Rockwood Trail Riders   

Welcome to the web site of the

Rockwood Trail Riders

2009 SHOW DATES

May 10^th

June 14^th

July 12^th

August 9^th

For more information please email us

or call 519-830-2484 for more information 

The first show of the season was amazing and a disaster all in the same breath.  We have never seen so many entries and we were a little taken back by it.  Below is a letter written to one of our competitors in responce to an email she sent us.....please read it - it might help to answer some of the questions and concerns you might hvae had after the last show ~ hope to see you in June!

"I have been involved with the club for well over 20 years, and have never
seen a Beginner class with so many entrants. For the past few years, the
Beginner classes have had perhaps five to ten entrants, mostly in the ten to
18 year age group. We were caught unprepared for such a large and diverse
turnout for this show.

"We operate with a very small group of volunteers, with people often covering
multiple functions. The club's president was the English ring steward, I was
handling the gate for the first classes, and my joint show co-ordinator was
working in the entry booth. Other volunteers were tied up trying to control
the traffic and congestion caused by both the large turn-out and the lack of
parking due to the wet conditions in the field, in the food booth, or on
other essential functions.

"Shortly before the Beginner classes started, I realized that we had a very
large number of riders in the warm up area, but it was only when the class
was called that I understood the full extent of the situation. The judge
quite reasonably decided to call two flights, but if the key executive
members had not been tied up with other responsibilities, we could have
considered different ways of the dividing the two flat classes. 

"But I would add that the club rules for these classes have been the same for
many years, without any concerns being raised. We have used experience as the
criteria for these classes and define a Beginner as someone in their first or
second year of "showing", i.e. participating in the club's shows. This is the
only standard for gauging someone's "experience" that we can effectively
apply as we have no way of accurately determining how long each individual
has been riding, or even whether they have been showing at other events.

"While our constitution requires that changes to the club rules be approved
at the annual meeting, the executive will monitor the entries in our upcoming
shows. If we continue to have large numbers of Beginner entrants, we could
decide to divide the classes based upon age as we do in the Western division
(12 and under, 13-18, and open).

"Rockwood Trail Riders is very concerned about inspiring our youth members
and boosting their confidence. Our motto is "Horsemanship, Sportsmanship and
Fellowship". I feel that our club members try to support each other, to
encourage each competitor to do their best, and to recognize their effort no
matter where the place in the competition. Our major annual awards are for
the youth, and every member who competes in at least three shows is
recognized. The club sends a team to the annual Ontario Saddle Club Team
Tournament in Paris, and obtaining a place on the team has not been based on
any performance criteria. We recently extended lead line competition into the
Western games area, and this year, are experimenting with Lead Line Walk
Jog/Trot, and Lead Line Trail.

"However, we have a very tight schedule and in the past ten years, have
reluctantly dropped some classes in order bring the shows to a conclusion at
an appropriate time. I would note that the May 10 show finished at 8:20 pm
just as the sun was setting, and that only because we were able to run the
nine Western games events in just 70 minutes.

"Again, I thank you for your comments, and apologize for the confusion and
frustration that so many experience last Sunday.

"Stan Whiston
Vice-President, Show Co-ordinator & Western Ring Steward"

The 2009 Class List has be posted!

English Start Time 9AM

Western - NOT before noon

RTR lost one our adult members this winter...

Cindy-Lou Stevens was an avaid western games enthusiast and competed at RTR for a number of years.  She won several year-end awards for the 2008 season.  We will miss Cindy-Lou's stiff competition & fellowship!

God Belss the family