Riders and Residents Gather for Equestrian Forum
Horse-lovers and community members came together in SDCE for an equestrian forum focused on facilities and riding programs. Two forums were held at the Rotunda, located at 16911 Gunn Stage Road, for attendees to choose from based on their schedules. The first forum took place on Saturday, July 12, and the second on Monday, July 14.
The purpose of the forums was to get people's ideas and input on the equestrian facilities—the International Equestrian Center and Casey Tibbs Western Center—to make them the best they can be. The Equestrian Committee and HOA members were present at the forums, and management wanted to hear the community's vision for the SDCE Equestrian Facilities. Attendees didn't need to be equestrians or homeowners to participate, and all ideas were welcomed and valued.
Approximately 35 people attended the forum on Saturday and 21 attended on Monday. SDCE homeowner Barbara Beamesderfer, who has horses and wants to engage in problem-solving, was the presenter for the forum. She went around the room, giving everyone present an opportunity to state their name, explain why they were there, and share any ideas they had regarding the future of the equestrian facilities. "Everyone gets a chance to speak," says Beamesderfer.
SDCE General Manager Carl Weise was present at the forum on Saturday. He was there as an observer and wanted to hear feedback from the community to make the most out of the master plan and to utilize the stakeholders' input. Weise took horseback riding lessons from the age of 9 to 13 in the western discipline, so he has some background with being an equestrian.
Many ideas and proposals were discussed for improving the equine facilities, more options for boarders, and experiences like additional clinics, a tack market, community potlucks, and added events.
Each attendee was given three green sticker dots upon signing in at the beginning of the forum. At the end of the discussion, everyone had the opportunity to go to the front of the room, where two large sheets of paper had all the suggestions summarized, and place their three green dots on the ideas they thought were most important.
The Equestrian Committee will review the information received and will work to incorporate suggestions and proposals into the SDCEA Master Plan.
As the forum came to a close, participants left with a renewed sense of connection and commitment to preserving the equestrian facilities. With a variety of ideas shared from facility improvements to expanding programs, the event sparked meaningful conversations and planted seeds for future collaboration.
Photo by Michael Minor.
