EMBARRASS — The Northwoods Saddle Club and Embarrass Region Fair Association came a step closer to finalizing an agreement over the ownership of the arena fencing and gates at their second joint meeting on Aug. 4. Again, over 30 interested people attended.
Saddle club officers Nicole Rinas and Tiana Hess presented a counteroffer to the fair association, which increased the nominal value of the fencing panels and gates to $5,000 from $1,500. They said they would agree to trade the equipment in exchange for five years of free rentals of the arena for the five club events planned each year, and said they wish to keep ownership of their barrels, poles, and jumps.
The saddle club would be able to reserve their play day and event meeting dates before any other arena rentals are allowed.
“We believe that the Embarrass Timber Hall Association also has the same community-minded goals, and it is in the same spirit and in good faith that the Northwoods Saddle Club offers this proposal,” they wrote. “We ask that the fair association consider the saddle club’s mission and will allow it to continue being an affordable family-oriented club as the fair association moves forward with the arena and future endeavors.”
The saddle club also asked that the arena remain unlocked and open to the public since many members use the arena for practice and riding lessons. They also noted that the saddle club and this arena had been the starting point for many young riders who went from being led around the arena to competing in state and national shows. They also noted that the saddle club is multi-generational, with many families having three generations participating in events.
While the fair association owns the arena property, the arena itself had always been managed by the saddle club, and the saddle club owns the equipment and buildings by the arena.
The fair wants to take full ownership of the arena, which would enable the association to pursue grant funding for arena improvements and would also clarify some insurance issues. The arena would be managed by the fair association’s arena committee, and membership on this committee is open to all those interested, including those from the saddle club. Any final decisions on the arena would go to the full fair association board.
The fair association had noted that the arena fencing is old and in somewhat poor condition, and in addition, some people would like to see the arena itself enlarged to better accommodate barrel racing, which is becoming more popular.
The saddle club is a community group that hosts play days throughout the summer and fall, as well as other events for horses and their riders. The fair association also hosts events in the arena including barrel racing, ranch sorting, and team penning.
The fair association had initially offered the saddle club $1,500 for its fencing, gates, and other equipment. How to value the fencing was discussed, as well as setting a precedent of valuing the rental agreement at $1,000 per year, which most agreed would be more than the club members could afford to pay in the future. Any future rental rates would be discussed by the arena committee and then finalized by the fair association.
Association members at the meeting said they would like to start holding regularly scheduled arena meetings once the agreement is reached to work on future plans.
Saddle club membership is currently set at $4 per person. Club membership is open to anyone participating in club events or other interested community members. You can find more information on the Northwoods Saddle Club on their Facebook page.
The fair association said they will meet and prepare an agreement, using the information from the saddle club, for possible adoption. The two groups will meet again on Monday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at Timber Hall. The fair association is hoping to finalize the new agreement this fall.
“We just have to hammer it out,” said fair association board member William Ramponi.
Other issues discussed included building a new announcer stand and concession stand, which would be done by the fair association. When such improvements are made, the saddle club would need to remove the existing buildings. Saddle club members also noted that the wooden holding pens on the back of the arena are privately owned, and the owner is not interested in transferring them to the fair association, so those would also need to be removed and then rebuilt.