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VTEA Monthly Newsletter - June 2010

Dates for your Calendar

  • Mon, Jun 7th VTEA Board Meeting  
  • Wed, Jun 16th VTEA Board/Staff Meeting at White Spot on 264th in Aldergrove at 6pm 
  • Sat, Jun 19th - North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association Annual Horse Show 
  • Thursday, Jun 24th last day of our Summer Session 
  • Saturday, Jun 26th Annual Summer Horse Show 
  • Thursday, Jul 1stCriminal Record Checks required by all volunteers 
  • Tue, Jul 6 Sat, Jul 10th make-up lessons for riders 
  • Tue, Jul 13th Sat, Jul 31st Summer Session 
  • Sunday, Jul 11th Volunteer Appreciation BBQ at VTEA 
  • Tuesday, Sep 14th first day of Fall Session 
  • Mon, Oct 18th @ 7pm VTEA Annual General Meeting 
  • Thursday, Nov 11th no lessons due to Remembrance Day Holiday 
  • Saturday, Dec 18th last day of the Fall Session 

North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association Annual Horse Show 

Deadline for Show Entries is Sat, Jun 5th!!! 

NFTRA is holding their Annual Horse Show on Sat, Jun 19th. We may take up to 6 riders to Maple Ridge for the show. At the moment we already have 3 signed up. We will be trailering over two horses for the day. Please contact Julie Matijiw, our Head Instructor, if you are interested in attending this show: classes are open to all levels of riding. We also need 2 volunteers to assist us with our riders at the show: anyone interested, please contact Julie ASAP. 

Annual VTEA Horse Show 

Deadline for Show Entries is Sat, Jun 5th!!! 

Our Annual Horse Show is scheduled for Sat, Jun 26th.  All riders are encouraged to participate, this is an extremely fun day and there are classes for all riders to enjoy and ribbons for everyone!

Instructors will be discussing with riders/parents suitable classes for each rider to enter. Please fill out your entry forms and hand them to your Instructor ASAP.

These shows require a large number of volunteers to assist with the classes, grooming/tacking horses, show assistants, etc. 

We will be asking volunteers to sign up with their favourite horse as grooms/assistant grooms for the day - and finishing off the day with a "best costume class for our horses" - last year Big Ben won as our "Hawaiian Hula Girl"! 

Sign up sheets for the volunteers will be posted in the arena this week. 

VTEA T-Shirts Available! 

We will have t-shirts available for purchase at our Annual Horse Show. 

Horse Show Concession 

Last year we had a fantastic concession stand set up, at the Horse Show that was organized by some of our staff, volunteers and parents.  Pete Creamore, one of our VTEA Directors is in charge of our concession for this year's show. 

Donations for the Concession  

If you or anyone you may know would be able to donate pop, juice, water, hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, chips, muffins, etc. for the Horse Show, please advise Kim Yawney, our VTEA Office Co-ordinator, at the VTEA Office. Thank you! 

New Staff at VTEA 

Please join us in welcoming Maureen Mancinelli, our new Friday Barn staff at VTEA. Maureen will also be joining us as an Assistant Instructor starting on Saturdays in July. 

We would also like to welcome Sandra Stushnoff, Sandra has joined us as an Assistant Instructor on Wednesdays. 

Profiles of our new staff members will be featured in our next newsletter. 

Volunteer Co-ordinator Position at VTEA 

Please note that Paula Farr, our Tuesday Assistant Instructor will be filling in for Suzette Brunner, as Volunteer Co-ordinator for the next few months. Please note that we will require a large volunteer base for the Summer Session as we are running semi private and also group lessons: we will require more volunteers per lesson. 

Notice to Volunteers 

Could we please ask that all volunteers contact Paula at paulafarr@shaw.ca ASAP to confirm their day/times (to and from) that they are volunteering for the month of June and July and if they are available to assist at the horse show on Sat, Jun 26th. Thank you!. If volunteers have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Paula. 

Cloverdale Rodeo 

We would like to thank the following people for volunteering at the VTEA Booth at this year's Cloverdale Rodeo. 

Brenda Singbeil, Pete Creamore and Lori Allard for setting up and dismantling the booth. Adam Kendall, Barry Welford, Paul Paterson, Jo Wing, Cheryl Stigum and her niece Jessica Hernandez, Lisa Bender, Pete Creamore, Lori Allard and Brenda Singbeil for manning the booth over the four days. Fantastic job everyone! 

Horse Updates 

We would like to introduce you to two new horses at VTEA. Valentine is a 14yr. old Palomino Paint, she is 15hh and is trained western. Valentine has done some shows and spent lots of time trail riding. Valentine has been ridden her whole life in a bitless bridle and is an absolute sweetheart. 

We would also like to welcome Jeanie, she is a 22yr old chestnut Thoroughbred, she is 16hh and has raced, done some jumping and spent many a day trail riding and riding along the beach at White Rock. 
Valentine photo by Kim Yawney 

Criminal Record Checks 

All volunteers will require a Criminal Record Check by July 1, 2010.  This is free of charge to volunteers.  Forms are available at the office. Please return your forms to Kim Yawney, our Office Co-ordinator or mail to VTEA Board Secretary c/o VTEA Box 1324, Aldergrove, B.C., V4W 2V1. 

July Summer Session

Instead of a Summer Camp we will be offering a three week Summer Session at VTEA. Group lessons (4 riders) for $25 per hour, semi private lessons (2 riders) will be $35 per hour, private half hour lessons for $30 or a private hour lesson for $60. Please contact Julie, our Head Instructor for more information or to schedule lessons for the Summer Session.

Volunteer Appreciation BBQ  

Mark your calendars! Sunday, July 11th is our Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ at VTEA. We currently have approximately 50 volunteers that assist at VTEA every week. Without this amazing group of dedicated people we would not be able to run our program. They dedicate their time and their talents - rain or shine each week to enable our riders to enjoy fun but safe lessons. 

We encourage all parents and riders to join us for a "Volunteer Celebration" at our Annual BBQ. This is a pot luck event and there will be sign-up sheets posted in the Parents Viewing Area this week. 

Staff Position at VTEA 

We are currently looking for a stall assistant from Tuesday to Fridays. Anyone interested, please contact Julie Matijiw, our Head Instructor. 

Volunteer Positions Available at VTEA

We would like to offer the following volunteer positions at VTEA - Safety Co-ordinator and General Housekeeper - if you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Kim Yawney ASAP. Riding lessons with our VTEA Instructors will be offered in exchange for these positions. 

Thank you to Erica King for taking on the position of Tack Room Co-ordinator. 

Board of Directors 

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Serina Tipper, our new Director at VTEA.  

I have a background in Human Resources and currently work for the Ministry of Labour. I have two children that keep me very busy, one of which is teaching me all about horses! My main interests are learning from my kids, reading, running and giving back where I can. I am honoured to be part of the VTEA Board and hope that I am able to make a positive contribution to the organization - Serina Tipper 

We do have a couple more openings for Directors. Board Members meet once per month. If you have any skills that you believe may be helpful to our Board such as an accounting, legal, business background, please contact Kim at the office for more information.  

Posters

Please note that RCMP Musical Ride Posters are now available, at the office, for $15 for signed copied and $10 for unsigned copies. The posters by artist, Susan J. Falk are now available for $15

Riding Attire for Lessons 

Just a reminder that proper riding attire is strongly recommended for all riders at VTEA. This includes riding boots or rubber boots with a 1" heel, riding pants or stretchy fitted pants. Gloves are also recommended (no mittens). Riding gloves are available at local tack stores for approximately $5. Although VTEA does provide helmets, if you are riding on a regular basis it is recommended that you purchase your own helmet - these are available at local tack stores for around $65 and up. If you have any questions regarding correct riding attire, please discuss them with your Instructor and they will be happy to advise.

Pennies for Ponies Fund 

Our Pennies for Ponies Fund was set up a couple of years ago and is a wonderful way to donate to VTEA. We have received hundreds of dollars worth of pennies this year. This fundraiser directly benefits our horses and ponies at VTEA and allows us to purchase much needed items for them. 

VTEA Wish List 

Please take a look at our VTEA Wish List posted in the Parents Viewing Area. If you are able to assist with any of these items, please discuss with Kim Yawney, our Office Coordinator. 

Donations over $500 since the last newsletter 

  • Burnaby Lougheed Lions Club $1,000.00 
  • Susan J. Falk $560.00 
  • The Andrew Mahon Foundation $1,000.00 

Thank You's 

  • Frankie Faulconer -ornaments for our Memory Lane Trail 
  • Graham White - our new trampoline 
  • Ian Macdonald from Alliance Printing for his donation of pennies and the horse posters for our office 
  • Ann Farr for her donation of pennies 
  • Casey Jones from Immediate Images Inc., for his donation of pennies 
  • Michelle Carrington for the English girth 
  • Kee Gee Dog Agility 72" Typhoon Winter Blanket, a rain sheet, 5 fly masks and a 50lb bag of carrots 
  • Les Baldwin for the English saddle, Western saddle, English bridle with bit and the saddle bag 
  • Doug and Rita Cameron for over $90 in pennies for our Pennies for Ponies Fund 
  • Debbie and Robyn Styles for the Mane & Tail Conditioner, Stud Muffin Horse Cookies, hoof pick and saddle soap and their Tim Bits and Donuts! 
  • Sheryal Ann Dodd of Memory Lane Warmbloods/Rosewyn Stables for lending us her megaphone for our horse show 
  • Susan J. Falk for donating partial proceeds from her recent art exhibition at The Fort Gallery 
If you have any notices, photos, etc. you would like to see posted in our monthly newsletter, please contact Paula at paulafarr@shaw.ca 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at our Annual Horse Show on Saturday, June 26th.  Visitors most welcome!!!! 

                                    Paula Farr

VTEA Staff and Board of Directors