Henry County Saddle Club (HCSC) President Rebecca Baker updated county elected officials this month on the many things the saddle club accomplished last year.
The HCSC is wrapping up construction of the new Jordan Arena, a $300,000 project funded through Henry County Food and Beverage tax money, as well as saddle club contributions.
“The new arena has been started and weather permitting, it will be completed at the end of January,” Baker told local elected officials.
The saddle club was the site of 87 days of events. The total economic impact of those events was $4,963,286, according to Baker’s report.
Baker reported 36,009 visitor days among 10,618 unique visitors, with 3,123 horse stalls and 3,658 total stalls with tack in 2023.
In 2023, the saddle club made another $13,290 in ground improvements, including: new restroom flooring; replacing pipes in the mens restroom; adding seven additional waterlines for camping; replacing four utility poles with new line; purchasing 36 LED lights for replacement in the Jordan Arena and A Arena; purchasing new manure pad; replacing the makeup arena; and buying more than 400 tons of sand for the arenas.
Saddle club volunteers gave 2,296 hours to the HCSC last year.
Baker said the club also provided $28,824 in maintenance and repairs to the facility in 2023.
She estimated the HCSC provided $23,570 of in-kind donations to the Henry County 4-H Association, including 15 days of work sessions and shows.
The HCSC awarded $1,500 in scholarships last year, as well.
The Henry County Saddle Club rented the County Road 100 N facility 73 times in 2023. Other show managements, not including exhibitors and families, rented the facility 176 nights last year.
2024 schedule
Jan. 13: United Professional Horseman
Feb. 3: United Professional Horseman
March 16: Ranch/Reining Clinic
March 30: Tommy Sheets Trail Clinic
March 30-31: IN Whippet Racing Cardinal Field
April 13-14: 10 a.m. annual membership cleanup/volunteer days
April 19-21: American Shetland Pony Club & IN Small Equine Association
April 27-28: IN Pinto
May 4-5: IN Ponies of America
May 4-5: IN Whippet Racing Cardinal Field
May 17-19: Hoosier Palomino
May 25-26: IN Ponies of America
May 29-Jun 2: HCSC AQHA Indy Circuit Kelsey Tumey Memorial Show
June 8-9: Henry County 4H Horse & Pony Open Show
June 14-16: POAC Nationals East World Show
June 20-23: IN Quarter Horse State Show
July 5-7: American Shetland Pony Club & IN Small Equine Association
July 11-13: IN Celebration Walking Horse NWHA Regional Show
July 15-17: Henry County Saddle Club Membership & 4H Clinic Camp
July 18-19: Henry County 4H Horse & Pony Fair
July 20: Henry County Saddle Club Mini Riders 10:00 am
July 27-28: Merrill McBride Memorial Show
Aug. 3-4: IN Pinto
Aug. 9-11: IQHAA Summer AQHA Show
Aug. 16-18: IN Ponies of America
Aug. 22-25: HCSC AQHA Fall Fling
Aug 31- Sept. 1: Hoosier Palomino
Sept. 6-8: IN Ponies of America
Sept. 13-15: IQHAA Amateur AQHA Fall Show
Sept. 20-22: IN Pinto Hoosier Classic
Sept. 20-22: IN Whippet Racing Cardinal Field
Oct. 4-6: IN Pinto Fall Finale
Oct. 11-13: American Shetland Pony Club & IN Small Equine Association
Oct. 11-13: IN Whippet Racing Cardinal Field
Oct. 18-19: Midwest Hackney Sale
2024 board of directors and officers
Rebecca Baker is the 2024 HCSC President, Lisa Pryor is Vice President, Kathy Johnson is Secretary and Joy Miller is Treasurer.
The HCSC Board of Directors is made of Cindy Atkinson (2024-2027), Cheryl Unversaw (2024-2027), Jim Wicker (2022-2025), Angie Gibson (2022-2025), Ruthie Miller (2023-2026), Leah Smalley (2023-2026) and Past President Nancy Dietz.
– Story by Travis Weik (Editor@TheCourierTimes.com) of The Courier-Times. Read more local stories at TheCourierTimes.com.