GANARASKA FOREST HORSE CLUB – August 2011 Newsletter
The new Board has been in place for almost four months now and we have lots of good news to share with you. Please note the dates of our upcoming events and invite your friends, neighbours and family members to join you in these equine happenings!

Financial status
Traditionally the key fund raising activities for the GFHC have been the Annual Dance and the Poker Ride. By a bizarre twist of fate, both these events this year were diminished because of bad weather. The dance brought in a thousand dollars less that the previous year and the Poker Ride operated at a loss because rather than have 90 or more riders, we only had 48. This means we have reduced operating funds for the balance of the year. The membership fees are applied to our fixed costs:
- Annual donation of $1,000 to the GRCA (specifically for trail improvements for riders)
- Insurance
- OEF Membership
- Web site hosting and domain fees
- Brochures
- Posters
- Prizes
- Bank Charges

In the past, some rides have included a fee (e.g. rides at Sandaraska Park had an admission free of $8 per person to the park and the Cool Colours Ride had a fee for breakfast) We have stated that we expect that “all rides will break even” – we do not intend to make money on our events but we cannot afford to lose money either. The cost of a GRCA permit has gone from $50 to $85 with taxes so we need to recoup that money from the participants in the event for which the permit is required. We anticipate that we will be charging $5 per rider for the events this year and $10 for non-members to attend our rides.

Treetop Trekking
A new “attraction “ is coming to Central Forest! Treetop Trekking will run an “Adventure program” in the Forest including a zip-line that runs from tree to tree. Construction on the new site (close to our paddock!) is expected to start on August 15th but before then there will be some tree clearing and staking work going on. Please be cautious in that area and watch for the construction activity.

Ontario Equestrian Federation Grant
Thanks to the efforts of Jim Higgs (Vice-president) we were awarded $500 by the Recreational Riders fund. This money is to be used to improve our facilities and/or improve the facilities in the Forest for all riders. We expect to spend some of this on the pond adjacent to the Trailer Parking area in the Central Forest. Currently it is covered in weeds and in the hot weather it dries up. We are waiting for a quote on installing a hand pump which will enable riders to get water from the pond into a bucket so that the horses can drink. We are hoping to get the work done in the next 2-3 weeks.
 
Skills Ride – September 10th
Jim Higgs is the Ride Marshall and will design the course. Registration starts at 9.00am at the Central Forest (same location as the Poker Ride) First riders will leave at 10.00am, everyone should be finished by 1.00pm. We are asking that everyone plan to stay and share their stories and meet other members over lunch at the Canteen (please note – Ross has added great ice cream to his menu!!) Fee for members is $5 and non-members is $10.

Camping weekend August 27th and 28th 2011 at the Tinmouth’s Farm
These are Debbie’s notes:
You can arrive after 11.00am on Saturday morning and plan to leave by 2.00pm on Sunday.
The expectation is to have a bonfire and entertainment on Saturday night. The GFHC will provide hamburgers and every rider is asked to bring one “pot luck” item to contribute to Saturday night’s festivities. (Note – it makes sense if the food item can be eaten without cutlery as much as possible!)
In addition to the permit ($85) a Porto potty will be rented for the weekend ($130) so we are planning a fee of $10 per person assuming 20 or more people will attend. Any additional money collected will go to the musician but he has agreed that he will “pass a hat” to collect his income!
Terrain; is a mix of sandy and gravel/rocky footing; steep hills and inside forest trails; mix of old concession roads, ATV and single track trails; shoes recommended but not mandatory; expect to see motorized vehicles on the trail
Facilities: car/truck/rv parking but no electrical hook up available; accessible to larger rigs; space for tents, Porto potty on site; well water for horses and people; camp site is a 5 acre fenced and shaded paddock so horses are secure at night even if they get loose; trees available for picket lines or bring portable electric fencing
General information: no dogs; ride goes rain or shine (other than thunder and lightening); will split group into slower pace (walking and some jogging) and faster pace (jogging and controlled canter)
there are 3 box stalls available inside and one round pen outside that holds two horses; call me directly to reserve those.
I would ask that any horses wearing back shoes identify themselves with a white ribbon; any kickers stay to the back with a red ribbon
– after that it’s all enjoy!!!
Contact phone number 905-983-5668 Address: 3862 Wilcox Road, Orono,

Winter events
The Sleigh Ride will not operate this January. However, we are willing to put in a new idea for January and/or February of 2012. Please send an email to the web site to let us know which of these events you most want to attend (or add your own idea) gfhc-1@live.ca
1. Bowling – family event
2. Indoor equine clinic (with or without horses)
3. Equine show or entertainment (e.g. Calabria)
4. Pub night
Other???

Our next newsletter will be available early in September and will include the details of the Cool Colours Ride (October 2nd) and the Hallowe’en Costume Ride (October 30th) Please note that the GFHC Annual Dance will be held on March 17th 2012 at the Legion Hall in Millbrook.

Members.

The GFHC is proud to announce the enormous changes that are occurring to the Forest Central Horse Trailer Parking Lot.  After three years of meetings and your generous membership support we are able to update you with our progress with the Ganaraska Regional Conservation Authority (GRCA).  This week we are seeing the results of our “new” relationship with the GRCA.  Here is a brief outline of what to expect and how your membership money is being spent.

We asked for an improvement to the road and we got much much more. I must say I am very impressed with the treatment from George Elgear and Steve McMullen in regards to their open mind and ideas for the equestrians of the Ganny.  How things have changed!
- Road to the parking lot will be graded and resurfaced with Gravel
- Road will be topped with reclaim asphalt (if required)
- GRCA will contact Roads Dept. to “trim” trees and shoulder of road to make wider in appearance. Footnote: Eight volunteers from the GFHC spent three hours, June 24^th and trimmed the scrub brush along the road, as the Roads Dept. mower is broken and currently there is no repair date.
- Road will be maintained yearly and shoulders bush hogged to be kept neater, by the GRCA 
Your $1000 dollars, donated at the Poker Ride this year, will contribute to the cost of grading, gravel and labour.

NOW FOR THE UNBELIEVABLE PART….
-The GRCA are going to remove the sumac and scrub pine trees on the north side of the parking lot and grade level to give us more parking.  Part of this requires earth to be relocated as it is quite a hilly area. However the earth can be moved to the lower end as fill and there will be no material cost, just labour of a bulldozer. We will have to remove the new hitching rail (and possibly one of the old ones) and rebuild at a new location once the work is done.  We estimated at least 6-8 more trailer spots. Completed the week of June 21^st, 2010.
- The GRCA will work on removing the piles of dirt (bulldozer again) on the east side to make that end wider. Therefore more parking room. To be ongoing.
- The GRCA (a logging company??) will remove large pine trees to the west and eventually make lots more parking.  To be done in the next 4-5 years. 
AND FOR THE FINALE…
- The GRCA will make a double track trail to the existing Fire Pond to the north east of the parking lot.  The pond will be dredged to ensure water through the summer and a “natural” beach already exists. This will be accessible water for the horses to drink from a pond.  To be maintained by the GRCA in that is does not become a stagnant pond again.  This will be ongoing.
For this additional work we have donated, on a one time basis, another $1500 this year which will help cover the cost of the bulldozer and backhoe. Every year after, our annual donation will go towards more improvements for equestrians in the entire Ganaraska Forest.
We also received permission to post horse trail signage on the existing yellow, blue and orange trails so that trail riders can leave from the horse trailer parking lot and follow small horse symbols throughout the ski trails and not get lost! (something like Otter Creek coasters)  Look for a future fundraising ride for this endeavor.
As I said, I am very pleased with the reception I got from the GRCA.  George especially seemed keen to help us make the parking lot a place to be proud of and there was talk about Future Plans to include planting “good” shade trees- i.e. oak, maple and eventually getting rid of the poplar, pine and scrub that surround the area right now.  The future, is to ideally, have all horse events run from this lot as opposed to the forest center.  With keeping in mind that our events now draw 100 people (or more)  we need to have parking for 45-50 trailers.  We talked about 10-15 years down the road, this equestrian lot will facilitate all equestrian groups!
I hope you all agree, this is one of the greatest moments for our horse club…. WE have done good!
WHEW!!!!  I am thrilled!!!!
Thanks All, your efforts, comments and support are greatly appreciated.

Anne Vavra

GFHC- President