folks are bringing in some GOOD stuff!! Buyers beware – and bring your moola! The sale is advertised for 10 am til 1, but sellers are welcome to come any time after 8:30 to set up in the Hunter Ring. Trailers are welcome! (Terry LaPorte thought she might bring their big 3-horse/living quarters trailer in! See it in the classifieds on the website! I want it!!) Just remember – DON’T PARK ON THE GRASS!! It’s still slick and squishy!

              I’m sure we’ll have a bit of a concession – not full blown so don’t expect lunch, but coffee and muffins, et al. Sheila should have rider times ready by Thursday and we’re going to try to get them up on the website under “Shows”. So plan morning coffee with US! Dressage show, carboot, mmmmmm coffee – can it get much better?

              Meeting today

              Our monthly meeting is tonight (Wednesday the 13th) AT the clubhouse! (Don’t park on the grass!) Everyone is welcome to come, listen, contribute, snack … Even if you don’t want to stay, drop off your 2011 DRC membership. Only three more sleeps before the early bird “Bucks Back” deal expires!! If we receive your membership by Friday, you’ll get $10 in DRC bucks to use any old way you like (on DRC stuff)!

              Whoops!

              I made SUCH an effort in the last bulletin to make sure I had the dates right that I completely overlooked a SPONSOR!! (Can you believe it?!?) My sincerest apologies to Marilyn & Tara Pay and FOUR SEASONS EQUESTRIAN FACILITY!! They are, of course, our very FIRST sponsor of 2011 after their contributions to our Silent Auction at the year end pot luck last November brought in the BIG BUCKS and therefore garnered them an automatic GOLD sponsorship for 2011!!

              I had been corresponding with Marilyn, too, about the Wish Ride which makes my oversight even more appalling! Marilyn tells me they’re taking a year off from the ride here in Delta. She is extremely busy with work, and if you’ve been to any of their rides at Deas Island, you can appreciate just how much effort she and Tara undertake to make the ride a success! She says they’ll likely be back in 2012!

              If you’re looking to PLEDGE to the Children’s Wish Foundation, DRC director LYNNE CARTER is hauling up to Kamloops for the ride there and will gladly take your money (er … pledge!). Email me and I can put you in touch or you can find her email address on our website [deltaridingclub.com]. (Note to self: Take pledge money to tonight’s meeting!)

              Spring Fling this Saturday

              Platinum sponsor RODDICKS FEED & FARM SUPPLY is having their annual SPRING FLING – that’s THIS Saturday, April 16th. Kelly says they’ll be blowing out winter products (read: blankies!) and are offering some great prices on summer and fly sheets! Coffee and donuts on the house, and great door prizes, too! 9 am to 5 pm!!

              New clinic news

              Adiva Murphy is offering TWO evening riding clinics at the club in May in exchange for a Platinum+ DRC sponsorship! The first one on Thursday, May 12 will focus on Lateral Work while on Thursday, May 26 we’ll be “Riding Patterns to Improve Balance.” Each clinic is 90 minutes long, six riders max and ONLY $30 per rider, and -- we’ve included “rain dates” of May 19 and June 2 respectively – just in case!! Better sign up quick – Cindy and I are already on board – Cindy has a new horse, you know -- so there are only four slots left on either day!! Contact cindy@adivamurphy.com to register. (If we get a waiting list, we’re pretty confident we can twist Adiva’s arm and bring her back for two evenings in June, too!! Think: June 9 and 23!) Poster attached.

              Agility anyone?

              Speaking of Adiva, did you know she is Canada’ first certified horse agility trainer? She has rented DRC for APRIL 23 for a Horse Agility Training Day and Mini-Competition and it might be something you will want to have a boo at!

              Horse Agility is a fast exciting way to have fun with your horse without having to ride him. It's great for horses that are unable to be ridden for behavioural or physical reasons, ponies (or minis, even) that are too small or too young for the owner to ride or for people who can't or don't want to ride. Horse agility comprises a variety of obstacles for the horse to complete; at higher levels, this is against the clock with the horse running free which makes it a great spectator sport!

              The April 23 training day and competition is a “starter level event,” Adiva says. Easy obstacle is designed to instill confidence and courage into the horse and handler! And there is a walk/trot section! The training clinic will run from 10 am to 1 pm, with a focus on teaching your horse confidence and obedience. Then, after lunch, the competition at gets underway at 2 pm and will run until everyone has had a chance to compete for ribbons. What a fun (and the emphasis is on fun!) way to spend some quality time with your horse and other horse people!

              This is the first of a series of training sessions and competition Adiva will be hosting from now until August. Everyone must be able to complete the obstacle course before moving to timed events/tasks/classes. It’s $55 for the day for Horse Agility Canada members; $65 for non members [www.thehorseagilityclub.com]. For more information, you can also visit Adiva’s website at [adivamurphy.com].

              Are you ready?

              Our first English/Western show is just a little over two weeks away. I have just placed a MASSIVE ribbon order, and now I understand whyyyyy other clubs have abandoned rosettes in favour of flat ribbons – ka CHING!!! BUT … our board, whenever we have discussed it over the pars few years I have been playing in the DRC sandbox, has NO appetite for flats – so rosettes it is!! We only ask that IF you do not want your rosette, you donate it back to the club in our handy dandy recycling bucket at the out gate! Or … if you have recent DRC rosettes that are in good shape (ie have not been written on, scrunched beyond recognition, etc), please re-gift them back to us! Thank you!!

              Yvonne Longauer is our judge on Sunday, May 1. Remember, if you are a member, you can reserve your show number for the season. We are only holding LAST year’s numbers until this Friday, and then they are up for grabs, so drop me a line if you haven’t already put dibs on yours! And remember, for a tiny toonie (or more!) donation, you can get your show number laminated in the show office! (If EVERYone laminated their number, I bet the rain would stay away!)

              Download the show program (it’s now on version – uhhhh – 5 -- and counting!). Just minor corrections/changes – nothing that changes the essence of the shows! Look at the new Novice classes! That’s for RIDERS who have not won more than three first place ribbons at ANY show ANYwhere! It’s going to be a great season! I can feel it!

              I think there’s more, but that’s all I have time for today! See you Sunday at Carboot – and TONIGHT at the meeting!!

              Oh! One more thing!

              I wanted to mention that Maureen Walters and Virginia Allen have been booked to judge our DRC Summer Classic (hunter and English/Western, respectively!) We do a separate program for the Summer Classic so their names aren’t widely publicized until that’s done, but I thought I would let you know. You’ve penciled the weekend of August 6/7 for DRC, right? We’re already assembling “goodies” for our first place “goodie bags”! They were SUCH a hit last year!!

              Coming up

              • Wednesday, April 13 General membership meeting at the clubhouse, 7 pm. EVERYone invited!
              • Saturday, April 16 Spring Fling at Roddicks!
              • Sunday, April 17 Percentage (Dressage) Day, sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
              • Sunday, April 17 Third annual CARBOOT SALE cathyglover@telus.net , 604.328.3814
              • Wednesday, April 20 Back On Track seminar at Greenhawk Vancouver
              • Saturday, April 23 Horse Agility Training Day & Competition, cindy@adivamurphy.com
              • Sunday, May 1 (pray for SUN!) DRC English/Western Show, BC Heritage qualifier, cathyglover@telus.net , 604.328.3814
              • Saturday/Sunday, May 7/8 Paul Dufresne Clinic, Susan Randall, sacsdelta@telus.net or 604.319.5226
              • Wednesday, May 11 General membership meeting at the clubhouse, 7 pm. EVERYone welcome!
              • Thursday, May 12 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Lateral Work cindy@adivamurphy.com
              • Sunday, May 15 DRC Hunter Show, Francie, 604.940.8960
              • Thursday, May 19 (tentative) Rain date for Advia Murphy Lateral Work (if necessary)
              • Sunday, May 22 Percentage Day sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com , 604.940.9698
              • Thursday, May 26 Adiva Murphy Evening Clinic: Riding Patterns

                  • SEE YOU SUNDAY AT CARBOOT!!

                  4.6.2011 DRC | Percentage Day entry deadline this Sunday!!


                  Let the show season begin!

                  Well, Wednesday’s weather was welcome relief to this long, miserable, wet Spring, eh? And hopefully, it was just the right bit of inspiration for those of you getting ready for Delta Riding Club’s first competition of the season! Yup! Our season opener Percentage Day is just around the corner -- Sunday, April 17 -- and the deadline for entries is THIS Sunday, April 10th. You can download our show schedule and entry form from the website [deltaridingclub.com] and mail it SUPER fast OR drop it off at our friends at Roddicks OR the Dog & Pony.

                  We’re very honoured to have Hanneke Saunders officiate at this first show of the year. And we’re ready! It took a small team of worker-bees (Sheila, Francie, Bruce, Fiona, Rhainne and me – I supervised, mostly – and Lance even lent a hand!) to get those dressage surrounds back into formation last Saturday after a winter of – ahem – neglect. Bruce had already done his part the week before -- harrowing and harrowing and harrowing again -- and if the rest of the grounds are still oozing moisture on the 17th, the dressage ring ROCKS! (The verb “rocks” – not the noun! Yikes!)

                  So, dig out your tests, download your entry form and PITTER PATTER!! Show season is just a week and a half away!!

                  Sweet deal for DRC members (thanks to our pals at Dog & Pony!)

                  Hey! If you’re sending in your entry, don’t forget to include your DRC membership! If we receive that by April 15, remember, you’re gonna get $10 in DRC bucks in the mail! And … you will be pleased to know that DRC sponsor The Dog & Pony Shop has SWEETENED the DRC member benefit for 2011! Last year, DRC members received 10% off all regularly priced show CLOTHING – this year, says Vickie, it’s show GEAR! So … pay up quick to receive your extra-special membership-come-discount card and start saving fast!

                  Learning curve weekend

                  Thank you to EVERYone who showed up on Saturday morning to meet and listen to m’pals Shelagh Niblock and Jared Webster from Viterra (ProForm) Feeds! It was almost (but not quite) standing room only – how EXCITING to have so many in the clubhouse for an event like this!

                  Shelagh did a fabulous job explaining the ins and outs (!) of equine nutrition – why companies like Viterra are making such an effort to provide a wide range of options for our equine friends, and why it’s worth the effort to get our hay tested from time to time. (They showed us how!) High protein/low sugar? Low sugar/high protein? Shelagh provided good advice about why each of them has their place -- and blew away some of the myths we’ve all succumbed to over the years about protein in hay, local and otherwise! It was great!

                  Many thanks to all the folks at Westway Feeds out there in East Delta. Jessica and her crew came loaded with samples and give-aways. ProForm has just rebranded their equine feed line-up, so watch for their new look and be sure to pick up their new 2011 program guide the next time you’re at the store so you can make the right choice for the Trigger in your life!!

                  And THEN … Dr Susan Thompson of Crescent Stables was in the house – well, in the dressage ring – on Sunday and braved our infamous sou’-easter while putting a handful of dressage riders through their paces. What a great sport she is and what a great teacher, too! Francie and I snuggled under a blanket on the bleachers and watched Diane Moon’s ride. It was EXCELLENT! Thank you, Sue, and thanks for your continued support of Delta Riding Club!

                  Speaking of support …

                  As successful as our shows have been over the past few years, it would not be possible to offer them, the great high points and rosettes alllll the way to sixth place and all those year-end class awards without the support of our SPONSORS!! Please join me in welcoming the first wave of 2011 sponsors:

                  PLATINUM

                  Delta Agricultural Society
                  The Dog & Pony Shop
                  Roddicks Feed & Farm Supply
                  Greenhawk Vancouver
                  Hylee Training

                  GOLD

                  Country Life in BC
                  Crescent Stables

                  SILVER

                  Blue Meadow Farm
                  Cenatur Awards
                  Camelot Stables

                  Over the past couple of years, Alicia has put together a very nice sponsorship program that identifies all the benefits we can offer to businesses AND individuals who offer their support to Delta Riding Club. We offer four levels of sponsorship: Platinum ($300+), Gold ($200), Silver ($100) and Bronze ($50) and in-kind sponsorships are also gratefully accepted!

                  If you or your business or employer is able to sponsor DRC this year, we invite you to contact us! I have attached our “sponsorship opportunities application” and I can email you a cover letter on request that will introduce our club to your contact. If even a handful of DRC members (outside of the directors) were able to get one or two sponsors each, it would put us in such a good position this year to continue towards expanding the services we can deliver to our horse community. EVERY bit helps – and we would love the opportunity to prove to our sponsors that their “investment” with us will benefit them as well as we acknowledge their support at the shows and in our bulletins and on our website! THANK YOU!!

                  Shopping night at Greenhawk

                  Just before I sign off, I was in at Greenhawk today to speak with Laura about their 2011 sponsorship and noticed they have an extra-special shopping NIGHT coming up next week on April 13. See the poster attached, and starting thinking about ways to apply that 15% discount they’re offering! They’ve also got some great buys for the canine pal in your life, too, and … mark your calendar for April 20 when David Bergendahl, president of “Back On Track Canada” pays a visit to the Vancouver store to talk about how their products will help relieve pain and inflammation in both horses and humans! (Sign ME up!)

                  General membership meeting next week

                  Everyone is welcome to join us NEXT Wednesday, April 13 for our monthly directors meeting! It starts at 7 pm. There is always something good to munch on and we are a friendly bunch! It’s at the clubhouse at 4897 – 28th Avenue. (Don’t park on the grass!)

                  And don’t forget Carboot!!

                  Get into the barn this weekend (or your closet) and dig out your good stuff to sell at our third annual CARBOOT SALE on April 17, in conjunction with our Percentage Day!! If you need stuff, COME SEE US THERE!! The $10 seller fee supports the club!

                  See you there!


                  Coming up

                  • Sunday, April 10 ENTRY DEADLINE for DRC Percentage Day on April 17, Sheila 604.940.9698 sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com
                  • Wednesday, April 13 General membership meeting at the clubhouse, 7 pm. EVERYone invited!
                  • Sunday, April 17 Percentage (Dressage) Day, sheila.forsyth@hotmail.com, 604.940.9698
                  • Sunday, April 17 Third annual CARBOOT SALE cathyglover@telus.net, 604.328.3814
                  • Sunday, May 1 (pray for SUN!) DRC English/Western Show, BC Heritage qualifier, cathyglover@telus.net, 604.328.3814
                  • Saturday/Sunday, May 7/8 Paul Dufresne Clinic, Susan Randall, sacsdelta@telus.net or 604.319.5226
                  • Wednesday, May 11 General membership meeting at the clubhouse, 7 pm. EVERYone welcome!
                  • Sunday, May 15 DRC Hunter Show, Francie, 604.940.8960