TANTALLON — There’s lots of excitement in the local equestrian community as the Twin Valley Riding Club has announced they will be seeking a new home in Tantallon.
“The village of Tantallon has always been a big support to the rodeo, too, so it’s really cool that we’re getting to move down there,” explained Brooke Helmeczi-Bedford of the TVRC.
“Where we previously were located, the husband had passed away, so they decided that they no longer wanted the rodeo grounds on that property. We were on the hunt for a new location, we had a few different options pop up and Tantallon came on board. There was lots of support there, so they moved forward with moving everything down there.”
The move has been planned since the end of last year, with ground work happening recently at the site east of the Tantallon rink.
“They started dirt work about four weeks ago now, so they had a bunch of machinery down there getting it level,” Helmeczi-Bedford said. “They’re going to build the arena first, and then we’ll move all of our items down there after that.”
She added that the dirt work is anticipated to be finished before winter, and acknowledged Les Jack of AFAB Industries, especially as an “amazing sponsor.”
“We are very thankful for any sponsorship that’s coming in,” she said. “I know we have sent out a few sponsorship letters so far.”
The most recent sponsorship letter that went out included information on how to sponsor a corral panel. With the $500 commitment, the sponsor’s name would be on permanent display on a stand-alone panel at the new riding arena.
Having an arena is a safe space for riders of all ages and levels to hone their skills, and building on the new location is a great way to bring community members together for the cause.
Of course, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not the club’s rodeo will return, to which Helmeczi-Bedford replied, “We are hoping to roll for next year.”
“Our rodeo is a little bit unique,” she said. “Being an open rodeo, we pull people from everywhere, and lots of times it’s their first time on an animal, or their first experience into rodeo. We help anybody that’s wanting to get into it.”
In previous years, the TVRC rodeo has drawn crowds numbering in the 1,000-person range, making the September long weekend a much-anticipated time for the event.
The TVRC has been a part of Esterhazy since 1966, and has hosted a wide variety of public events throughout the years and clinics for horse enthusiasts. There are around 35 members in the club currently, hailing from in and around the Esterhazy and Rocanville areas, with ample room for new participants to join. Memberships are only $5 per person or $10 per family, and the riding club meets the first week of every month.
For more information on how to sponsor the TVRC’s new riding arena, or to become a member, you can contact the club at [email protected].
