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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-07-21, Page 15" TAKE OUR CAKEI‘ VECIVENT /CE CREAM DESSERTS 22841640 14.8420.7775 TRY OUR P E Exeter )s Advocate rossroa Wednesday July 21 , 1999 Page 15 Eeter Saddle Club celebrates its 50th anniversary By Craig Bradford TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — It's fitting the Exeter Saddle Club marked its 50th anniversary by coming home. The Exeter Saddle Club celebrated its 50th birthday with a a horse show and a special presentation to long- ' time club member Dalton Finkbeiner. .:-Finkbeiner, 80, was honoured with an appreciation award plaque from the club for "volunteering your time - and hard work." Club president Patty Masnica and vice- - president Bob Parsons presented the plaque to a tearful Finkbeiner. Lt' last year Finkbeiner received a Special Achievement. Award from the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation for his many years of volunteer service to amateur sport in Ontario. Finkbeiner's involvement in local and provincial horse circles is long and distinguished. He has volunteered with the Royal Winter Fair for 36 years, has helped organize London Western Fair horse, shows for 22 years. been the driving force behind the Exeter Fair horse show for 50 years and has been "very involved" with -two area major Arabian horse shows for over 20 years. Finkbeiner also organized the original Exeter Rodeo series and has been an integral part of getting the rodeo back to Exeter over the last two years. • He is a past president and founding member of the Canadian Arabian Horse Registry established in June 1958, has represented eastern Canada on the International Arabian Horse Association for nine years and, is a member of the Agricultural Hall of Fame (though not a, recipient yet) Finkbeiner was. also named the *tern Canada Horse Person of the Year in 1987. Though not as involved as he once was, Finkbeiner still gets a kick out of seeing young people blosom into fine eieeulg* 4,fie' yoiing riciers,Z tjent "sothe go on to • e tremendous riders. It pretty near brings a tear to the eye to see the young riders come along." Good horsemanshiplasn't changed -a lot over 50 years, • bUt time has benefitted the sport, . "We're governed by better rules now," Finkbeiner said. When asked about the future of the club, Finkbeiner was quick to identify who he feels is key to its survival and prosperity — the support of parents. Despite being known as 'the sport of kings', Finkbeiner • - feels equestrian organizations like the Exeter Saddle Club present an advantage to parents and their horse -loving child ren. • "A little saddle club isn't that expensive," he said.. .?4 The Exeter Saddle Club had its peak membership of about 75 nearly 15 years ago, Parsons said. Today the club is still healthy with a 50 -strong Membership. Parsons, an on and off again Siddle Club member for over 30 years, said his first recollection of the club was when it was located at Len Veri's farm about two and -a half miles west of Exeter. His relatives showed horses at that time, and soon Parsons knew he wanted to get involved too.• ••••. "I kind of got hooked myself and got my first horse at 13 and went from there," he said.. It. wasn't long before the club moved inside of Exeter where the ball diamonds are–noW at South Huron Rec Centre. The club moved 'to its last location, just south of Huron Park, when the grand stand at the Exeter ring was con- N3.;Tlemned 20 years ago. Parsons, like Finkbeiner,hasn't seen too many changes • to the club over the years other than location and size. "The small saddle clubs have becoffie even P,maller," he said, adding at one time there' would be 20 horses and riders in classes. Now its more like 10 riders a class. "Horses are more refined .now," Parsons continued. "But the people are pretty much the same. They cheer you on." 'No offence to the Huron Park location, but Exeter Saddle Club members are glad to be back at their 'name- sake. "It's a nice feeling to be back in Exeter," Parsons said. "It's where It always should have been:" , . As for Parsotis' opinion on the future,of the club? "As long as there are some hors -es around, I'm 'sure there. will be people to do the work and .t-tt Honoured . Dalton Finkbeiner, centre, is given an apprecia- tion award plaque from Exeter Saddle Club president Patty . Masnica, left, and vice-presi- dent Bob Parsons at the club's 50th anniversary show Sunday. -•• Great showmanship. Bronwyn Roberts, 10, f-, shows off her first place ribbon in Junior Showmanship along with the steed that she shares the prize with; Mitos Eclipse. Roberts won the red ribbon. • Pretty pony. Lucan's Sandra Gregus, 9, and her pony, Shadow, pose during a break in the action on Sunday. keep it Rounding the pole.A1 Parsons and his horse Pine navigate the second last pole during the Senior Pole Bending class. e 4 te 4 . • • i • ' 4 , 't• • ' • - • r • 4, • • • • •• • • • • 4 • 'A • • • • 1 • 4 4, 4 r 4 •4 •, , „ , t. • ; • • . . Whooaaaf Al Alderson tries to stop his horse dime in the Senior Key Holeclass.