The New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society is to hold its fourth annual Fall Shed Row Market on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30 at the High Point Equestrian Centre and Clubhouse in Langley.
Here, shoppers will be able to select from a wide assortment of locally-made goods, from organic vegetables and artisan cheese to handmade jewelry, art and home décor and funky sweaters, while supporting the housing, rehabilitation and training of retired thoroughbred racehorses.
A $2 admission fee will go directly to support New Stride, and vendors have donated items to create a collection of delightful raffle prizes.
The harvest-themed market, which is named for a row or double row of horse barns with individual stalls facing a walkway commonly found at the racetrack, was launched in 2009 at Barb Beaton’s Fields & Flowers Farm in Langley.
The intent was to honour her thoroughbred stallion Musing, a former racehorse which became a noted sire of hunters and jumpers in his career after the track.
Beaton also wanted to raise funds and generate awareness for the New Stride organization.
After three banner years at her Fields & Flowers Farm in Langley, Beaton decided that the event was more than ready to stretch out.
“We simply couldn’t accommodate the number of visitors or the requests for vendor stalls on our working farm, and High Point is the perfect venue to facilitate this marvelous growth,” she said.
“The community has made this event a huge success and contributed greatly to our program year after year,” said New Stride president Marcy Emery.
“And by community, I mean horse people, art lovers and just passersby, not to mention our vendors who give to the horses too. Everyone who’s come in to the Market has contributed significantly to the work of New Stride.”
This year’s market will be held at the High Point Equestrian Centre and Clubhouse at 658 - 200 Street, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
Beaton and Onno of Fields & Flowers are especially delighted that guests will enjoy ample parking on High Point’s spacious grounds.
“This has been an amazing year for New Stride,” said Emery.
“We are not only celebrating our 10th anniversary, but we’ve already adopted 12 horses this year — a record number for us. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with the community through this event, and to raise awareness of the work we do.”
Founded in 2002, the New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society facilitates adoption, care and retraining for non-competitive and injured thoroughbreds. Staffed by volunteers, New Stride facilitates both an adoption program for recently retired racehorses and a sponsorship program for horse lovers who cannot take on the care of a retired racehorse, but would like to support one of these beautiful animals in their new life.
More information about the society and horses available for sponsorship or adoption can be found by visiting www.newstride.com.
Visit www.theshedrowmarket.com for more details about the program, and vendors at the Shed Row Market.