Lakeville Open returns for 52nd year

SALISBURY — The 52nd Lakeville Open Horse Show hits the Riga Meadow Equestrian Center Sunday, Sept. 21. The show is a fundraiser for the Lakeville Pony Club, which Lucy Drummond started in 1956.

The Pony Club’s 21 members range in age from 7 to 18. Members do not need to own a pony (or even have access to one) to be part of the club. The Pony Club dates its origins to Great Britain, and at its fundamental level it is a club designed to teach children the basics of horse care, management and riding.

Theresa Lehn, who is now in charge of the club, is enthusiastic about the advantages of belonging.

“It matures a lot of children and gives them a lot of responsibility. It’s a nice escape for the child who might need some quiet time or the benefit of working with an animal. You’ll have children who don’t do team sports — but they like this.â€

The show includes the categories of hunters, jumpers and pleasure.

In the horse show world, hunters are horses that jump with a certain style and grace. Jumpers are more about clearing a jump at speed, and the pleasure category judges a horse’s ability to be ridden on a loose rein in a relaxed manner. The pleasure classes will not require jumping.

Riders from all around the Tri-state area will show up to compete. (An added incentive: There is more than $1,500 in prize money offered for different divisions.)

While some club members will compete in the show, it is run as a benefit to the club and the majority of the pony clubbers will be working the event. On the day of the show, they will meet and greet spectators and be runners from the show rings to the secretary’s booth.

The program and entry form for the show are available at RigaMeadow.com or by phone at 860-435-9991.

To learn more about  the Lakeville Pony Club, go to Lakevilleponyclub.org and facebook.com.

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