Since 1945, A Unique Horse Community Still Supports Bridle Trails

Today, the Lake Washington Saddle Club (LWSC), holds events dedicated to horsemanship education in a nurturing and fun environment. Equestrians of all ages are members of the Club. Some members live adjacent to Bridle Trails State Park and others now come from all over Washington. This community of equestrians is unique in that it helps maintain and preserve Bridle Trails State Park. Even the logo reflects their stewardship of the Park with a fern representing the mane of the horse.

When asked to describe the Saddle Club, the most common words used by members are: educational, welcoming, friendly. Many equestrians got their start at the Saddle Club schooling shows.

Member, Caitlyn Dwyer writes: “My first out-of-the-barn horse show was at Bridle Trails at a LWSC hunter/jumper fun show in the 90's. We had a blast hanging out with our horses all day long. I couldn't have asked for a better environment to grow up in. It [the Saddle Club] is important to me because a down-to-earth, community-based equestrian entity is necessary in an area [where it can seem] that horses are out of reach."

Though most events have been canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, the Lake Washington Saddle Club found ways support the community and celebrate its 75th Year Anniversary.

75 Years of advocating and protecting Bridle Trails State Park

The Club has a long history of helping to protect and preserve Bridle Trails State Park:

1945 - The Lake Washington Saddle Club formed and seeks protection of Bridle Trails as an equestrian park.

1946 - 70 Club members were part of a mounted patrol during hunting season

1948 - During the planning on Interstate I-405, one of the proposals had an alternate route through the Park. The Saddle Club spearheaded a campaign to ensure that the Bridle Trails State Park was left intact.

1963 - The Club advocated for Bridle Trails to be a State Park and protected for equestrian use.

1964 - 14 Club members were deputized by the County Sheriff to Patrol the Park.

2002 - Members of the Club founded the Bridle Trails Park Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to help maintain and enhance Bridle Trails State Park’s unique role as a rare public venue in an urban area, where both horses and people can connect with each other and nature.

Community Outreach

The Saddle Club reached out to the community during the pandemic and helped out where possible.

With Governor Inslee’s Stay Home Stay Safe order, the Saddle Club stepped up to help horse owners by donating funds to the Hay Bank created by Save a Forgotten Equine to help purchase feed for horse owners impacted.

At Bridle Trails State Park, a few neighbors and members volunteered to weed the round pen and put down new footing purchased by the Saddle Club located on the eastside of the Park. Anyone can set up their own volunteer/stewardship event by going onto the Bridle Trails Park Foundation website. In partnership with the State and the Bridle Trails Park Foundation, the Saddle Club continues to contribute to maintenance of the Park including the Senior Park Aide to help the Ranger and the purchase of mounting blocks that have been installed alongside benches on the Trillium Trail.

There is also annual college scholarship available in the amount of $1,000 that is awarded to candidates applying for degrees in equine, environmental or forestry studies. You need not be a member of the Club to apply for the scholarship.

75th Year Anniversary Activities

To celebrate it’s 75th Anniversary, the LWSC Board created COVID safe events that were virtual or could be done with safely with social distancing in mind:

A virtual walk down memory lane. On social media, pictures cataloged by Jim Erckmann from scrapbooks that went all the way back to 1945 were shared. From the letter that started it all to a horse named “Valiant Lady” that was raffled off to help build a War Memorial in downtown Bellevue. You can view all the posters at: 75th Anniversary Photos Showcase History

Self-guided trail rides and take a selfie to win a prize. A 75th Anniversary banner at the showgrounds was hung by the Warm Up arena and history posters were posted on the Trillium trail. Both walkers and riders could snap a photo of themselves with a sign to win gift certificates to their favorite local equine shops. All the posters can be viewed here.

Annual Holiday Ride. Another well loved event is Christmas Caroling on Horseback. Saddle Club riders stop at neighborhood homes and at the Bridle Trails Shopping Center to sing Christmas carols. Unfortunately, Christmas caroling on horseback will not happen in 2020. However, the horses and riders will be out to help celebrate once it is safe to gather again.

If you visit Bridle Trails State Park on foot, here are some helpful safety tips. When encountering horse and rider, communication is key. Horses like people and want to know that you are not a predator. Stopping and talking to the rider is the best way to share the trails.

To get involved or learn more about LWSC, visit their website at: Lake Washington Saddle Club