![Melanie Holmes, former Blackwater Saddle Club member, rides Toby during a club event. [Special to the Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-498783e6-9ac1-75eb-e053-0100007f4706-2ffa82dd.jpeg)
Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on Santa Rosa County nonprofit organizations that improve our quality of life.
MILTON — The Blackwater Saddle Club is a family-oriented organization for those learning to ride horses and develop their skills in a supportive environment, according to President Kyle Holley.
“Everything we do is based on servicing the young rider, whether that is young in age or new to horse riding,” Holley said.
The club aims to have events where youths can bring their horses, develop themselves as riders and develop their horses in an arena setting, Holley said.
To this end, the club has monthly exhibitions at the June Ates Arena, 8600 Bobby Brown Road in Milton.
“The show starts around noon. Most of the events are speed-driven events. We also have started an open barrel racing series that we have added to the show's schedule,” Holley said. Barrel racing involves a horse and rider attempting to ride in a cloverleaf pattern around barrels in the fastest time.
“The idea there is to bring in some better-quality riders so that the younger riders can learn from watching. They’re setting up role models,” he said.
Membership is open to both those who are first-time horse owners and those who don’t own a horse.
The club has classes for different age groups and experience levels. Regardless of the class, for safety, the club will not pair an inexperienced rider with an inexperienced horse.
In addition to learning how to ride, members learn how to operate in an arena setting.
“The kids who participate, they learn the system of the horse show, the etiquette of a horse show, the rules of the arena. They learn how to handle their horse in and around other horses. It’s very different from the backyard,” Holley said.
While the organization teaches horsemanship, it goes deeper, according to Holley.
“Overall, what we're doing is developing the character of young people and sportsmanship,” Holley said. “Not everybody gets a ribbon or a prize. You have to work for it.”
At the same time, the club encourages riders to support one another.
“Everybody is treated with respect and encouraged. We expect participants to cheer for each other and help each other outside of the pen,” Holley said. “The format is competition but the goal is teamwork.”
Because Santa Rosa County has 14,000 horses, according to Holley, the club also started a public outreach event called Seafood and Saddles every September.
“It’s like a seafood festival but the entertainment is a horse-riding event,” Holley said.
Attendees can have seafood while watching high-end barrel racing and young people can ride horses with club volunteers leading them, according to Holley.
Call Executive Board Member Colleen Webber at 393-4926 or visit http://www.theblackwatersaddleclub.com/ or the Blackwater Saddle Club Facebook page for more information on the Blackwater Saddle Club. The cost to join the club is $20 annually.
Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on Santa Rosa County nonprofit organizations that improve our quality of life.
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: 'They're setting up role models'