THE ISLAND 22 EQUESTRIAN PARK

I can not thank enough the 2 volunteers that showed up on Saturday and the 8 on Sunday in that scorching heat to help us paint jumps.You are all AWESOME!!! We got a lot of big jumps done and they definitely take the longest. Heinrich was thrilled with what was accomplished at the end of the weekend. We can not thank you all enough for your help!!!!!!!!!!((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

On another side note please remember that the park is closed from Thursday through to Monday this week for the Knights in Armour. The event does not happen until Saturday to Monday but they have a lot of set up and tents to organize so they are taking over the park on Thursday and Friday as well. No Horses please! But come on out and watch the mayhem. It will be a blast!!!!!

We also noticed on the weekend that in the sun there were ZERO mosquitoes and with some squiter spray I received only one bite while in the trails. My exchange student got three but I think she might have tasted better.

And we also noticed the the water in the water jump has gone down another couple of inches. By the time the Knights are finished their weekend the water jump will be PERFECT to jump through. It has a little bit of a drag that most of our horses are not used to due to it being a few inches higher than normal at the moment.

And we are still looking for people to advertise in our Labour Day Event program. We have had some excellent sponsors come through and the prize list looks amazing but I need a few more small advertisers to help pay for the program costs and this will then contribute to prize money for our winners. Remember that we are allowing advertising for horses for sale now. If you want some more info on this please email me! Every little bit helps.

Have a wonderful summer week everyone!!!!!!!!

 Andrea

The FVRD hopes to have the Gatehouse open by June 30th.

Remember that they do not have Interac there so cash please.

For large rental payment cheques are made out to FVRD.

The next mowing should be the first week of July before the Chilliwack Riding clubs Krazee Days Event.

Heinrich and Rolf are searching for a tractor so that they can move jumps all over the place before the mowing happens.

We will let you know if jumps have been moved giving you all a totally new course to train.

Still no bugs and very little water!!!

Campbell Valley Horse Park is having their open cross country day on:

Wednesday July 14th.

Come on down and train at Campbell Valley on Wednesday and spend the night at Island 22. Then Train at Island 22 on Thursday before heading home.

The FVRD and the Gate house will be open and ready for those riders that wish to spend the evening after a day of training in Langley.

All the fee info for spending the evening is on here: Scroll down to the middle.

http://www.island22horsepark.com/parkfeeswaiverseasons.htm

Remember that camping fees include your day pass riding fee.

So far the mosquitoes have been literally NON EXISTENT. It is amazing out there. If there are enough campers registered the Society will make sure you have water in the water jump for training.

This same opportunity is available to you on the other Campbell Valley training day of Saturday July 24th. I have not cleared the Wednesday August 4th training day with FVRD yet but if the other two days prove to be popular than clearing this will not be an issue.

Email me to let me know you are coming out so that I can let the gate house know the numbers.

Hope to see you all having a brilliant time!

Go Eventing!!

Hi all

Effective today - June 23rd - there is now a drop box for day fee payment attached to the kiosk bulletin board in the front main Equestrian parking lot. If you wish to buy a seasons pass you can also put your filled out forms, waiver and cheque in there as well and a pass will be mailed to you shortly.

Usually Janice and I have been trying to catch up with you all when we can to collect fees and I know we miss a lot of you. I get emails quite often asking me how you all pay. This is the new much easier way.

The gate house should be opening soon but until then we thank all you very honest caring equestrian riders out there for helping us out with the day fees.

Please pay by cash or by cheque made out to the FVRD. There will be waiver forms there but just in case it is always good to come prepared. The waiver form is linked on the home page of the website.

The reality is the more honest you all are the more the Society can get for you.

Last year the FVRD spent 20 thousand dollars on a third riding ring as well as new main and warmup ring footing.

Next year we have other plans and it is all for the benefit of all eventer, carriage users and casual users out there.

The cross country jumps are built by the Society and the funding for them is through events and grants.

Also for those that like to camp please remember that starting July 1st over night paddocks are available on weekends. Please email to let me know that you are coming down and I will make sure the gate house is aware. All the fees for camping are on the website.

Thank you so much for all your support these past many years and we hope that we are all here in the many years to come.

Grass is still really short.

The next estimated mowing date is between July 1st - 9th.

Water jump is VERY full.

No bugs!! ZERO!!

I was out there for many hours on Saturday and encountered none. Ran into Gord who was out there at 4pm in the evening and he saw none. Maybe 4 flys.

Tons of weedeating all over has been done.

Main ring has been harrowed.

The mower was out there!!!!!!!!!!

He didn't finish but he had enough sense to run around as many jumps as he could and then he had the whole back field cut. There are TONS of jumps open to use now. There are open areas everywhere.

He hasn't hit the back half in full force but he is starting.

And I ran into Gord, who rides at the park a few times a week, there are NO MOSQUITOES out there at all!! The odd fly but they are not an issue.

He also did not see any bears. That is good.

The water jump is VERY full. I personally don't recommend jumping into it, but you can definitely gallop through it.

Also don't forget that the front parking lot chain is NOT LOCKED, it is ONLY HOOKED. This is to keep the goofs out of the area.

Check the ditch footing before training it - we did get a lot of rain out here so it might be really soft.

The weather is said to be pretty decent this weekend so if you head out there for a day of fun, please enjoy yourself, ride safe, do not park in the fisherman's parking lot and leash your dogs at all times.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/cabc0057

Have a great time people!!

  Andrea

Still no mosquitoes!

Lot of rain though.

And to my surprise, even though there is a lot of rain and the river is way up there is very little water at the park.

As of this evening (I headed down their for a quick look) the water jump is totally filled naturally and there is only one or two stray puddles. Please be careful around the new ditches as the footing may be soft there due to this lovely rain. Check them first.

The big unfortunate is that this rain has not played nice when it comes to mowing. So the park is still not mowed. BUT many jumps are still very safe to ride over you just need to look first and judge based on you and your horse. Ride safe.

Hopefully the weather cooperates soon and then the mower can start working and we will try to fit in some weed eating.

A big huge note!!! A bear was spotted at the park. Now this does not mean the bear is still there. He or she could have left by now. You just need to ride safe and preferably in a buddy system. This is a little reminder that even though we are there with our horses Island 22 is still a park and there is a lot of wonderful wildlife around. We are quite lucky actually.

Also - please head on over to the website and check out the list of events page or the calendar. There is TONS going on in the month of August!! There are very few open spots there so if you are thinking of booking for a clinic (remember you dont need to rent the park but I will advertise for free) let me know soon so you know that the park will be available to you. The Chilliwack Riding club has not released all their info yet but they will be holding a jumper day in August some of you might want to consider.

There is also a HUGE event on the July/August long weekend.

There is even some stuff happening in July with some fun days.

We will keep a very close watch on the mosquito level out at the park. I have created a new side bar box that is visible on all of the website pages and I will update the mosquito level frequently in there.

Hi all

As of today the park is closed at Island 22 to Mt. Cheam Event competitors.

Originally I had wrote that it was ok to ride at the park as long as you are riding a non competing horse.

Further look at the rules and the reading of the way the omnibus is written pafooed that.

Basically if you are entered you can not ride even if on a different horse until AFTER the Mt. Cheam event.

Sorry folks.

If you are not entered then come on out and enjoy!! Just please try to avoid flagged jumps as they are in the process of being staked etc.

On another note - WHAT A BRILLIANT WEEKEND!!!

There were sooooo many of you out there this past weekend. The weather could not have been any better!

Steve Buckman and Heinrich Meister serenaded us to the sweet sounds of a chain saw all weekend but they built about 4 new cross country fences this last weekend - I think they have built 10 and fixed three so far.

Two new ditches coming soon!!!!

And yesterday you might have noticed me covered in paint literally from head to toe - it even went through my pants and I have strange marks all over my legs - from colour staining some of the jumps.

I hope to be doing a lot more colour staining. Not only do they look cool it adds about 5 years to the life of the jump.

Dont forget to get your entries in this week for the Mt Cheam event.

They could also use some more volunteers - check out the volunteer page on our website.

Please fill out this form

http://www.island22horsepark.com/volunteerform.htm

and help us all out.

We are always struggling to find last minute volunteers!

OH and we can not forget to thank Karin Smith for christening the water jump by being the first to test its splash effects yesterday. hehehe. Glad you were ok Karin!! though a tad wet.

I added a new section on the website in the photos page for pictures from the weekend. Sign up as a member to the website and you can upload your own photos or videos of a great weekend. We would love to see them all!!

As many know the Mt Cheam Pony club is taking over the main ring for a dressage day on April 11th.

Talking to Janice this morning she is booked full.

you might be able to beg her for a spot - you can always try.

The Water Jump is being filled on Friday night and will be filled all weekend.

The water jump is NOT booked by anyone so will be very busy. Please remember to SHARE the water jump people. Thanks!

And big Head Up - The Lower Mainland Pony Club is having a last minute stadium clinic in the front ring. They had to scramble for a ring and we are there for them. NO the stadium jumps are not there for your use before and after - sorry! The is a closed clinic. Thanks all.

It will be a busy weekend but there is more than enough room at the park for you all. Please park smart in the front parking area. DO NOT PARK IN THE FISHERMANS PARKING LOT OR WE WILL YELL AT YOU!!!

Thanks.

And please remember to have your waiver and $10 ready unless you are registered in the Pony club dressage then you are covered. All other non dressage riders MUST pay the $10. Thanks. I will be out there with extra waivers for you.

Also I will have seasons passes available to sell on site.

See you this weekend.

Please Please Please Please Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT PARK IN THE FISHERMAN PARKING LOT!!! AND NOT IN THE DOG PARK PARKING LOT!!!

There is a huge equestrian parking lot up front!

PLEASE!!

We work hard fighting for your right to ride in the park all year and every step we make is squashed when you step on the toes of the fisherman and the Parks Board.

No horses allowed in any way shape or form on the river side of the dyke.

PLEASE!!!!!