On Sunday afternoon at the Voorheesville Co-op. Ext., the Golden Horseshoe Riding Club held a 50th anniversary celebration for all members past and present. It was a wonderful gathering with over 40 people in attendance. Some of the original founding members and many past members coming together with the current membership to reminisce. Various people spoke on their early club memories, telling tales of strange and interesting things that had occurred over the years.
The founding members in attendance were: Elwood and Doris Vanderbilt, Howard and Virginia Wisenburn and Robert Felter, actually Bob Felter was not a founding member, but joined in the late 50's and was president in 1958-59. Howard wore his original dark green western style club shirt with the hand embroidered horseshoes on the collar points and the word "Golden" over a large horseshoe on the back; it still fit fine and he looked great in it. It was a real pleasure to have these people join us.
A great buffet dinner catered by the Big Apple Deli was followed by a brief agenda to recognize the founding members and many past presidents who were there. The club paid tribute to Marilyn Miles, recognizing her as the longest active member, having been a junior member when the club was organized and continuously being active in club events and activities throughout the club’s lifetime. Marilyn was presented with a fleece blanket by Diana, from the membership. Mountain View Enterprises in Westerlo embroidered the clubs logo in the center and a tribute in the left corner.
The club had been delighted to receive a proclamation from Senator Neil Breslin commending the club on it’s 50th anniversary and honoring the group for it’s accomplishment. Three horseshoe cakes, baked by Hilde Tompkins were almost too pretty to cut, but too delicious not to eat.
The large room was festive with green and gold streamers, lovely golden flower arrangements and of course horse statues. Along one wall there were displays of photos albums of club events and activities from the early 1950’s to present day, including a memory book, history compilation and list of past officers.
A video of club activities was running as an equine sounds tape played in the background. Hung in one spot was a display of club shirts from the very first one to the 50th anniversary one.
November 2, 1953 the organization meeting to form the club was held and officers elected were:
President – William VanNatten
Vice-President – Howard Marsh
Secretary – Annlisbeth Disco
Treasurer – Christina VanNatten
News Reporter – Robert Johnson
Directors: Elwood Vanderbilt, Orville Johnson, James Gallogly, Bennie Vanderbilt and Clara Marsh.
November 27, 1953 a second meeting was held at which the name for the club was decided.
The Marshs, Clara and her husband Howard were founding members of the Golden Horseshoe Riding Club in 1953. The club gymkhanas and shows were held on their farm in Clarksville
every year through the early 80’s when insurance issues finally prevented holding such an event on the property. Her farm was also the headquarters for the club’s annual competitive trail ride from 1975 - 1988.
It was her job to provide breakfast on the front porch, and run hither and thither rounding up whatever anyone needed at the last moment.
In the 1950’s the club was very active, holding several “HORSEPLAYS” each year. The first official GHRC Horseplay was held May 30, 1954, starting at 12:00 with an entry fee of $1.00 per horse for the day. The events were:
Grand Entry | Barrel Race |
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Musical Chairs | Obstacle Race |
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Ribbon Race | Stake Race |
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Clothing Race | Pony Express |
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Relay Flag Race | Cloverleaf |
“The second Horse Play of the Golden Horse Shoe Riding Club has been held at the Howard Marsh Farm…..” So begins the account of one of the earliest functions of the Golden Horseshoe. A Horse Play would be considered a gymkana these days, though you don't tend to see the same events.
“The games are played on horseback, with many thrills and occasional spills…..” the acticle goes on to tell, and among the games listed are:
musical chairs, pony water race, potato race, relay flag race, stake race, soda race, cloverleaf race, flag race, and pony express
Then as now, age was no barrier to fun, Mrs. William Van Natten is listed as winner of the musical chairs.
The certificate of incorporation is dated May 24, 1954, so that is the official date of the beginning of the club. However, the preliminary organizational meetings began in late 1953. The club was formed by a group of families in the Clarksville, Feura Bush, Onesquethaw area who owned and loved horses. The goals were then and still are, to promote education in horse management, organize activities that brought horse people together, and simply enjoy our horses and the company of others with the same interest.
The beginnings of our horse show days harken back to the early 1950’s when the popular event was the “Horse Play” which today is the gymkhana, many of the games still played at today’s events were enjoyed then.
I’m not sure the “diaper race” and the “pie eating race” are still seen at today’s gymkhana’s, but they made the day interesting to say the least. In the early days many of the members were avid square dancers, so it was only natural that we formed mounted square dance teams.
The horses even got to know what maneuver came next.
Square dances were very popular in those days. The GHRC sponsored several each year. Another very popular annual event was the overnight trail ride. A steak roast for dinner and lots of ham, eggs, bacon and such for breakfast. They would ride to the site of the campout, usually trail ride in the afternoon and evening, then ride again after breakfast before returning home. They were a much heartier bunch back then!! But you see, our annual steak roast is nothing new, it’s a 50 year old tradition.
The very first club shirts were long sleeve western style, dark green with the horseshoe and lettering hand embroidered by some of the members. The shirts cost $5.00 and many of them are still around today.
1955 the square dancing progressed to a mounted group. It was a lot of fun and the horses got to know the patterns and did them without very much direction.
September 1957, at Glenda Vadney’s (Armstrong) suggestion judged classes were added to the Horseplay. Three classes, Ladies Western Pleasure, Men’s Western Pleasure and Junior Horsemanship were added to the usual list of games. The “judge” was paid $10.00 for his services.
May1959 the number of judged classes was increased. The class list for that show was:
Children’s Horsemanship | Stake Race |
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Spear the Ring | Ladies Horsemanship |
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Saddle Race | Men’s Horsemanship |
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Pony Express | Western Stake Race |
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Trail Class | Cloverleaf Ribbon Race |
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Cloverleaf |
The Judge was Pete Wood who was paid $25.00, insurance cost $45.00 and the total profit for the show was $106.00. Boy, things sure have changed. In the Fall 1959 show a Model class was added and English & Western pleasure classes were included.
July 1963 was the first year we went to having just one show a year. Glenda was the chairperson, there were 27 classes, a mix of games and judged classes. The judge was Joe Parker of Ghent who was paid $50.00
Throughout the 1960’s and 70’s the club upheld its strong tradition of planning events that involved eating. Besides the annual overnight trail rides with steak roast the Progressive Dinner became an annual event as well as an annual banquet.
May 3, 1975 the club put on it’s first Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association sanctioned 25 mile competitive trail ride. This ride was held every year through 1988 when it was discontinued because of loss of a lot of dirt roads to blacktop and lack of personnel. The base camp for the ride was Locust Knoll Farm every year except for one when we based from Glen Paris’ farm in Berne and ran the ride in Partridge Run. We earned ECTRA’s star rating almost every year that we ran the ride.
September 1978 at a regular meeting, Quint Weaver suggested that some members get together to put the refreshment stand back together after an episode where “someone” tied their horse to it and it was consequently pulled down.
October 1978 “Night At The Track” at Saratoga Raceway. A group of 40 club members and guests attended dinner in the clubhouse and a trophy was presented to one of the race winners in the name of the club.
July 1982 the club annual horseshow was moved to the Altamont Fair grounds. Up until then it had been held in the ring at Locust Knoll Farm, but because of insurance issues could no longer be held there.
April 1988 a Linda Tellington-Jones T.E.A.M. clinic was held with Jan Snowden from Toronto as the clinician.
May 1989 ran a Poker Run ride with T-shirts to all riders, each rider paid an ante and the pot went to the rider who came back with the best hand.
September 1991 incorporated the “Family Fun Day” with the annual trail ride and steak roast. It was a big success and still is today with 40 plus people joining us for a ride and steak roast and, in the past, games and activities after the food.
1991 was also the year we instituted the “Club Photo Album”
Fall 1995 ran a Poker Run and Silent Auction as our fall trail ride activity, which, of course, included a cook out.
1997 we instituted the Club Video Library
July 1997 offered “Starter Horse and Starter Rider” classes at the annual horse show. These classes were immediately very popular and are still the best filled classes in the show, besides the ever popular Trail Classes, which, due to Deb Tompkins imagination, are some of the most attractive and unique trail courses you will find at any show.
July 1999 we decided to try something new and different and held a clinic on “Mounted Orienteering” with Steve Luoni, from New Jersey. Since many of our members have trouble following a marked trail, it was a real challenge to try to find your way around the woods with a map and compass.
April 2000 held a Parelli Natural Horsemanship clinic with Gina Torrell from Pennsylvania. By this time many of the members had developed an interest in this training method and a majority of us are actively using it and working at achieving the basic levels of the program.
June 2001 held a clinic on “Communicating with your horse through body language” with Dr. Stephen Mackenzie from SUNY Cobleskill.
2004 We continue many of the traditions set by previous generations as well as try new ideas. Our goal is still to learn, exchange information and ideas, enjoy our horses and each others company, and most of all eat.
It all started in 1954 with fun things like Horseplays, overnight trail rides with steak roasts and great breakfasts over an open fire. There was square dancing on horseback, parades and trail rides.
Top – 1954 Horseplay – pie easting contest – Elwood Vanderbilt/ Grand Entry
Left side – Howard , Clara & Marilyn Marsh with Melin Llawen Sundial
Lyle VanDyke – Delmar Parade
Glenda Vadney, Marilyn Marsh with Tawney – Diaper race
Center – 1958 – Delmar Parade – Howard Wisenburn/Lyle VanDyke
Right Side – 1958 – Altamont trail ride – David Archibald, Barbara Wisenburn, Glenda
Vadney, Marilyn Marsh, Shirley Ludwig
Horseplay Grand Entry
Clara Marsh with Maggie
Bottom – Horseplay, Crossing the starting line, 1978 Ride for Research
