Welcome to Kelowna Riding Club
The Kelowna Riding Club is located at
3745 Gordon Drive
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1W 4M8
Phone 762-6370.
We are a non profit organization run solely by a group of horse enthusiasts. We provide an opportunity for all people of all ages interested in horses to get together and share and expand their knowledge in a safe horse environment. Non members are more than welcome to ride on a drop-in basis however it is important that prior to riding both a signed liability form and the drop in fee of $21.00 be placed in our mail box.
Membership …WHO NEEDS IT!
When we moved to Kelowna and I first discovered the KRC, a coach, who was also new to the area, suggested we meet at the club on a quiet Wednesday afternoon for a lesson. Neither one of us thought we needed a membership, besides who reads detailed signage.
A few years went by before I joined the KRC and ironically enough, I am now the membership admin volunteer. Clarification of club policy has come a long way since then, but I am very surprised to discover that there are still non-members riding without signing a waiver or paying the drop-in fee. I always keep my own experience at the back of my mind and try to assume that people just do not know or simply do not understand how serious the ramifications are to the existing membership.
When I say SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS allow me to explain. The membership has three distinct components:
- Basic fees
- Volunteerism
- Risk management
Let's start with risk management. By flowing applications through membership, clinics, shows etc…we are all assured that our fellow riders at the club have insurance coverage through the Horse Council of BC. So if non-members just show up and ride, the club, meaning you and I, are at risk of having an uninsured rider on the property. Imagine sharing the highway with an uninsured driver.
Next volunteerism, many are happy to allow their $75 to be deposited as they are simply too busy to take time out of their hectic lives. A few just manage to pull together their 6 hour minimum. A good number offer 10-30 hours. Then others work tirelessly putting in upwards of 100 or more hours. Several members are actually saving the club thousands of dollars through sheer resourcefulness and still others earn money on behalf of the club or raise thousands. All told, if one were to monetize the value of all volunteer effort, it would add up to roughly $45,000 per year.
AHH FEES! Well the fact is, fees are a steal at around $100 per year for the use of an eleven acre property in the heart of the tenth largest city in Canada, where close to half of the property is groomed and ready for your riding pleasure. Most of us need to shake our heads and realize what we have. If for example all of the volunteer efforts ceased we would have to divide that $45,000 amongst us and increase fees by a minimum of $300 each. Frankly, that would still be a bargain. Southlands annual family membership is over $2700, and they charge an additional $800 initiation fee.
No we aren't Vancouver or Southlands nor do we ever want to become exclusive, ever. For that reason, in order to maintain what we have we must all help to ensure that riders who use the property pay their share of the costs and that volunteerism be encouraged and valued.June 1st, 2009
Lynne Arbuthnot
KRC Membership