SVSC NEWS 

     For the last few years the Traveller Riding Club, or what was left of it, has been based in the pasture behind 1529 Hickory Hill Road on National Park Service property. As a condition of its use, the club paid for maintaining Merlin, the National Park Service horse I ride for horseback tours and is available for use by VIP Mounted Patrol members patrolling the park.
     Traveller Riding Club is in the process of disolving and unless we can find another club that is willing to assume financial responsibility for Merlin, we may have to dispose of Merlin via auction.
      A club or organization that would like to take the place of the Traveller Riding Club would be able to stable up to six horses (including Merlin) in the pastures behind 1529 Hickory Hill Road and the Ranger station and have use of the buildings in each pasture. Both pastures have automatic waters and electricity and space for hay and tack storage. In return the club or organization would be responsible for Merlins upkeep including hay, grain, veterinary, and farrier services. The individual owners of horses pastured at the battlefield would have to enroll in the VIP Mounted Patrol and provide eight hours per month trail patrol. Use of the trails would be free while on VIP Mounted Patrol, but horse owners would still need a valid fee pass when not on patrol. The club or organization would have to have 501 3(C) non-profit status. Many clubs already have 501-3(C) status. which is not difficult to obtain and offers considerable tax advantages to the club or organization and its members.

      Other possibilities for maintaining Merlin might be through club and individual donations, fund raisers by clubs in support of Merlin (judged trail rides, horse shows, etc.). 
      It is possible that if no club on its own wants to take on such a responsibility, a "Friends of the Petersburg National Battlefield" organization could be formed, apply for non-profit status, and take the place of the Traveller Riding Club. Manassas National Battlefield has such an organization.

If you know of any clubs or individuals interested in supporting the equestian program here at Petersburg National Battlefield, please direct them either to me (804-732-3531, ext. 205 or my cell number 804-615-0107) or to Bob Kirby (804-732-4210, ext. 105.
It is is essential that we move on this issue as soon as possible, so this is of the greatest urgency.
Randolph H. (Randy) Watkins
Park Ranger (Park Guide)
Petersburg National Battlefield
1539 Hickory Hill Road
Petersburg, VA 23803-4721
Office: 804-732-3531, Ext. 205
Cell: 804-615-0107
FAX: 804-732-0835

It was cold and the wind was blowing, but the sun was out in Kenbridge for the Birthday ride. We all had a great ride at Donna's. Willard was the master cook with a whole lot of supervisors. There were plenty of great sides prepared by club members and lots of birthday cake. It was great to see everyone come out on one of the first cold days of the year. Check out the rest of the pics. @ http://picasaweb.google.com/oakcreekacres/SVSCBirthdayRide111608#

Thank you to everyone that came to the Gene R. Poythress Memorial ride at Piney Pond Farm and helped to make it a success for the American Cancer Society.  

A few members took a short trip to Iron Mountain Horse Camp in

early September. We went to We also went to the Floyd Country Store on Friday night and enjoyed watchin' the locals do some awesome 'flat footin'. Here are the pics: 

http://picasaweb.google.com/oakcreekacres/IronMtn0908#5248907938447660786

We had a club ride at Andy Austin's home on Aug.2nd Trails were great - took the horses swimming in the pond and just had a ball. We rode about 2 hrs or so and came back to enjoy hotdogs and burgers ala Willard. um um good. It was hot but eveyone had a good time. The dancing started up after dark. Nelson Baird and Kim Perry did their best to show up all the youngsters by hittin' the floor to "Footloose". Can ya just imagine?? LOL. Who can resist dancin' to that!!!   

We had a great turn out for the 4th of July weekend at James River Park-almost 30 members. It was great to see you all. We got to ride in the morning, play in the water in the heat of the afternoon, ride after dinner and then have some of Darrell Coleman's homemade 

ice cream before bed. What could be better??  To see what you missed please check out the rest of the pictures at 

 http://picasaweb.google.com/oakcreekacres/SVSCAtJRPJuly4th2008

About 20-25 club members and friends took part in the Petersburg Battlefield Park Ride in May. Park Ranger, Randy Watkins gave a guided tour and joined us for hotdogs etc... afterwards.  Toni Beaver made the best baked beans ever, Lorraine Daniel brought coconut cake for desert, other members brought potato salad, fresh fruit and a vegetable tray.  Thank you to all for the potluck meal. More pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/oakcreekacres/20080426PetersburgBattlefieldPark

For ALL rides please remember to bring your copy of current coggins papers and as always "If you pack it in, please pack it out"

Birthdays 

Happy Birthday to ?? May?? June??come on folks-tell on somebody. LOL (if your birthday is coming up, please send us the date of it so we may put it on here. Kim- kim01@southsidevasaddle.com or Lorrie Thomas - lbthomas_92_2011@yahoo.com 

First Equine-oriented Subdivison in Southside Va.

Boxwood Shores is Lake Gaston's first equine-oriented subdivision.

click the site below for a great photo show of the area... or contact Sharon Parker Johnson, GRI, CRB, QSC
Associate Broker, Century 21 Clary
231 E Atlantic St./P O Box 300
South Hill, VA 23970
434-447-8740 or 434-447-5858 fax
spj@c21clary.com or www.c21clary.com
http://www.photoshow.com/members/CreativePublishing/boxwoodshores 

 Two Horses

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing....

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing. If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.

It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way....

Good friends are like that... you may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

And remember... be kinder than necessary- everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.