The Pine Creek Saddle Club is on its way to reopening, giving those in DeKalb County who love horses and equestrian sports a local arena once again. The saddle club had been shut down for several years, but will reopen all because of the wish of one disabled girl, and the help of a local non-profit.
Jonathon Willoughby, the new president of Pine Creek Saddle Club, told the Review that the reformation of the saddle club came about because of Karley Knowles at B&B Saddle Up Farms. "Karley asked Debbie Ball [of B&B Saddle Up] to see about getting it started back up. Debbie asked me, and I told her I would be happy to help. I stepped up and said that I would be the president of the saddle club."
"We hope to have it opened back up, starting in the middle of April for shows," Willoughby continued. "It’s something I think the community wants and needs. It will be centered around the kids, and the 4H and high school rodeo team are welcome to come and be a part of it. Saturday nights will be set aside for the saddle club for the shows. The points from the shows will be recorded, and the highest points of each class will be sent to Lebanon for participation in the state shows."
Secretary/Treasurer of B&B Saddle Up Farm, Debbie Ball, said Karley was the one that really set things in motion at the saddle club. "Karley has been on a horse all her life, and the saddle club was her life. She looked forward to Saturday nights every week and when the saddle club closed she became depressed. Her mother passed away six months ago, and her horse died a couple weeks ago. She asked me if I could help get the saddle club opened again so she could ride a horse again. I told her ‘Yes, I’ll do my best to get that going for you.’"
Ball continued, "In the meantime, through B&B Saddle Up we’re raising money, and have ordered her a $1,400 custom saddle so she can barrel race and trail ride. She was born with a condition where her spine stops midway down her body. As a result, the rest of Karley’s body did not fully develop. Her legs cross underneath her, so she can’t even sit on her bottom. She’s in a wheelchair and even then she has to sit with a basketball in front of her, to balance her and keep her from falling out.
"We’re working with a custom saddle builder to make her a saddle. He’s never built one like this before. It will be padded with no horn, with a raised pommel that simulates the basketball that she uses for balance."
Once Pine Creek is up and running again, Karley will be able to compete in events that she loves, such as barrel racing. "It’s not been set in stone quite yet as to how many classes of shows we’ll have," Willoughby said. "We’ll probably have lead line classes, saddle horse, walking horse, barrel racing, pole bending, and other timed events for others to participate in. We’ve been throwing around the idea of an obstacle course.
Jason Taylor, Facility Manager for B&B Saddle Up Farms, said that the main thing the saddle clubs need now is volunteers. "The more people we have involved, the better the outcome. I just recently talked with someone from Watertown Saddle Club about perhaps partnering up with them. They also have a disabled child, and they also have competitions like barrel racing. With B&B, which is separate from the Pine Creek Saddle Club, we have fund raisers and work with needy children. It’s truly a blessing."
Taylor said Pine Creek plans to widen the entrance way to the facility, as well as do some clean up. They also plan to add some bleachers and do some repairs around the arena. "We need some fence work around the saddle club. We’re planning on putting in a three-rail wooden fence, set in concrete in the ground."
Pine Creek Saddle Club will be run as a separate non-profit, through B&B Saddle Up Farms, which offers equine therapy to those in need. "The whole point of B&B Saddle up is therapy," Ball told the Review. "Other saddle-up clubs that serve kids that are disabled or are autistic, they have a three-year waiting list. Most kids can’t even get in. And, they won’t let other family members ride with them.
"B&B serves everybody, post-traumatic stressed vets, people with depression, victims of abuse, etc. One person just comes to brush the horses. There’s just something about a horse that is calming and therapeutic, whether you actually sit on their back or not. This is for adults and children, and it’s all free. I’ve sunk a lot of my own personal money into this. What we try to do is offset it with other things. We’ve got a wedding in March, trail rides and camping, boarding horses."
B&B Saddle Up Farms can be reached on Facebook and Twitter, or through their website at www.bbsaddleupfarm.org. Their email is BBSaddleup@gmail.com, while their phone is 615-597-6762 or cell at 615-417-4623.
If someone wants to make a donation or donate their time and skills to the Pine Creek Saddle Club you can call 615-464-7785 or reach Jonathon Willoughby at willoughby@dtccom.net. Their email is pinecreeksaddleclub@gmail.com and their website is pinecreeksaddleclub.weebly.com.
"We definitely need the community’s help and support," Willoughby added. "If you can’t come out and be a part of us on Saturday night, give us your prayers. You don’t have to have a horse to be a part of the saddle club, you can be a competitor or a spectator, we’ll have something for everybody."
A clean up day will be held at Pine Creek Saddle Club on Jan. 25, starting at 8:30 AM. The club is asking for volunteers with tools, lawn equipment, and general manpower to join in.