Horses were one of the most important animals to people prior to motor cars. They were ridden for transportation, they hauled, they plowed, they rounded up cattle & had a hundred of other uses.
When motorized transport, tractors and other equipment came along the use for horses declined but the love for them did not.
The Riverside Saddle Club, was started in the 1970's and hosted Gymkhanas and trail rides. In 1979, the original club was no more and Traildusters Horse Club came into being. The gymkhanas were held on a ball diamond across from the complex. Fundraising was a standard and in the fall of 1979 one dance was attended by the film crew of the ‘Silence of the North’. In 1981, the club was able to get land above the community complex where rodeos are still held today.
Even today horses are a big part of life in our community. Gymkhanas are hosted on a regular basis, horse clinics are held at the arena, there is even a hitching post at the restaurant. If you are on some of the back roads at the right time you may even run into a cattle drive. Our neighbors in Athabasca however . . .