Ride On, Right On
Images by Brette Little
The Gulf Islands Horse Association is hustling to bring riding back into the fore, and we couldn’t be more on board. GIHA is a non-profit society that was formed with the mission to create a public equestrian facility on Salt Spring Island so that our local community could enjoy safe and open access to horses.
The original mission of GIHA was to secure private land on which to build both indoor and outdoor riding arenas, with trails, space to board horses, and host riding lessons as well as other educational or therapeutic programming. After raising funds to conduct a feasibility study on their plan, it was recommended that GIHA pursue other forms of partnership or seek government support if they’re to achieve their goal. Finding the space is key, explained GIHA Chair Jacky Cooper. Years of moving around between privately owned facilities always leads to the same ending: the property would be put up for sale, and the group would be displaced yet again. “Each time I’ve been somewhere, we’ve tried to start a community. And then the private land gets sold,” Cooper lamented.
“We want to build a facility that belongs to the community.”
Jacky Cooper, GIHA Chair
Cooper moved to Salt Spring about 25 years ago to be closer to family, and has been involved in riding and coaching for 40 years. She is utterly dwarfed while standing beneath her horse Asher, who she delivered herself, but her enthusiasm for riding and education is monumental. She and Erika Ponsford, program manager for the Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding Association, had just returned from a ride, and their passion for both community and horses was evident in the laughter they shared. Cooper noted that there are so many kids on island that want riding lessons (uhm, adults too!) but simply don’t have the time, space, resources, or knowledge to take on owning a horse full-time. “We’re called all the time by people who want to know if they can trail ride, board their horses, but there’s nothing,” shared Cooper. “We’d like to have these horses in a facility so they’re actually available to people.”
When asked if there was one thing she wanted the public to know about the association, Cooper simply said, “it’s for everybody.” Their mandate is so clearly to improve accessibility to horses, and we discussed how some form of a horse leasing program, riding lessons, or similar group activity would be so welcomed on Salt Spring. “It teaches children so much,” Cooper stressed. Throughout her long career she has been able to follow the progress of students as they grow into adulthood, seeing firsthand the impact riding has on their lives.
We encourage anyone who has any desire to spend time with horses or support this community project to please become a GIHA member.
The Salt Spring Island community is being urged to join the upcoming AGM to help GIHA refine their mission and make public access to horses a reality. Vice-chair Christine Steffich explained in a recent email, “It has also become apparent that GIHA must not only work towards creating a public equine facility, but also work towards securing horses and ponies for the community to use. We encourage anyone who has any desire to spend time with horses or support this community project to please become a GIHA member.”
You can join the AGM on November 30, 2020 via Zoom or in person, submit your feedback, lend your support, or even join the board to help shape the next steps toward that arena. Visit GIHA online for more information. Ride on!
