Snoqualmie Valley Riding Club at risk of closing

Published 10:14 am Wednesday, January 13, 2016

After operating for 68 years, the Snoqualmie Valley Riding Club could be in danger of shutting down completely due to low membership.

The club was started back in 1947 to have a place to host horseback riding and riding education events. The club bought the property in North Bend and built it into a place for the community to ride their horses.

In 2007, the club suffered a big decline in membership due to the economic downturn of that year. Since then the club has had to work extremely hard to keep the property maintained and make sure the bills are paid.

Now the club is looking for new members and volunteers to join and serve on the club board.

Linzie Walker, president of the Snoqualmie Valley Riding Club, became a member in 2012 and became the president in 2014. She said before the 2007 decline they had about 50 members, when she joined there were only 10 members left. Now there are even fewer.

“We are really in need of membership. Normally clubs like ours, if you have enough members, membership fees alone can pay for bills or funds to pay for equipment,” Walker said. “Now, we really depend on the functions we have put on throughout the past couple years.”

In her role as president, Walker and vice president Kasaundra McNeilly have worked on several fundraising events. Each year they manage to raise enough money for another year of operations.

“(We) have been working really hard and trying to make money for the club, we are stuck in this pattern of only making enough for one more year,” Walker said. “We had to make a decision and draw a line because something has to change.”

Walker is planning to step down from the role of president because of the large workload of maintaining the club. In her place, former member Diana Wirt will be assuming the office to keep the club up and running.

Wirt and her husband, Walker said, “have been members for a long time in North Bend and do all the maintenance on the ground. So she doesn’t want to see it lost,” Walker said.

Walker will still be an active member of the club and will continue to help the club host the fundraising events which have been part of the club’s summer activities for years. In the past year, the Snoqualmie Valley Riding Club has hosted the Washington Barrel Racing Association, the Pattern Steed Horse Association, and a clinic for equestrian author Wendy Murdoch.

The club property, which features a clubhouse and outdoor arena, is not just available for horse riding. Walker said activities of all types are welcome to use the property as well.

“Members have access to our club grounds and use of the arena and field. It can be used pretty much for anything,” Walker said. “Elementary schools, sports teams, a company picnic. We really are open to any ideas for the community.

“We need community involvement and for the community to care for a piece of land. You don’t have to ride a horse, that’s not the only thing to be done there.”

The club hopes that by reaching out, more people will be able to enjoy their space in the Valley.

“For me it is very hard to find places like the SVRC to go and ride my horse. The ground is ideal, it’s private, it’s not dirty, and all the members are great people,” Walker said. “It’s really fun to be a member and everybody loves horses and loves what the club stand for. There’s not better place to ride your horse.”

For more information on the club or to get in contact with Linzie Walker, visit the Snoqualmie Valley Riding Club website, www.snoqualmievalleyridingclub.com.

A close-up photo of a curious horse, also from the website, demonstrates club members’ sense of humor. –Image Credit: Courtesy Photo