Riding Club brings a variety of events to Smoky Lake

It was a cold, windy day when I first met with Smoky Lake Riding Club members for their first-ever draw for a filly, donated by LD Quarter Horses. It was the first fundraiser of this kind for the club, and it yielded a substantial amount of money.

With 12-15 active members, this club has stepped up to the plate over the past few years, increasing horse-related activities for the region. Their most significant event in the past 38 years has been the Annual Smoky Lake Stampede on the August long weekend. If there had been a rodeo in 2020 and 2021, 2021 would have marked its 40th anniversary. As part of the Lakeland Rodeo Association, the club hosts a two-day event with events for anyone to choose from, such as team roping, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, saddle bronc, bareback riding, bull riding, junior steer riding and mini broncs. There is a large emphasis on children’s events: stick pony racing and frisbee toss, as well as a bouncy castle. For the public, there is a lot to choose from. Start with the pancake breakfast offered by the Kinsmen Club, enjoy the events, fill your belly at the concession run by Bellis 4H, enjoy the hall decorations put up by the fire department, and don’t miss the steak supper, hosted by the grads. The beer gardens, hosted by minor hockey and the Kinettes, ensure you can quench your thirst while live music invites you to a dance. Following the Stampede, the Smoky Lake Ag Society hosts a demo derby on the Monday,
August long weekend.

The last few years events have been added to the calendar, such as the Barrel Racing series every weekend in September, called the Harvest Hustle. Different age groups can compete here and have fun with their horses. The club also organizes clinics in horsemanship, ranch roping and clinics for the mini broncs to enhance knowledge about horses and safety working with horses. As if that isn’t enough, they offer a family rodeo for the inexperienced riders every year.

The club has an outdoor arena for which memberships are sold. Currently, around 60 memberships are sold annually to this outdoor arena.

Whereas the club does not have an indoor arena, they have an excellent working relationship with the Waskatenau riding club to use their heated indoor arena for activities when the weather does not allow an outdoor event.

Are you wondering what happens in the long winter months when there are no organized activities? On a bright sunny day – not too cold – members get together to go for a ride somewhere in the region. All it takes is a few phone calls or messages to organize and enjoy a refreshing few hours on horseback amidst friends. And the filly? She found a loving home in the region…