We hope that you have enjoyed getting familiar with our club thru our website and are ready to join!

Please review the bylaws and fill out an application on the links below. 

Once completed, bring your application and membership fee of $35 to our next meeting. 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR BY-LAWS PDF

CLICK HERE FOR AN APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP: Coming Soon

FOR MORE INFORMATION info@mechanicsvilleridingclub.net

 

HISTORY OF THE MECHANICSVILLE RIDING CLUB
In 1969, when Mechanicsville was still considered a small community, there existed on Atlee Road a very large pasture. It was located where the Mechanicsville Elementary School and the large housing development next to the school now stands. The pasture was owned by Frank Bradley Sr. who kept some of his cattle herd there for many years. By 1969, though, he began allowing individuals to board their horses there. As the number of boarders grew, some problems began to surface. While most of the boarders paid for their rent and properly cared for their animals, there were a few that did not. Some of the boarders got together and went to Mr. Bradley and asked if they could establish some rules and guidelines for all that boarded there to follow. They also agreed to collect and deliver rent from all the boarders each month. Mr. Bradley agreed and that started the small riding club from Bradley’s Pasture. As time went on, more and more horse owners in the area would get together in the pasture and go on trail rides, have cookouts, etc. In those days, trails existed from the pasture to Ellerson, and from there many trails went down by the railroad tracks onto land where the Richfood Warehouses and other business are now built. Saturdays and Sundays were usually spent with horse owners congregating at the pasture and going on extensive trail rides. Also, there was a big interest in participating in local parades.  By May 1970, the small club from the pasture opened their membership to anyone in the area with an interest in horses. Thus, the Mechanicsville Riding Club came to be.

Probably, one of the first official functions of the Club was to ride in the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Parade held annually in Mechanicsville. The matter was not to be taken lightly. Prior to the parades that were entered, the Club would get together in the pasture and practice proper formation, etc.

Since the Club was growing, monthly meetings with guest speakers and programs were held at The Mechanicsville Recreation Center. Then it was decided that an annual banquet would be appropriate to install the officers. So that was also added and held in May.

Then someone thought it would be nice to have a horse show and perhaps raise a little money. Frank Bradley, Jr., who owned “The Cactus Corral”, a show ring located on Meadowbridge Road, agreed to let the Club use it for its first show. The show was a huge success, with most of the participants themselves being Club members. This led to many more successful shows. So many, in fact, that the Club began awarding cumulative year end trophies to participants in all categories. There were also so many junior members in our Club that were showing, year end trophies for Junior Members were also added.

Then, one of the members thought perhaps a monthly newsletter to keep the membership aware of the various activities would be a nice addition. Hence, the “Hitching Post” was born.

 

So many of Club members enjoyed going to dances, it was decided that the Club would sponsor a dance to raise money. This was held at the Mechanicsville Recreation Center and was a success and led to many more through the years.

By 1975, the Club was beginning to become well known in the community for its many activities. An annual trip to Graves Mountain Lodge had been added to the list and several horse shows were being held during the year including a fun show at the end of the show season in October. Also, at least two dances were being held during the year. That was the year that our first completed by-laws were instituted. In addition, our then treasurer, William (Bill) Beck, set up the treasurer’s books, which are still being used today.

In 1976, with a little money beginning to accumulate in the Club bank account, it was decided to incorporate into a nonprofit organization. The proper paperwork was completed and the Club officially became incorporated on September 9, 1976. Also, by now the installation banquet was changed to Christmas/ installation and awards banquet, and the month was changed from May to December.

By l981, the Club had out grown the show grounds at the Cactus Corral. The parking was no longer ample to accommodate all the participants. It was then that the Club moved its shows to Johnnie and Mary Alyce Hobson’s Lakeview Farms. There the shows continued to be held well into the mid ‘90s. For several years 4 to 5 shows were held each Season. In 1985, 10 shows were held by the Club at Lakeview. 4 were English; 5 Western; and a fun show in October.

Perhaps one of the biggest undertakings of the Club was a “ride-along” which took place on November 18, 1976. It was a fun raiser sponsored by the Mechanicsville Riding Club to help replace a fire truck that the Mechanicsville Fire Department lost in an accident while responding to a call in August of that year. Ninety participants, riding all kinds of motorized and non-motorized modes of transportation participated. The ride started at Lee-Davis High School and traveled through various residential areas and the Mechanicsville business district and ended at Mechanicsville Elementary School. Participants in the ride included state senators, some of Hanover’s board of supervisors, and our then Lt. Governor, Charles Robb. The Club raised over $7,000 in donations and pledges.

By now the Club had many junior members. Since there were so many active juniors, they were allowed to have their own little club within the Club. Each year an adult was chosen to act as their junior advisor. The junior club included those members 11 to 18 years of age. They had their own money making projects, such as sponsoring the bake sales at our horse shows. They also had supervised campouts, etc. In 1980, they even sponsored a Teenage Dance at the Mechanicsville Recreation Center with a DJ from a local radio station (Q94). At the end of the year, they voted to give a percentage of their profit back to the Club. The adult Club also awarded a junior sportsmanship award each year. The recipient was a junior member selected by ballot by the junior club.

The junior members (11 and under) were always also included in the activities of the Club. Though the years there have been many Easter Egg Hunts and parties, Halloween outings, and Santa visits.

Other highlights for the Club through the years included overnight bus trips to Charleston, WV, to the racetrack; several rummage sales (as they were called then), one alone brought in over $800. Horse clinics have also been sponsored. The Club even had a “pig picking” one year.

The MRC has won many trophies through the years for participating in parades. The Club has also donated generously to many organizations and individuals in need.  MRC has always tried to be as family oriented in its activities as possible and has through the years tried to evolve with the times.

Helen Blackwell
Club Historian