Words from the Prez
Where to start? There’s been so much happening and there’s so much more to come! It’s incredible really.
Our Club has literally doubled in size. We ask for a show of hands for an event we think you might like to do and a dozen hands
shoot up. People volunteer to host rides and organize events. Every meeting we have new faces. New friends being
made, new riding buddies being found, new ideas passed around… This is really turning out to be a lot of fun!
One of the great
things that seem to be happening is the partnering of CHC with other clubs and people to host different types of events. Perfect example
is the Schooling Ride we co-hosted with the BC Competitive Trail Riding Association (Thanks Carleigh Randall). The ride was
basically filled with CHC members so we managed to negotiate a better rate for them, and then most of those people ended up joining
BCCTRA and going in the Bowser CTR. Congratulations to Mary Carr for getting a 6th place in Level 1, and to Doug Carr, Shannon Carrifelle,
and Lisa Beeston for finishing their first ride. Hope to see you at the next one with all the other ‘regulars’; Phyliss Payne who
got a 3rd in Level 1, Rhonda Hittinger, Carleigh Randall who completed her first Level 2, and myself. Gus and I managed to pull off
a first place in our first Level 2 ride. It wasn’t so much that we won…. More like everybody else got lost …. And it certainly had
nothing to do with me as I nearly got us disqualified by misjudging our time… But Gus, bless his little heart, did great.
CHC
also helped raise some funds for Island Horse Rescue by co-hosting a Saddle Fitting Clinic at Brenda Arthurs’. CHC bought the
fixin’s for a delicious chili lunch that Cathy Lychak made. Thanks to those members for a job well done to help a worthy cause. I
understand the presentation by Shannon Wheeler was excellent. We may have to get her up here just for CHC!
These days, CHC is big enough to pack a considerable amount of political clout. There are enough of us with the same interest that we can help to shape the actions of developers and planners. Right now, the Nanaimo and District Equine Association (NDEA) who manage Beban Park and of which CHC is a member, needs your input. They have some decisions to make regarding their upcoming lease renewal. Any decisions made will have an effect on the equine community so take the opportunity to make your opinion heard. Same goes for the Official Community Plan for Area A. Don’t sit on your hands while your trails get taken away from you. Make sure your interests are heard! We’ll post the meeting dates on our website, but the rest is up to you ….Ok… I’ll get down from my soapbox now…
We’ve got all kinds of great stuff coming up in the next few months. This month we’re having a Trail Building Party
at Takala Trails with a BBQ afterwards, then in June we’re going on a ride up Mt. Arrowsmith (thanks Linda Walker) for a couple of
hours. July is our Fun Day and Poker Ride weekend at Takala Trails again (thanks Sandy Mohr, Kim Walter, Christina Young, and
of course, Doug and Mary Carr). I’m really looking forward to that! Gonna’ bring a video camera for that one!
August
a bunch of CHC people get together with other groups and go camp at Campbell River Trail Riders park in CR. It’s a great facility
with access to lots of good riding trails and a great way to meet old friends and make new ones. I understand Kim is looking
into getting Backcountry Horsemen to come and put on another clinic… and of course, we’ll be seeing if Tina the Psychic is available
again!
I’m interested in putting a Team CHC together to go in the Bob Preuss Memorial Cancer Ride in July if anyone is interested
in joining me… We could wear some of our cool new clothing (Thanks Theresa Linder) and let some of those ‘other’ clubs out there that
CHC is a force to be reckoned with!!! Who’s in??? I see hands going up….
Ride Safe
Lesley