On a cool Saturday and Sunday, the North Star Gaited Horse Club members got together at St. James Retreat for a trail ride through the woods.
“The colors were clear and vibrant,” said Carol Westphal, treasurer of the club. “In the woods, you don’t notice the wind.”
The club provides a friendly atmosphere for horse shows and recreational rides for its 75 members.
“We’re just a good group of people that enjoy being with each other and trail riding,” said Cap Wallrich, president.
North Star, which was started by Rita Mondus, promotes gaited horses. Mondus owns several Peruvian horses, which are known for their smooth ride.
“It’s a much more comfortable ride,” said Westphal, who owns a Peruvian.
However, any owners and their horses are welcome to join the club and its rides.
“We’ve got people from all over,” Wallrich said.
The club sponsors trail rides, training, clinics and seminars. Members participate in breed demonstrations, parades and horse shows. They go to the Carrie Damos Trail Ride, in memory of the woman who liked to ride and was killed by a drunken driver, in Langlade at the home of Clyde and Traci Kolpack. The money from raffles and auctions goes toward scholarships.
“They’re members of our club and we support them,” Wallrich said.
In April, members go to the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, where horse lovers participate in several educational activities and sometimes compete for awards.
“I enjoy the company and that we help people,” Westphal said. “People can get together with those who like the same things they do.”
The club gets funds from dues, and in February or March they have a white elephant sale. Westphal said it’s funny how some members become interested in a certain item, and the bids go very high.
“It’s one of our fun nights,” she said.
Other officers are Antionette Rentmeester, vice president, and Darryl Schneider, secretary. The club meets on the second Saturday of the month, usually at Anello’s Torch Lite or at a trail ride.
For more information, visit the club’s website (www.northstargaitedhorseclub.com) or call Wallrich at 715-526-2156.
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