The Selkirk Saddle Club broke ground last week on its new riding arena, a covered structure that will allow the club to function better all year round.
Club secretary Tanya Secord was thrilled the years of fundraising and planning was finally taking physical shape. “Obviously we’re over the moon. We’re excited about it,” she said. “We’re very thankful for the support that we’ve had.” She noted the club has dreamed of having a riding roof over its head for more than 40 years.
Secord explained the new 18 by 27 metre building will allow for riding and exercise in the winter, when snow and ice makes exercising the horses difficult.
Bad weather in the rainy seasons also puts a damper on other programs, making it hard to schedule regular practice sessions for competitive riders, for example.
In addition to the ability to offer expanded lessons for children, the club also has members who are completing therapeutic riding training. The club is exploring options for offering services and programs to those with developmental disabilities.
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The club also hopes to partner with other community groups to use the partially enclosed building such as for canine training and canine search and rescue training.
The club is also completing work on a large fenced riding area.
Secord said the club is thankful for support from many organizations, including BC Hydro, the City of Revelstoke, the Columbia Basin Trust, Revelstoke Credit Union, K&W Trucking, Score Construction, H&J Ready Mix, Vic Van Isle, Rona, Niklas Sobry from Elevation Construction and Vanessa Morrow from Stantec.
The building will actually be about 75 per cent of the originally planned length. They’re getting the first part done now and will continue to fundraise for the rest.
“Everybody’s going to pitch in one way or the other,” Secord said.