NWA Riding Club will kick off rodeo season on Saturday

— Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages will saddle up to compete at the NWA Riding Club play-day rodeo event this weekend.

The club, now in its eighth year, is set to hold a seasonopener event starting at 6p.m., April 7, at the Luca Don Equestrian Center, west of Gentry. Horse lovers of all ages will get a chance to compete in Western pleasure, pole bending, flag races, barrel races and speed races.

The NWA Riding Club holds bi-weekly play-day rodeo events from April through November, as well as trailrides, camp outs and other kid-friendly events throughout the year.

The club’s motto is “It’s all for the kids,” but it offers competitions for all ages. The club focuses on horsemanship education and safety, according to co-founder Vicky Graves. It also provides families with a fun, inexpensive and alcohol-free place to enjoy equine sports.

Tom and Vicky Graves founded the NWA Riding Club in 2005 to give their grandchildren a fun and safe place to ride horses and compete. The club was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2008 and has grown considerably over the years.

Club membership costs $60 per family, per year, and new members are welcomed. The membership cost covers entry fees to the play-day rodeo events. Day rates of $10 a night for individuals or $15 a night for families are also offered for those who just want to compete once in a while, but points will not beaccumulated towards yearend awards.

All horses are required to have current negative Coggins tests, and riders are required to sign liability waivers before competing.

For more information, visit www.nwaridingclub.org or contact Tom and Vicky Graves at 712-266-6427.

Sports, Pages 9 on 04/04/2012