MAPLE CREEK LIGHT HORSE SHOW: Appeal for volunteers as 95-year tradition on pause

Beautifully turned out: Top prospects were lined up outside of the High Chaparral Arena with their hip numbers clearly marked.

By Marcus Day

Maple Creek News

For about 40 years the Martin family has been at the heart of the Maple Creek Light Horse Show.

Now Ross & Connie Martin, and Roy are stepping away from the two-day event, leaving a hole in the organizing committee.

Angie Eccleston, committee president, said that the show will not be held next year without an influx of new volunteers.

A motion to go on hiatus was passed at the committee’s annual meeting.

“It is unfortunate,” said Eccleston.

The hope is the bare-bones committee will have recovered by 2028 to continue a tradition that has been going 95 years.

“We definitely want to reach 100 years,” said Eccleston.

Anybody interested should contact the Maple Creek Light Horse Association through Facebook or contact Eccleston.

Connie told the News-Times that she had enjoyed her time with the horse show, which was part of her family history.

“My dad was part of it as well,” she said.

During her 40-plus years with the show, her role has included being an announcer, earning the gratitude of everyone involved, including contestants.

“I very much enjoyed it,” she said.

Over the August 15-16 weekend, Connie announced at the 95th edition of the show, which went ahead in uncertain weather. Recent rain meant Saturday’s performances were held in the drill hall, not the High Chaparral Arena.

Come Sunday, action transferred to the arena, which was deemed sufficiently dry.

Sixty to 70 participants competed, Forty-seven horses and 40 riders took part, from Pee Wees – 8 and under – to juniors and senior adults, with cash and ribbons at stake.

Among the Maple Creek riders were Brenda Gilchrist, Joy Gilchrist, Angie Eccleston, Aubrey Eccleston and Jennifer Eiserman.

There were also riders from Eastend – Sherry Wright and Raylin Bidaux.

As a member of Cypress Show Circuit and Saskatchewan Heritage Circuit Show, the event attracted competitors from many different places: Medicine Hat, Ponteix, Martensville, Swift Current, Leader, Avonlea, Kinley, Eastend, Biggar, Cypress County, Moose Jaw, Macklin, Kindersley, Dunmore, Bethune, and Robsart.

Eccleston said competitors even came from Prince Albert, about 545 kilometres from Maple Creek.

“That’s quite a way to travel.”

Among the classes were Halter and Showmanship, English Pleasure, English Equitation, Western Pleasure, and Costume.

The judge was Gloria Bell, and the trail judge was Roy Martin.

Sunday featured a gymkhana, which included barrels, poles, keyhole, egg and spoon race, sack race, and potato race. The categories were adults, juniors, and pee wee.