Vintage Riders… for the love of horses!

Summer is upon us and there is so much to tell you about! But first, a tip from Susan - go outside and check your trailer for wasp nests before you load up for that next ride! ‘Tis the season!

The only thing that never changes is that things are going to change. I had to change barns recently. Where I was, they changed their business direction. So, all the horses and their people had to change their boarding situation and everyday routine. Always unsettling. Here is where Vintage Riders has prepared me to change horse friend families and horsemanship locations.

Like the creative offerings of clinics, rides, lectures and activities our tremendous executive of Vintage Riders cleverly develops for our club month after month. We quickly change to adapt to riding with a different group of horses, listening to a different instructor and finding our comfort spot with a different group of people.

Recent Vintage Riders activities included a group hay ride. This was part of an interesting tour of the Volken Academy which is a bison and water buffalo facility. Set up as a working agricultural model for compromised individuals looking for structure, independence, and training in a new way of life. There is a farm shop there selling water buffalo blue cheese and bison steaks and sausage, among many other products being offered. The farm is an international example of sustainable livestock husbandry with no expense spared; and funded by a philanthropist. Limited tours are open to the public on Saturdays. Educational and thought provoking, it was a privilege to have a look around.

Working Equitation is popular with our group; such an all-around horse activity - dressage and precise obstacles. Courses, competitions and practices can be set up wherever there is a flat bit of ground. Great trust and bonding are built up between horse and rider. This group was at Darrell R’s for instruction.

For many years VREC has supported the horse community with energy and time; collectively and individually helping to maintain the Spirit of the Horse Garden at Campbell Valley Park. There is now a mountain trail course at the park open to all. And, nature being nature, it becomes overgrown. Common-minded members spent a day in June trimming, raking, digging and getting their garden gloves and the knees of their jeans very dirty. For the benefit of all riders who use the installation, it is now safe, fun and inviting to use. Enjoy.

The June 24th Mountain Trail Clinic at Hanging H Ranch, Ryder Lake, was well-attended and challenging. The weather stayed warm, with some cloud cover for comfort. A good session of learning.

Canada Day was one of those glorious days we dream about all winter. Marj M arranged a club ride at CVP. At the end, many were able to spend time maneuvering through the refurbished trail course. It was social and relaxing for riders and mounts. Once back to the trailers it was rounded off nicely with the traditional treats and chat time.

Many good things are coming up in August, such as the club’s 20th year celebration campout and festivities; also, the 5-day ladies trip to chill out at the Seven Half Diamond Ranch. Karen will cover those in an upcoming issue of Saddle Up magazine.

Always changing, always developing, always learning. Always making small changes that add up to big moves forward. How do you know if the change is right for you? Well, you don’t. But life’s experiences develop a trust in your instincts. Put all that extraneous stuff in boxes to be opened later when more pieces of the puzzle become available. Look at all the doors available to you. Pick the one that is slightly cracked open, with that glint of light shining through. And take the first step.

Wishing you gentle summer breezes and peace of mind.

Vintage Riders Equestrian Club… for the love of horses! We are a gathering of horse enthusiasts within the Fraser Valley. Anyone over the age of 21 is welcome. We meet every 3rd Tuesday in Fort Langley to enjoy fellowship and a speaker, and to host a variety of clinics.

Find us on Facebook at Vintage Riders Equestrian Club – public, email: vintageriders@mail.com

Trials of the Trail Safety Tips for Riding in the Back Country

By Jim McCrae, BCHBC co-founder and honorary lifetime member

Tip #2 Chaps, Bras, and the One Minute Club

Chaps. Safety gear for the back country. I don’t feel naked without them on but do feel under dressed when mounting if they are still hanging on a hook. There are many types, my preference happens to be bat wings. Cooler in the hot southern deserts and just all round sexier looking - in my opinion. And I can use all the help I can get. Chaps can save your legs from a wide variety of indignities, abrasions from brush or trees, stallions trying to chew on your saddle horse and munching on your leg instead, kicks can be dampened. Warmer in the cold and drier in the rain. If they match your tapaderos so much the better. Like mine do. Roughed up, scratched, stretched out of shape, and sorely abused. Like me.

I have a concern about chaps though. I often see chaps that have no break link. Mine have a little wang in front holding the two sides together unless enough force is applied to break it.

An example. We were on a ride up in the north looking for some camp meat in Stone Sheep country in the Batt Creek basin. A good mountain horse will refrain from lunging up steep and slippery slopes, but eventually even good horses will lunge. That requires the rider to lean forward - really far forward on steep talus slopes. Grabbing a handful of mane and standing on your toes helps to keep your horse from going over backward though this puts your chap strap right about where your saddle horn is. It’s an easy catch. Getting married to your saddle horn in situations like that on a lunging horse gives one thoughts of future progeny. Not only can it be very uncomfortable, but also very dangerous. Fortunately, the break link on my chaps broke and I was freed from the horn. And sad to say, no camp meat on that mountain.

Bras. Be careful around them! I’ve talked with riders who wear them (I don’t) and have been hooked on the saddle horn while dismounting. Another fellow and I had to grab a lady’s legs and lift her off the horn to release her bra from the horn. I guess we could have unhooked it if it was clasped in the back, but she had a big coat on, and time can be of the essence when a wreck is pending.

The One Minute Club of BCHBC is perhaps not what you think. It’s a FUN club with a packer style initiation. At this year’s packing clinic in Tulameen the standards were set, and membership encouraged. It developed from a desire to acquaint everyone that packing horses and mules in the backcountry need not an onerous activity. It can and should be fun. The concept of getting packed up and out of camp by the ‘crack of noon’ is ok, but definitely optional! We decided to first concentrate on the last step… the pack cinch and pack rope. Throwing a hitch can be a quick and fun pleasure.

The standard for membership in the One Minute Club is to throw 50’ of rope and a cinch on a loaded horse in a minute or less, as an individual. And there needs to be at least one diamond. At our clinic in Tulameen, we had only one qualify, but at RV in Merritt another six joined the exclusive club and proudly wore their prized One Minute Club T-shirts around camp.

So now you know about it! Interested in joining?

Alberta Donkey and Mule Club

ARMSTRONG ENDERBY RIDING CLUB S chooling Shows (Eng/West/Games), Armstrong Fairgrounds, April to Sept. www.armstrongenderbyridingclub.ca 10/23

BC CARRIAGE DRIVING SOCIETY, Pleasure, Combined, Recreation from Minis to Drafts, www.bccarriagedriving.com 6/24

BC INTERIOR ARABIAN HORSE ASSOC. Pres: Wally Goertz 250-546-6004 11/23 asmarawg@telus.net, clinics, Recreational riding programs, Awards/Social Activ.

BC INTERIOR MORGAN HORSE CLUB see our FB page. Pres: Bev Routledge email: bcimhcinfo@gmail.com Activities: trail rides, obstacle fun day, barn tour/pot luck. 5/24

BC PAINT HORSE CLUB www.bcphc.com, Open Show & Competition Program, award sponsorships for local clubs, youth scholarship. cathyglover@telus.net 3/24

BC QUARTER HORSE ASSOCATION, bcqha.com Contact Carolyn Farris, email cfarris@telus.net 12/23

BC Team Cattle Penning Association

March 18-19 (Barriere)

May 27-28 (Barriere)

Join us at our 2023 shows! • bctcpa.ca

BC WELSH PONY & COB ASSOC. (see FB) Pres: Rosanne 604-302-7650, bcwelshponyandcob@gmail.com. Breed promotion program throughout the province 4/24

BOUNDARY HORSE ASSOCIATION (Grand Forks BC), Offering shows, gymkhanas, clinics & more. See us on Facebook, 250-443-3191, kmespenhain@telus.net 4/24

Canadian Cowboy Challenge A SPORT for the whole Family!

Seven Divisions to accommodate all! For more info please call 403-828-2044 or visit www.canadiancowboychallenge.com

Clubs & Associations

International Equine Body Workers Association 3/24