Saddlelite Riders Saddle Club

Trail Riders - see below - I would say our voices got heard at Crow Hassan! It’s important that we continue to follow the process and ensure horse trails are not compromised at Crow Hassan during the planning process. Based on experience with the Dakota County master planning process - it is critical for equestrian community be be involved right right from the beginning or we will continue to lose trails.

Click below to open the file:

2006 SRSC Awards Banquet Invite

Saddlelite Riders Saddle Club
Membership Meeting
Monday, December 4, 2006 – 7:00 PM
UMore Park Office Building
Speaker:  Steve Sullivan - Dakota County Parks
President Stephanie Rendell Huss called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.  There were 22 members and 6 guests present.
1.    Secretary’s Report the Secretary’s report was read and approved.
2.    Treasurer’s Report – Lynda reported that there was no change from the November 6, 2006
Treasurer’s report
3.    Committee Reports
a)    Trails Committee - Speaker for the evening:  Steve Sullivan - see attached
b)    Show Committee - the 2007 SRSC show committee has met and the show dates for the 2007 season are:
1.    June 9, 2007 - All Game Show - WSCA/GCSCA at Rainbow Arena, Northfield, MN
2.    June 10, 2007 - All Pleasure Show - WSCA/GCSCA at Rainbow Arena, Northfield, MN
3.    August 25, 2007 - Youth Show - WSCA at Rainbow Arena, Northfiled, MN
4.    August 26, 2007 - Over-The-Hill Show - WSCA at Rainbow Arena, Northfield, MN
5.    Rainbow Saddle Club will allow a SRSC closed fun show for $100.00 more to come.
Tentative show bills were handed out to club members to review.  The committee is in the process of getting WSCA judges for the shows.
c)    Finance Committee – No report
d)    Newsletter/Publicity –  No report
e)    Parades – No Report – Done for the Year!
f)    Royalty – (see old business)
g)    GCSCA – Trina reminded the show committee that the June show assessment was due.  Peggy sent the information to Lynda and she will get the assessment paid.
h)    Trina reported that the new GCSCA Queen is SRSC member Kelly Carlson!  Congratulations Kelly!
i)    WSCA – SRSC application for 2007 will be mailed this week.

4.    Old Business
a.    SRSC Royalty Contest
Queen Candidates – Jennifer Valek and Pamela Olson
Princess Candidates  – Bernie Schramm and Kelli Sornen
Junior Princess Candidate (Intermediate) – Caity Jaus
Little Miss & Buckaroo (Pee Wee) – Kaeli Bradshaw and Josh Oster
The candidates stood before the membership and told the members about themselves and their horses.  They also answered impromptu questions.  The club members then voted.  The results will be announced at the annual awards banquet on January 20, 2007.
b.   SRSC Banquet - banquet invitations will be mailed out in the next week.

6.  President Stephanie Huss adjourned the meeting at 8:42 PM.

Steven Sullivan, Director
Dakota County Parks Department, 14955 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley, MN 55124-8579
Phone: 952.891.7000/TDD: 952.891.7968, Fax: 952.891.7097
24-hour Info/Reservation/Registration Line: 651.GET INFO (651.438.4636)   Email: parks@co.dakota.mn.us

Steve thanked SRSC for participating in the parks process and said that our voice is being heard.  He likes the communication that Peggy, Greg and Stephanie are providing.  Steve’s background is in landscape architecture and he feels that in his position as Parks Director he is a steward of the parks.

Lebanon Hills Park is in a transition time.  There is trail work to make the trails better connected.  The park opened in the 1970’s there have been equestrian trails in the park for more than 25 years.  Several club members have been riding the trails for 20 years.
During that time, SRSC has provided donations  to the park, community service projects like trail clean up and fund raising and provided advice on correct design standard to support trail use.

Steve talked about the Master Plan - a contemporary vision of the Park (adopted in 2001) to provide a focus due to increased use by more than 13 user groups and to attempt to balance those needs.  Of the 25 total miles of trails in the park, approximately 10 are for equestrian use.    The Master Plan is available on-line.

Since 2001 the trail work has been to
1.    realign the trails for best use
2.    rework trails to be sustainable - trails follow the contour which shed water and minimize maintenance
3.    trail improvements - keeping trails open, pit or portable toilets, information station, horse ties, water pump and possible tank
4.    in the spring of 2007 the realigned equestrian trails will be opened.

Steve shared copies of trail maps showing the new and proposed equestrian trails.  Club members made several suggestions:
1.    Retain the Cliff Road trail access
2.    Retain the Dodd Road trail access
3.    Keep the trail spur to Johnny Cake

Steve requested that SRSC members continue to let him know how we feel about the trails.  Regarding the problems with mountain bikes on the equestrian trails, Steve suggested to call the Sheriff ’s dispatcher.  The normal procedure is to
1.    inform the bikers they are not to be on the equestrian trails
2.    educate them
3.    warn them
4.    site them

A future cooperative effort for SRSC and Dakota County Parks would be to provide SRSC as a horse patrol with radio communication.

Steve talked about the several regional parks located in Dakota County
1.    Lebanon Hills
2.    Lake Billsby - camping
3.    Meisville Ravine Park - new park 1400 acres of rugged area and trout stream, no horse trails yet
4.    Spring Lake Park Reserve - on the river
5.    Thompson County Park (not a regional park) in West St. Paul
6.    Mississippi Regional Trails

In 2006 there were 39 annual equestrian passes sold .  Other users that pay for park use are; camping, model airfield, archery and Dog Park.  At this time cross-country skiing does not have a fee.

Steve said that the fee structure for 2006 will be changed   Fee structure will be somewhat different for 2007 season.  Steve felt that UMore is a good model for Lebanon to follow.  It may be possible for SRSC members to assist in selling trail passes.  He suggested a SRSC member  to contact the local 4H clubs and promote annual trail passes.

Guest Jean Friedland from Dakota County Mounted Patrol reported that they do provide park patrol with the Sheriff Department.

When asked, Steve commented that he and his daughter would love to ride the equestrian trails when they reopen in the spring of 2007.

If you haven’t yet you need to check out WSCA’s great new look they have for thier website.

Click here –> www.wsca.org to see wht they’ve done!

~Cassie