Horse Trials PEI had another successful year in 2012. Our membership was up
from 38 in 2011 to 46, and with a number of the new members being from the
younger generation, we are hopeful eventing will continue to be a strong draw to
kids for years to come in PEI.
Our 2012 year of events started in March with an Eventing101 clinic, with
Dressage schooling given from Anna Osinga and Jumping from Michelle Smith.
We held another Eventing101 clinic in April, with a great two day dressage and
Jumping clinic with Sue Fraser of Canning, NS. In May, we had a couple work
days at the Strathgartney Equine Park, where PEI’s only full cross-country
competition course is located. The Stadium jumps were pressure washed and
given a fresh coat of paint along with many other odds and ends being done. We
held our annual Training Event on Victoria Day, May 21st. It was well attended
and enjoyed by all who attended. It is a great event for first-time eventers to be
introduced to the sport and also to get the rest of us ready for the action of the
upcoming show season.
On June 3rd we had a cross-country jump building day with Michael Gallagher,
where we rebuilt some existing jumps and made some new ones, including a
beautiful Entry level Coop that everyone loves with many requests for us to build
one for the other levels too. We also repostioned the jumps entering and exiting
the water jump, with many riders noting how much they like the new
arrangement.
June 9th and 10th was our annual clinic with Alex Beaton, with Stadium on
Saturday and Cross-country on Sunday. As always the clinic was well attended
and enjoyed by all. It is a great clinic for first timers and also advanced eventers.
June 23rd was our Summer Horse Trial. We had 31 entries and were very happy
to see our PeeWee division had only a few entries and that those entries were all
first time eventers, meaning our returning riders are moving up better now after
having introduced our PreEntry division last year.
Our members had a successful July and August showing at other shows and
events throughout PEI and the Maritimes and then we held another excellent
clinic on September 8th and 9th with Sue Fraser. This prepared us for our Fall
Horse Trial on September 15th which had 27 entries. Entries were lower than
normal due to some scheduling conflicts and some confusion over the event
date, but it was another successful event despite low numbers in both entries
and volunteers. The volunteers we did have were excellent and all worked as
hard as they could to help run the event and we greatly appreciate all their hard
work.
Horse Trials PEI has another year full of big plans in the works for 2013 including
a large renovation to our Cross-country course with new larger Steps and a
further revamp to our water jump for PreTraining and Training levels. We also
hope to redo our two rings, possibly even add some onsite stabling and start
using one of the online entries software that are now available, to make
accepting entries and running shows easier for our show organizers in 2013.
Our Annual General Meeting was held November 13th where we made plans for
2013 and elected a new slate of Directors for the club. I welcome our new
President for 2013, Toby Hill, and wish her all the best in her new role for the
upcoming year.
As my time as President of Horse Trials PEI has now come to an end, I have an
even bigger appreciation for the amount of hours and work that are behind every
event, clinic, meeting, organizing session and anything and everything related to
Eventing. I say a huge THANK YOU to all out there, that volunteer their time,
year after year, giving their best efforts to allow the rest of us to have the best
time of our lives, galloping over fields and through trails, flying over the most
exciting and beautiful jumps and terrain that only us “crazy eventers” can fully
appreciate.
Yours truly,
Deborah Smith
President, HorseTrials PEI