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From the beginning…

Contained in the Introduction are a few excerpts from the 2013 SRC 70th Anniversary Book. It describes the beginning and history of Southlands Riding Club.

The book is too large of a file to attach here, but is available to view in the clubhouse.

We will share pieces from the book as well as other photos and documentation from our archives. Check back to see the progress.

Horscope:

The Club’s first monthly newsletter was started in 1943. The cover and pictures were hand drawn. In 1951 the name changed to “The Horscope” and was produced from 1951 until approximately 2013. (links to historical copies coming soon).

Today the newsletter has dropped The Horscope name, is fully digital, and moved to a weekly format.

Introduction:

1940’s:

  • 1943: Incorporation with 40 members of SRC

  • 1946: Sixteen acres of land purchased by 7 anonymous members

  • 1946: Clubhouse built from pieces of an abandoned fisherman’s hut

  • 1946: First gymkhana horse show

  • 1947: Member volunteers construct a large oval riding ring (Cinder Ring) and a 1/2 mile track

  • 1948-49: Original Southlands Riding Club disbanded and club assets transferred the new company: Southlands Riding and Driving Club Limited

  • 1949: Membership grew to almost 300

  • 1949: Club dues are $4/year for Junior and $6/year for Senior members

  • 1949: First Vancouver International Horse Show and Dressage classes began

1950’s:

  • 1951: Talk was made about constructing an indoor arena but the cost was prohibitive, so the project was shelved.

  • 1951: Horse Scents renamed The Horscope

  • 1952: Polo arrived in Southlands

  • 1955: Dressage Ring build on corner of W53rd and Macdonald

  • 1957: The Society was formed for active members and keeping the property with the Southlands Riding and Driving Limited Company “The Company”.

  • 1958: Trustee agreement was signed between the Club Society (SRC) and the Company who owns the property.

  • 1958: McCleery Golf Course opens

  • Throughout the 1950’s the Trails around Southlands were a big topic of discussion. Check out the Anniversary book for details.

1960’s:

  • 1961: The Society (The Club) changed the name to Southlands Riding and Polo Club. Driving had diminished significantly and polo had grown to be a major focus. The “Polo Boys” were a dominant force at the Club financially, as well as on the Board

  • 1961: A bridge is built on the trail

  • 1966: The Indoor Ring became a reality - the Grand opening was a grand affair with 200 people and 52 horses. The Mayor attended, escorted by Mounted Police. Good footing wasn’t in the budget, and was given top dressings of sawdust.

  • 1967: Pan Am Selection Trials and the first “Play Day”

  • 1969: Hired the first Club Manager - Hilary Oswald

1970’s:

  • 1970 was the last year that the International Horse Show was held at Southlands and also the year that Polo moved to Delta

  • Almost 400 members called Southlands Riding Club home

  • Opening of the McCleery Ring

  • Events included the Spring Horse Show, Summer Show and Junior Horse Show. Pony Club was very active as well as play days. Cross country really ran across the Southlands “neigh”bourhood.

  • The Indoor ring was a busy place “There can be up to 22 horses in the indoor, and if we all use common sense and courtesy it is possible to all ride together” - The Horscope 1970

  • For a few years, a second indoor ring was contemplated. Ultimately the membership didn’t move forward with the expense, and we still have only one indoor ring 50 years later.

  • 1971: Rules were introduced for instructors. The first 3 instructors were Dietrich von Hopffgarten, Lindy Townley and Caroline Weeks.

  • 1972: The Fraser Valley Hunt began, and SRC members were part of the founding members.

  • 1972: Increase to 5 instructors

  • Volunteers were monumental even back then, with major projects moving forward only with their valuable support.

1980’s:

  • 1980: Club signs a 50 year lease with the Company

  • 1986: City of Vancouver states that riding is a recognized recreation in the City

  • 1987: Original storage and tractor shed is demolished and rebuilt

  • 1988: Carnarvon ring is built, dressage ring fences are rebuilt

  • By 1982, membership had grown to 573. The equine population had increased and a horse census counted 450 horses living in the area.

  • Driving made a return to Southlands and a small group put together the Southlands Driving Show, complete with an obstacle course through the hunter course on the field. This one-day show continued throughout the 80’s.

  • 1988: Polo returns!

  • Dressage flourished with up to 200 entries in some years. Play days and other one-day shows were popular.

1990’s:

  • 1990: Committees were formed to consider long range planning and the building of an indoor arena (ultimately again defeated at an AGM two years later)

  • 1991: River Trail Bridge rebuilt

  • 1993: SRC 50th Anniversary celebrations

  • 1994: Clubhouse gets a face-lift with new furniture

  • 1994: Permanent stabling provided to the Club - a limestone base was created on the north side of the Indoor near the lunge ring so accommodate a small block of stables purchased by the Club. “They were indeed the first stalls and a huge step forwards for us, it was really a boon to the dressage shows to HAVE stalls to rent and a bonus for the H/J show to have a base number of stalls to start with.” - Christine Blackie, Past Manager

  • 1997: Carnarvon ring gets lit

  • 1999: The Horse Festival takes place, predecessor to the County Fair

  • Between 1991 and 1994 the property taxes of the Club had increased 224%. The Board sought ways to decrease them. Ideas to acquire farm status were investigated. In 1994, it was decided not to proceed with the application for farm status. This would be revisited later in the next decade.

2000’s:

  • Fundraising efforts kicked into high gear and a Master Site Plan was developed.

  • 2000: Millennium Fund reaches over $130,000

  • 2001: SRC hosts first County Fair

  • 2003: SRC votes “YES” to Covered Arena. An assessment on riding members’ fees for 5 years was put in place to pay for the project.

  • 2003: SRC celebrates their 60th Anniversary

  • 2004: Covered Arena is built. “We must thank those club members and friends who worked tirelessly for six years to bring the project to completion… all those individuals who opened their hearts and wallets to donate so generously. You have given Southlands and Vancouver a legacy that is functional, beautiful and will keep riding strong and easily available for generations to come.” - The Horscope, April 2005

  • 2005: Lights installed in Covered Arena

  • 2005: Dressage Canada hosts Ellen Bontje Dressage Symposium

  • 2007: The Indoor & Covered Arenas get new Nike footing

  • 2007: Property taxes keep on rising.

  • 2008: McCutcheon Ring is built

  • 2010: Dressage Ring footing is converted to sand/rubber mix

2010’s:

  • 2012: Horse Census shows decline of horses and available stalls in Southlands

  • 2013: 70th Anniversary Celebration and Anniversary Book

  • 2014-2015: The effort to reduce property taxes is again a topic for discussion. This time, the application was submitted and ultimately approved to allow for Farm Tax Designation.

  • 2014-2015: Hand-in-hand with the farm tax initiative, the Southlands Rescue & Rehabilitation Program was created.

  • 2016: Covered Lunge Ring opened for business.

2020’s:

  • 2020-2021: COVID-19 Virus was the reality for the world, and SRC no exception. New processes and procedures helped us weather the storm.

  • 2021: Rebuilding of the Big Ring

  • 2024-2025: Enhancement of the Cross Country Field and jumps built

  • 2025: Track improvements on the South Side as a footing test.