Goodbye NNEP
ShuLing and I worked the fall horse trials today. I got to scribe with a new judge, Anne Galt. I would love to take lessons from her, but it appears she just does freelance judging work.
It was a very bittersweet day. The weather was beautiful and the park never looked better, thanks to the volunteers who put in many hours building, painting and setting up the cross-country and stadium jumps. All the usual volunteers were there to run the show itself. I found out my friend Rowan is trying to buy two of the horses, and my former coach Jenn is also trying to buy two, and is hoping to be able to offer lessons from her place in Aylmer. There is lots of interest in my boy Fitzroy, so hopefully he will go someplace good.
The bitter parts were the sadness of people who have been riding there for 20 years, and have yet to find another stable that works for the moderately competent recreational rider of a certain age (I'm SOOO glad the City paid attention to the results of their survey last year on what people over 50 want in recreation). Getting details about some particularly difficult transfers of boarders was tough too - one 31 year-old guy who is blind in one eye and has been at the park forever took 3 hours to get trailered, and had to be blindfolded to get out of the trailer, into the new barn and into his stall. He wouldn't come out for days. It was not clear whether his bestest buddy in the world went to the same stable. Duchess, the newest barn cat, has a home (indoors, and with two dogs, but Shelley is hopeful she'll adjust eventually). Jacob has been promised a new home with one of the boarders, but he's still there and desperately lonely. He couldn't get enough pats today, and even ran into the cross-country warm-up ring. I didn't see Scooter (my favourite), and I couldn't find out what arrangements have been made for him. The lesson rings are desolate, ungroomed and higgledy-piggledy. We went to see the horses but could only find three of them. They can't go in the big field any more because the fence has been allowed to deteriorate to the point that it is dangerous. The horses could easily escape onto the road, or even the Queensway.
We managed not to be too teary, but people are heartbroken and bitter. Although there are promises that the park will continue to operate under new owners, we all know that people will eventually build allegiances at new barns, or give up riding altogether. This was probably the last event for the Friends of the Park.
The Friends of the Park were more than friends. We, and the animals, were family. Having our family torn apart with a pre-cooked deal and double standards regarding money-losing city operations is disgusting. The Park came very close to breaking even using registration fees (83% cost recovery), unlike the golf course, libraries, and indoor swimming pools. At least one person said they have been engaged and committed to the democratic process, but they are now so cynical they will never vote again. I'll be voting, and trying hard to make sure people remember this.
It was a very bittersweet day. The weather was beautiful and the park never looked better, thanks to the volunteers who put in many hours building, painting and setting up the cross-country and stadium jumps. All the usual volunteers were there to run the show itself. I found out my friend Rowan is trying to buy two of the horses, and my former coach Jenn is also trying to buy two, and is hoping to be able to offer lessons from her place in Aylmer. There is lots of interest in my boy Fitzroy, so hopefully he will go someplace good.
The bitter parts were the sadness of people who have been riding there for 20 years, and have yet to find another stable that works for the moderately competent recreational rider of a certain age (I'm SOOO glad the City paid attention to the results of their survey last year on what people over 50 want in recreation). Getting details about some particularly difficult transfers of boarders was tough too - one 31 year-old guy who is blind in one eye and has been at the park forever took 3 hours to get trailered, and had to be blindfolded to get out of the trailer, into the new barn and into his stall. He wouldn't come out for days. It was not clear whether his bestest buddy in the world went to the same stable. Duchess, the newest barn cat, has a home (indoors, and with two dogs, but Shelley is hopeful she'll adjust eventually). Jacob has been promised a new home with one of the boarders, but he's still there and desperately lonely. He couldn't get enough pats today, and even ran into the cross-country warm-up ring. I didn't see Scooter (my favourite), and I couldn't find out what arrangements have been made for him. The lesson rings are desolate, ungroomed and higgledy-piggledy. We went to see the horses but could only find three of them. They can't go in the big field any more because the fence has been allowed to deteriorate to the point that it is dangerous. The horses could easily escape onto the road, or even the Queensway.
We managed not to be too teary, but people are heartbroken and bitter. Although there are promises that the park will continue to operate under new owners, we all know that people will eventually build allegiances at new barns, or give up riding altogether. This was probably the last event for the Friends of the Park.
The Friends of the Park were more than friends. We, and the animals, were family. Having our family torn apart with a pre-cooked deal and double standards regarding money-losing city operations is disgusting. The Park came very close to breaking even using registration fees (83% cost recovery), unlike the golf course, libraries, and indoor swimming pools. At least one person said they have been engaged and committed to the democratic process, but they are now so cynical they will never vote again. I'll be voting, and trying hard to make sure people remember this.