CONTENTS Pinecrest Farm is one of the oldest and best equestrian facilities in the National Capital region. We offer tremendous facilities and programs for beginner, recreational and competitive English riders. Pinecrest has well-trained, well-cared-for horses for the enjoyment of club members. Three excellent coaches offer a variety of coaching skills for all levels. An indoor arena — now heated! - offers year-round riding. The outdoor sand ring is ideal for good weather riding. Miles of groomed, wooded trails are open year round. There are 26 large, bright, airy box stalls and 8 large grass paddocks to keep horses safely and comfortably. All of our stalls, and 7 of our paddocks, provide horses with fresh water 24-hours-a-day, twelve-months-a-year. Beyond our regular coaching programs, we offer frequent clinics - featuring some of the best coaches and equestrian experts in and around Ottawa - to help riders improve their skills and increase their enjoyment of equestrian sports. The popular Pinecrest Farm Show Team shows at about a dozen shows each year throughout the area, and Pinecrest's own schooling show is one of the longest-running and best-attended primary shows in the National Capital Region. Every year, we take a group of team members and friends to Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair for fun and education.
History of Pinecrest Farm Pinecrest Farm is one of the longest-established equestrian facilities in the National Capital Region. The farm itself was started along with the earliest Rideau Valley settlement in the 1830s, and was operated for over a century as a dairy, orchard and mixed farming operation, mainly by the Chester and Jakes families. In the early 1970s the Douglas family (Helen, Jean and Col Duncan Douglas) turned it into an equestrian facility. The indoor riding arena was built in the mid-1970s. In 1989 Michelle Williams and Rick Anderson purchased Pinecrest, and since then have added new paddocks, groomed riding trails, more horses and more coaching. A major expansion in 2000 added 14 more big, airy box stalls, a heated locker room for members, indoor wash stall, heated viewing lounge, clinic room - and arena heating. You must see it yourself, it's beautiful.
The Pinecrest Farm Riding Club is a riding club. We offer members a complete equestrian experience. Rather than simply being coached, boarding, showing, practice riding or trail riding, Pinecrest club members are free to engage in all of these activities, in whatever changing mix or pretty much as much as they can. The atmosphere is casual and friendly. Instead of paying for each and every hour of riding or coaching, Pinecrest members pay one simple monthly membership fee. For most members this covers all of their use of club facilities, horses and coaching, regardless of quantity (the only "extras" are such things as private coaching and show entry fees). We believe Pinecrest is the only riding club of this type in the National Capital Region. Pinecrest initially tested the club concept in 1997-98, and discovered that riders liked the flexibility, freedom and value of the new membership approach so much that we’ve since shifted to it completely. It costs us more or less the same to keep our horses and operate the stables, arena and trails regardless of how much people use them, so why not offer riders a single-price membership fee and let them enjoy the facilities as much as they can? The value to the riders in this approach is unbeatable. For instance, to ride in group lessons twice a week elsewhere would cost anywhere from $240 to $300, plus more for private or practice riding (if offered). At Pinecrest, this costs only $200 a month — and Pinecrest members are also free to ride privately without additional cost and receive 30% off additional private lessons and clinics. Plus our members have the freedom and flexibility to vary coaches, lessons and activities. Not to mention, some of the best facilities around. Our membership packages have become popular because of their flexibility, freedom and value. We now offer six different membership packages to meet different needs and tastes, and for maximum choice and value. These are described, along with other information on our programs and services, in the following pages.
Five Membership Packages to Meet All Needs
Four times a year—in January, April, July and September—we revamp our schedule of club activities to suit the season and our members’ wishes. Check out our website (www.pinecrestfarm.com) for the online schedule of our current season. Our four riding seasons are: Winter: January, February, March
During each of the four seasons, members who wish to may reserve one or two regular weekly riding spots. Any further bookings you’d like to make can be made on a weekly basis. These can be group lessons, practice riding, trail riding or private coaching (the first three of these are available to most members without additional charge). These bookings will be protected for you for the balance of that season, subject to alterations in our schedule caused by holidays, shows or other special events (most of which are planned long in advance). Darlene Tytula, our Club Manager, is the keeper of the regular booking list and the person to see if you want to make or change reservations. (Weekday members may only book weekday reservations, and Starter members are limited to one lesson per week.) Feel free to call Darlene if you feel like riding or to see if there is a time available for you.
We carefully monitor the workload of our horses to keep them healthy, safe and happy. On cold or wet days, the heated indoor arena can be booked pretty steadily. So, some of our most popular times can be in high demand. If your first choices of times for your one or two regular weekly bookings are not available, Darlene will be keeping a waiting list for each and every class, practice riding time, etc… As a riding time becomes available she will slot you in that space.
For “sold out” times, and to accommodate members who want to ride more than once or twice a week, the Club Manager (Darlene) keeps a last-minute list for members who are prepared to take last-minute spots that often become available. Please let us know at least 24 hours in advance of you not being able to use your riding time, so someone else can. Let Darlene know if you are interested in being called when such bookings open up.
Finally, we have scheduled member riding times, during which times there is no coaching going on and during which members may book practice/pleasure riding – or just drop by to ride. (Note that this is uncoached riding – you must be able to safely tack up a horse and ride without coaching.) Often, we will be able to accommodate you on a drop-in basis, particularly during daytime hours on weekdays and on Sundays, but a call beforehand is usually a good idea just to avoid disappointment. (On the other hand, if you can’t ride, there’s always coffee, company and sweeping!) (Note: Fridays are the club horses’ day off - they deserve it! Boarder riding only.)
Making the Most of Your Membership With the membership concept, you are free to use the facilities as much as you can. And we want to help you do so here’s our best advice: Ride as often as you can Book ahead Make Changes Join In
* "unlimited" means no additional charge for lessons or private riding. Riding must be booked in advance and is subject to availability. Rest schedules and feed times must be observed.
Pinecrest Farm is offering courses under the new Equine Canada English Learn To Ride Program. The English Learn to Ride Program was developed for those individuals who wish to learn safe horsemanship skills and practices on a national standard under the guidance of a certified Equine Canada English Coach. The purpose of this program is to provide new riders with a safe and knowledgeable introduction to English riding. The new Equine Canada English Learn To Ride Program now has ten levels. Each has its own manuals and written and riding tests, and OEF membership is required to take the exam. (Memberships, manuals and information are available at the OEF website OEF Learn To Ride Site. As the new program is still in development we suggest that you visit the OEF site for program updates. OEF Learn To Ride Site. Course timetables and course fees will be determined in the near future. Please check back soon.
Once again, for the 2007 show season the Pinecrest Farm Riding Club is assembling a team of riders who wish to develop their skills, meet other riders, and enjoy themselves through competing in area shows. This is a great way to spend part of your summer, and was very popular with the dozen members who participated on the team. The 2007 team will have a choice in participating in four or six Primary shows. All of the Primary shows are part of the Ottawa Valley Primary Show Circuit, so points earned at each show count towards OVPSC annual awards. We want to foster a learning environment where students are encouraged to do their personal best and to progress throughout the season. And, of most importance, we have lots of fun!!!! The Primary circuit is for riders who are just beginning to show competitively, and the Trillium circuit is for more advanced riders and horses competing at the provincial level. Participation in the show team is open to members only, and only to riders ready to show at a schooling or competitive level (please talk to your coach if you are unsure if you qualify). To improve everyone’s enjoyment and success, a special program of pre-show coaching, clinics, and at-show coaching is provided to team members. To reduce the cost of showing (coaching, trailering, horse leasing), we pre-select a group of shows for most of the team to attend together, so that this valuable package of services is offered to show team members at the lowest-possible prices. (Note: Friends and family are an important part of the Show Team. We need volunteers to help out with driving, grooming and trailering and all the other exciting, fun things that are part of this. We have a certain number of lockers available for members to store tack and equipment — currently 16 full-size lockers (big enough for a saddle, boots, and everything else, and 8 half-size lockers. The lockers are assigned on a priority basis to Boarding members no extra cost as part of their membership. When there are extra full-size and half-size lockers available they are provided to other members for a small monthly charge. .
Notes: -GST added to all prices -$30 charge for NSF cheques and refused pre-authorized payments -$15 late payment charge for monthly fees not paid by 5th of month
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