OUR HISTORY

 

The Cambridge Saddle Club was formed in the 1940's by a group of good folks who liked to trail ride and show. Many times folks rode their horse from “here to there” in the 40's because of the gas rationing during World War II and you used your ration tickets carefully. At that time, meetings were held in the home of a member or at a “ride in area” for a trail ride in the summer and fall.

In 1947, there were very few paved roads and riding was uncomplicated. The Club held overnight camping rides and a Show/Gymkhana combination, usually in a member’s field. The first any C.S.C members participated in an organized Show or Gymkhana was in 1947. Four members trailered to Ballston Spa and rode in an evening Gymkhana. The C.S.C was well represented with one member getting a ribbon in every event.

In the 1950's the C.S.C was able to purchase ten acres of land right on the corner of two dirt roads, which allowed access to great trail rides (Those roads are now paved.) The acquisition of the land cost the club $400 and the members were assessed to come up with the money. Fortunately, one of the club members was a lawyer and took care of the Deed, by-laws and Incorporation work.

The by-laws were well thought out and very little has changed through the years. Not one word of the PURPOSE of the club has ever changed.

The following is the purpose laid out by the founding members and is still recognized today:

 

Section 1: To develop and promote good fellowship among horse lovers.

 

Section 2: To encourage, promote, and develop the owning, training and breeding of quality horses

 

Section 3: To promote and develop good horsemanship together with the knowledge and interest in the care, training and breeding of good horses.

 

Section 4: To cultivate the social life among its members, and to foster the welfare and enhance the health and happiness of its members and persons interested by promoting and encouraging the use of an interest in horses.

 

Section 5: To promote and cultivate among its members and others, interest in all equestrian games and sports.

 

Section 6: Through the activities of this club, to interest and educate the public in the recreational possibilities and benefits of the use and ownership of horses.

 

Section 7: To promote and cultivate the formation, association and friendly relationships with similar clubs throughout this state and elsewhere.

 

Section 8: For the uses and purposes for which this organization is formed, to lease purchase, hold, use and enjoy in fee simple, or otherwise, any personal or real property and to sell, lease, deed in trust, or dispose of the same at the pleasure of the organization, excepting and provided that this organization is a non-profit one and none of its operations shall at any time result any way in pecuniary profit or gain to any member thereof.

 

Following the purchase of the land, the club members cleared brush and small tress in the center of the 10 acres and built a show ring and judges stand. The club then began to host shows and gymkhanas.

In the 50's, the club decided to build a club house on the grounds. A member of the Club had a woodlot of poplar trees that had blown down. He offered the logs to the Club and the members responded by hauling them to the Club grounds and building a log club house. The flooring and doors came from the old mill by the Rexleigh covered bridge in Salem, NY. The same log club house still stands today – almost 60 years later!

 

Throughout the 50's many riding clubs formed in the area. There was the “Dusty Trails” in Greenwich; “Argyle Riding Club” in Argyle; “Ridge Riders” in White Creek; “Skene Riders” in Whitehall and “The Royal Soldiers” in Hudson Falls to name just a few.

 

C.S.C installed lights over the ring and held Gymkhanas in the evening, which was great. However, with all the other Clubs being formed, there was conflict on day and evening events. Spearheaded by The Cambridge Saddle Club – All the clubs met during the winter and discussed setting up a “circuit” during the show season and setting dates for each club so no one was stepping on the dates of the other clubs. This arrangement worked well for many years.

 

In the late 1950's, The Cambridge Saddle Club was approached to help get the Washington County Fair equine program started. The Fair needed a gymkhana one night during the week that would last about 2 hours. Knowing from experience that it would be impossible to open the event to any and all, it was decided that each of the local clubs would have “tryouts” for each event and send their best four riders to the Fair to compete. This worked out well and was done for many years.

 

During the 1960's and 1970's the interest in shows, gymkhanas and trail rides lessened and many of the riding clubs dissolved. However, the Cambridge Saddle Club still had an occasional Show, Gymkhana or Trail Ride.

 

In the early 1980's, some members got together and decided they did not want to see the Cambridge Saddle Club fade away. So, meetings were held, officers were elected and the Club and grounds were revived. Two members signed for a loan of $5,000 and it was enough to get the Club back up and running.

 

At this time, the electric was upgraded, trees were trimmed and running water was installed! The old hand pump is still exists but most prefer indoor plumbing, so we installed a bathroom and septic system. A water line was also run closer to the arena for the convenience of those wishing to water their horses on show day. Some of the trees on site were cut down into logs and sawed to build a new judges stand.

 

The Club House now contains 2 restrooms and a main hall where meetings are held during the spring, summer and fall months.

 

By this time the $5,000 was gone and it was time to dig in and put on some shows, run 50-50's and do what had to be done to pay back the loan. It was a difficult task, but the dedication of the members made it a reality.

 

In 1990 the Club held a “40th Year of Incorporation Show.” During the show, the Club honored the two living members that had signed the Incorporation papers – Mr. Lyman White and Mr. Raymond Lufkin. Many of the people who had ridden 10, 20 30 or 40 years before came to help celebrate and reminisce.

 

The early 90's saw the resurgence of gymkhanas. In 1993 there were five gymkhanas held on the 3rd Saturday of each month (May-September) and five horse shows held on the 2nd Sunday of each of those months.

The Cambridge Saddle Club has always been, and hopefully always will be, a place for the youth to ride and/or compete, whether in shows, gymkhanas or on trail rides. A youngster with a horse has a responsibility to that animal and, when that animal takes the rider safely through the trees, over or through mud holes and ledges, it becomes a friend, and when that young person enters the Show Ring and wins that first blue ribbon, that horse becomes a member of the family.

Of course, our “Youth” mature and many of the “19 and older” continue to compete in C.S.C shows and Gymkhanas.

The above was taken, in part, from a C.S.C club history written by William G. Bennett, President in 1993.

 

Bill has since passed on, but the club continues to grow.. We are still holding gymkhanas on the 3rd Saturday of the Month and Shows on the 2nd Sunday. We've also added evening gymkhanas on two Thursday nights during the month.’

 

The turn of the century (Y2K that is) saw a resurgence of interest in the horse community. It seems everyone has a horse these days and the Cambridge Saddle Club continues to be one of the top venues in the area to compete in both Horse Shows and Gymkhanas.