by Julie Smith
The Whitemud Equine Learning Centre (WELC), located alongside the river in the heart of Edmonton, is one of Alberta’s most unique boarding and lesson facilities.
Besides its location mere minutes from the downtown core, WELC is also a not-for-profit organization. WELC has leased the land from the City of Edmonton since 1958, which is protected from development by the City’s “Ribbon of Green” park initiative.
The facility consists of three barns, an indoor riding arena, three outdoor sand rings, two grass show rings, and numerous pastures. It is a spacious operation, but several shortcomings are limiting the expansion that administrator Mari-Lyn Hudson would like to see.
The facility is approaching 30 years old and is beginning to look less crisp than it did in its younger years. And at maximum capacity with 80 horses on the premises, the sole indoor riding arena is becoming too small to accommodate the needs of both the lesson-takers and boarders.
To remedy these problems, WELC is embarking upon an $18-million fundraising project to build a brand new 80-stall barn and one massive indoor riding arena, which can be subdivided into four smaller arenas. “We are hoping to begin construction within the next couple of years,” Hudson said.
Until then, WELC will continue to host a wide array of equine activities. The stable has a constant waitlist of potential boarders, attracted to WELC because of its extremely short commute time and proximity to the trails that wind through the river valley.
Riders have to share the trails with cyclists, joggers, and people walking their dogs, but it is a small price to pay for such a beautiful place to ride. “It’s a great bomb-proofing method,” one boarder joked. “Your horse really gets used to people in neon outfits whizzing out from around corners.”
Another growing endeavour is the WELC Horsemanship program, which offers riding lessons for people aged 6 to 65. Sessions run from September to June, and range from Beginner to Level 6.
The goal of the program is “to provide each student with the knowledge and skill to handle a horse safely on the ground and in the saddle,” and students may ride English or Western. During the summer, the City of Edmonton also operates a daily riding camp.
Due to its nature as a not-for-profit, WELC has formed partnerships with a number of other organizations. One of its most long-standing and successful partnerships is with the Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Association, a non-for-profit that “offers persons with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the therapeutic and recreational benefits of horseback riding.”
Little Bits uses WELC lesson horses and holds weekly riding sessions at the facility, providing over 125 people a year the opportunity to benefit from riding. By the way, they are always looking for volunteers to act as horse leaders, side-walkers, and grooms.
WELC has also formed a partnership with Longriders, a company that operates trail riding out of the WELC premises between April and October. Popular with visitors to Edmonton, riders relax in the river valley and get to see the city from the back of a horse. During the snowy winter months, Longriders offers hayrides.
WELC hosts a 4-H program for young horse enthusiasts, and allows the Whitemud Pony Club to operate out of the sand rings. In addition, WELC serves as host for numerous show jumping and dressage competitions throughout the year, which take place in the grass and grand-prix arenas adjacent to the main facility. Please visit www.whitemudequine.org for upcoming events.
Anyone interested in boarding, lessons, hayrides, volunteering, or more can visit their website (as noted above), or contact the main office at (780) 435-3597.
