MARCH 2000 BACK ISSUE

Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 03/02/2000; 2:00:00PM.

The Coeur d'Alene & Coeur d'Cheval Pony Clubs

Coeur d'Alene Pony Club was established in the summer of 1981 with 5 members. However, it was not granted official recognition until February 1989 with a membership of 19 riders.

Many of the individuals that were responsible for the club's success were: DC Kim Hurlbert, Jane Badraun, Joanne Wing and Shirley Oxendine.

For 17 years the Pony Club was headquartered at McFarlane Stables in Rathdrum, Idaho. Although most of the pony clubbers were D1 through C1, Coeur d'Alene Pony Club was proud of their 2B rated members, Amanda Badraun, 1995 and Anne Brenchley, 1997.

For the most part, club membership came from Hayden Lake and Rathdrum, Idaho and Spokane Valley, Washington.

The club is the sponsor of the Deep Creek Horse Trials High Placment Award for the Inland Empire Region Pony Clubbers past and present for the novice, training, preliminary and intermediary divisions.

The Coeur d'Cheval Pony Club was officially recognized by the United States Pony Club in June of 1999. We were the Coeur d'Alene Pony Club. As happens with most youth groups, membership fluctuates. In the fall of 1997 the majority of the membership lived in Deer Park, Washington. Nick & Lita Oppegard offered the use of their boarding facility, Merlin Farms to the club.

Merlin Farms proved to be extremely supportive. Mounted and unmounted meetings, Spring Show, Fall Rally and Regional Know Down were all welcome.

We decided to request a name change so we would not reflect a geographical location. Coeur de Cheval means, "Heart of the Horse." We hope to carry on the high standards & achievements of our parent club.We hope that by releasing the Coeur d'Alene name, a new group will take up the challenge in Coeur d'Alene.

Hope to see you at the show.

Lori Homan 509-276-6114