Manitoba's North Hill Pony Club (NHPC) celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2022. Its members over the years have a wealth of experience and memories.
Established in 1982, NHPC first began as a small club hosting lessons and stable management out of Brentwood Farms, owned at the time by Gary Lundman. Riding lessons were convened by skilled coaches: Tecla Dopheide, Robin Hahn and Jan Stephens to name a few. Riding lessons ran from early Spring through to late fall and during the winter months stable management/theory was taught in nearby Oakbank. Many levels of riders participated in pony club at Brentwood Farms.
Founding members included Cornelia, Gerd, Mark & Eric Martin, Danae Stephens, Jane & Jennifer Dyck. Over the years, several members have completed their A level (Danae Stephens, Jane Dyck & Robby Norris) and at least two their HA level (Cornelia Martin & Lindy Norris).
As the pony club developed and membership grew North Hill was fortunate enough to call the Manitoba Horse Council Equestrian Centre, situated in beautiful Bird's Hill Provincial Park, their home. That facility (which includes jumping and dressage arenas as well as a cross-country course and miles of trails) has provided our members with opportunities for extensive learning and challenges with their equine partners as well as having served as the backdrop for many memorable lessons, trail rides, and shows.
Since its inception, NHPC members have been versatile, active and enthusiastic about their sport, participating actively in Quiz, Dressage, Show Jumping, Horse Trials as well as other equine sports such as endurance riding, natural horsemanship and driving. Every year members represent Manitoba at Canadian Pony Club National Competitions. Many members have excelled in national and international equestrian events.
In the early years NHPC members participated in several rallies per year, which qualified them for national rallies. Typically the club was able to field A teams, B teams and C teams to National Rally and National Quiz, which were held in various locations across the country. NHPC members were chosen to represent Canada at several Interpacific Rallies. Some of the early membership, and their successes include:
From the time of these original members, many local Springfield children and their parent volunteers have participated in Pony Club and enjoyed sporting excellence and the pursuit of the ultimate partnership with their equine friends through NHPC.
Early members Danae Martin (nee Stephens) and Jane Payment (nee Dyck) reminisce about cross country rallies held in at a variety of facilities such as: Dauphin, Westgate's, Souris, and numerous pony club camps conducted over a week with two rides a day, lessons, skits and stable management holding a special place in their memories of childhood and adolescence. They both noted rivalries with competing clubs particularly at rallies, but noted the NHPC riders were top notch and able to "pull it off" in the saddle. NHPC had a long history of provincial rally championships.
Eric Martin noted that in the early days most everyone rode to the club lessons, noting that the Stephens rode 1.5 miles each way while he and his siblings hacked 5 miles to lessons and 5 miles home, assuring the writer it was uphill each way!! In true Pony Club fashion - Character building!
Established in 1982, NHPC first began as a small club hosting lessons and stable management out of Brentwood Farms, owned at the time by Gary Lundman. Riding lessons were convened by skilled coaches: Tecla Dopheide, Robin Hahn and Jan Stephens to name a few. Riding lessons ran from early Spring through to late fall and during the winter months stable management/theory was taught in nearby Oakbank. Many levels of riders participated in pony club at Brentwood Farms.
Founding members included Cornelia, Gerd, Mark & Eric Martin, Danae Stephens, Jane & Jennifer Dyck. Over the years, several members have completed their A level (Danae Stephens, Jane Dyck & Robby Norris) and at least two their HA level (Cornelia Martin & Lindy Norris).
As the pony club developed and membership grew North Hill was fortunate enough to call the Manitoba Horse Council Equestrian Centre, situated in beautiful Bird's Hill Provincial Park, their home. That facility (which includes jumping and dressage arenas as well as a cross-country course and miles of trails) has provided our members with opportunities for extensive learning and challenges with their equine partners as well as having served as the backdrop for many memorable lessons, trail rides, and shows.
Since its inception, NHPC members have been versatile, active and enthusiastic about their sport, participating actively in Quiz, Dressage, Show Jumping, Horse Trials as well as other equine sports such as endurance riding, natural horsemanship and driving. Every year members represent Manitoba at Canadian Pony Club National Competitions. Many members have excelled in national and international equestrian events.
In the early years NHPC members participated in several rallies per year, which qualified them for national rallies. Typically the club was able to field A teams, B teams and C teams to National Rally and National Quiz, which were held in various locations across the country. NHPC members were chosen to represent Canada at several Interpacific Rallies. Some of the early membership, and their successes include:
- Cornelia Martin (HA level): Canadian Interpacific Rally Team (New Zealand)
- Mark Martin (B)
- Gerd Martin (B level): National Rally A team winner 1990
- Eric Martin B level: National Rally Team Member
- Danae Stephens (A level): Canadian Interpacific Rally Team (Australia 1991), National Rally A team Winner 1990, North American Young Rider Championships 1990, 1991
- Jane Payment (A) and Jennifer Payment (B2)
- Lindy, Robby, and Carly Norris
- Teri Gudmundson (B2)
- Moira Fentum (B2) and Alison Fentum (B)
- Christie Stephens (B) and Greg Stephens
- Chris Sokoloski (B)
- Mieke, Megan and Mellisa Bosma
- Ginny and Cassidy Saunders
- Danielle Debus
- Adelle Campbell
- Dayelle and Kyle Fargey
From the time of these original members, many local Springfield children and their parent volunteers have participated in Pony Club and enjoyed sporting excellence and the pursuit of the ultimate partnership with their equine friends through NHPC.
Early members Danae Martin (nee Stephens) and Jane Payment (nee Dyck) reminisce about cross country rallies held in at a variety of facilities such as: Dauphin, Westgate's, Souris, and numerous pony club camps conducted over a week with two rides a day, lessons, skits and stable management holding a special place in their memories of childhood and adolescence. They both noted rivalries with competing clubs particularly at rallies, but noted the NHPC riders were top notch and able to "pull it off" in the saddle. NHPC had a long history of provincial rally championships.
Eric Martin noted that in the early days most everyone rode to the club lessons, noting that the Stephens rode 1.5 miles each way while he and his siblings hacked 5 miles to lessons and 5 miles home, assuring the writer it was uphill each way!! In true Pony Club fashion - Character building!