Cloverleaf Stables Equestrian Center

07/15/2024

Great show this weekend! We will see you all in September!

06/12/2024

The Bellmaster & Carly Johnston

05/26/2024

Wishing Archie a very Happy Birthday! 🥳

04/28/2024

Great start to the 2024 show season!

06/01/2023

Cloverleaf Stables would like to congratulate Tasha Kalke Chambers on her purchase of Arrowhead’s Special Delivery. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you and FedEx!

05/07/2023

If we watch little kids ride, unless they are on some tough pony that scares them, most of them are having fun. They are not tense, anxious and tight, not annoyed or angry because the pony “is being bad,” not full of grim determination to be perfect.

They laugh, they are limber and elastic, they are in a good place both physically and emotionally.

So what happens as the years go by to change that free elasticity we see in very young riders into the tension and earnest concentration and exasperation and nervousness that we so often see in adult riders?

Lots of reasons, probably, no one thing---

Competition makes many humans go from happy riders to fierce riders, they want it so intensely that it drives them a little bit crazy with obsession. That’s a big one.

Loss of physical fitness is another. As people get older, maybe have kids of their own, become stuck in sedentary jobs and life styles, they lose that easy strength and agility that made them comfortable on the moving horse.

Caring what other people think can lead to all sorts of tension. Tension is the opposite of what makes good riding.

Having a horse that is “too much horse,” and being unwilling to change, that will be another big piece to suck the joy out of riding.

So many factors conspire to make adult riders feel less than relaxed and happy on horses the way that young kids so often seem. Horse magazines celebrate winners to the point that not winning can begin to feel like inadequacy. Some riding coaches yell and scream like boot camp drill instructors---Now that’s relaxing---People self-judge negatively, another major downer.

It IS possible to regain much of that easy happiness that we felt as little kids, but in order to get there it might mean figuring out why it’s become less fun, and getting rid of those burdens.

Riding, when it’s right, should feel both physically and emotionally “comfortable,” to both the rider and the horse. If that isn’t what we are feeling, and we want it back, try to decide what most needs to change.

05/07/2023

Thanks to all the wonderful people who helped us evacuate all the horses, ponies and goats last night! That fire was too close for comfort!
We had so much help so fast and we truly appreciated the support. Our horses were spread out over five places, Tomanek Farms, Tamarac Ranch, Kozy Stables, Spoons Arabians and Keljado Stables. Thanks to Catriona and Garth Kozijin, Leanne Tomanek, Clive and Connie McNichol, Sandra Sanche, Michaela Taylor, David Gillen, Kevin and Lea Johnson, and several people whose names I didn’t catch ( it was quite a blur!) for showing up with their trailers to lend a hand, hauling horses, loading horses and wrangling the broodmares, yearlings, goats and ponies! We were able to sleep last night because of all your selfless support.
Absolutely can’t forget our wonderful staff for their amazing effort going above and beyond the call of duty! Miguel (aka Junior), as always, was right in their like each one of those horses was his own. We never have to ask, he is always there in the thick of things helping immensely. Ethan showed up without being asked when he heard about the fire.
Both our kids were unable to be there to help and it stressed them out to no end! We thank them for their “tech support”!
Our clients were excellent, never for a moment doubting our decisions, letting us run with it and being totally supportive! We had so many offers of places to stay.
We got all the animals home today and everyone has settled back down!
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you everyone for your amazing support!

04/22/2023

Paisley McLenehan, Paige Stortz and Archie. Getting ready for Walk and Trot.

01/07/2023

Yahoo, Our on line 50/50 Raffle for the American Saddlebred Horse Association of Alberta has just gone live! Last years draw was a success and we expect this year to be even better! Get your tickets now!

Join thousands of community organizations - big and small - who raise more funds for their worthy causes with Rafflebox.

03/09/2021

Looking for a fast and easy way to donate to our association AND get those bottles in the garage taken care of?

Use the app to setup your bottle collection date and select to donate to our organization! All bottles collected will give our association 70% of the total! Skip the depot comes right to your door for collection and there services are all over Alberta!

All donations are greatly appreciated and will help continue to promote our breed and host horse shows.

02/23/2021

Like a Boss

Photographer:

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01/27/2021

We are very excited to introduce our new stallion “Officer and a Gentleman” aka Zeus!

Zeus comes from a long line of World Champions and his two full siblings have already claimed prestigious titles as well. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this guy!

01/17/2021

Thank you to everyone who shared the poster of Molly and to those who came out to help us search. This morning we were able to locate Molly and we are sad to say that Molly has passed. We are heartbroken but find a little comfort in being able to bring her home to rest.

12/18/2020

Since we could not host our annual christmas party this weeked we thought we would give you a little holiday cheer!

09/14/2020

Love these great photos taken by Amanda Ubell at the Region 17 horse show this weekend!
Driving photo Royalcrest’s Rockin Ringo and Stacey Thorp.
Riding photo Hell on High Heels and Leslie Hurst
We had a great show with the Arabians! Thanks for having us!

07/28/2020

06/11/2020

The Proposed Multi-use Ag Facility for Strathcona County is in jeoprady!
Please contact your councillor if you live in Strathcona County and the Mayor of Strathcona County ([email protected]) if you don't and implore them to vote to keep going with Multi Purpose Ag Facility in Strathcona County. If you live in an urban area please reiterate that many urban people want this facility to go ahead, its not just for the rural people! We really need this facility in Strathcona County! Please send an email ASAP before this meeting next Tuesday June 16th! We need the support for this facility! Please help us out! There is a sample letter you can use at the end of this post!

Archie Hurst

From: Gary Millar
Sent: June 10, 2020 1:21 PM
To: [email protected] ; Aubrie Henry ; David Schneider
Subject: New developments

FYI, I received a call from Jacquie Fenske last night, who received a call from Councillor Paul Smith, wanting to push hard in Sherwood Park to get residents to email or write their Councillor and encourage them to vote in favour of continuing the Event Centre project.

I sent the following email out to Jacquie and a few people I know in Sherwood Park. Please circulate to your contact list … particularly the Sherwood Park residents.

Attached is an information sheet about the Multi Purpose Ag event Centre. As you may have heard, the mayor wants to shut the whole thing down. Several Sherwood Park Councillors are either for shutting it down or on the fence. We need to reach out to these councillors and the mayor.

The fact of the matter is county staff have not done a good job of managing this build and the lack of factual information has been a cause for concern for many residents. On June 16 I will be doing a presentation to the Priorities Committee (which is the councillors) and providing them with the facts and details about the project they likely haven’t heard before from county staff. I am presenting on behalf of 4 members of the Advisory Committee and of the horse and cattle community in Strathcona County. All four Advisory Committee members are experienced exhibitors in the livestock industry and are very knowledgeable about how to develop a functional Multi Purpose Ag Event Centre that will attract Ag exhibitors from Northern and Central Alberta and at the same time will be available to all county residents to utilize at a price they can afford.

This presentation is to encourage councillors to vote in favour of continuing the construction of the Event Centre now. As well, it will provide council with important facts and information about the Event Centre, its operations and future realistic opportunities. The fake news that this is a “$90 million horse palace” (a letter to the editor, with no rebuttal or information sharing from the county) has residents concerned. The presentation will clarify that as “fake news” and demonstrate this facility can and will be a huge benefit to our county and provide great economic diversification … new money will come into our local economy.

Please share this information far and wide, particularly with Sherwood Park residents. Include the Information sheet and encourage people to email their councillor and mayor ([email protected]). Request they vote in favour of this Event Centre and to an amazing future in our county because of it.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Gary

SAMPLE LETTER
June 2, 2020
First and last name
Address

Dear Mayor Rod Frank,
2001 Sherwood Drive
Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3W7

My name is ?????????? and I am writing to you today about the Multi-Purpose Agricultural Facility. I have lived in the Community for ??? years and have seen this Community grow over the years.
The proposed Facility would be a great asset to the County bringing boosting tourism and bringing money in to Community. (there was a great article in the Sherwood park paper that you could reference from May 26, 2020 on tourism requiring a boost in the County written by Lindsay Morey and titled ‘Tourism survey highlights county’s highs and lows’https://www.sherwoodparknews.com/news/local-news/tourism-survey-highlights-countys-highs-and-lows )

Or I think the Facility would be a great asset to the Community because …….

Or I support the construction of the Facility because ……..

I have a particular interest in this Facility because …..
Points to possibly cover:
- size required
- economic sense
- learning facility
- if you would use the Facility for an event how many people typically would come and for how many days would people be spending money in the County
Basically anything that you feel will help the Mayor understand why this facility is important to you and the Community.

Should you wish to contact me directly I can be reached at ….

In closing I am in support of this Facility being built at a Regional level size for the reasons I have stated above.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe
Phone number
Email address

A plan to tackle Strathcona County’s tourism challenges and priorities presses forward.In late April, Strathcona County council was provided an update regarding the third phase to create…

06/11/2020

The Multi Purpose
Agricultural Event Centre
in Strathcona County
Why it MUST proceed NOW!
•
Current facts...
The future of Edmonton Northlands appears to be uncertain. They have been the sole producer of major Ag events in Edmonton. This creates huge opportunities for the ...
Strathcona Agricultural Event Centre (SAEC).
• This is larger than Strathcona County . Surrounding MDs are anxiously waiting for this facility. It would be the ONLY
Ag Event facility in the Edmonton Region. A comment from the CAO of MD Greenview,
Denise Thompson, is that this facility will serve their residents and Ag Industry as well. If we build it, they will come. Other MDs are likely feeling the same. They are watching what we are doing.
•
Economic Diversification .... Jobsand new dollars.
The jobs created by the construction of this facility
and the jobs created in the service sector of the County will be huge. With the interest from the Edmonton region, many people will be coming from out of town to attend events in our county. Hotel rooms will be filled, restaurants booked and the whole service sector will become bustling and strong.
Strathcona County will be a solid leader in the economic turnaround.And, this will be new money coming in to our
community. Agricultural events will attract new people and new money to our community.
-
case in point
–
Ponoka.
The residents and politicians were highly skeptical when the decision was made to build the Calnash Centre. The town was dying and it seemed like they were going to throw good money after bad to build this facility that would be focused on, primarily, the horse and cattle industries. Today, the Calnash Centre in Ponoka is fully booked 48 weeks a year. The other 4 weeks are due to holidays, take down and preparation time for upcoming events. The management at the Calnash Centre
feel their facility contributes,conservatively, $10,000,000.00 per year to the local economy Prior to the Calnash Centre opening, Ponoka was a dying community. The facility helped re-vitalize the town.
-
Horse shows at Ponoka are booked 30 week
ends per year, each generating revenues of approx. $25,000
per weekend.
-
There were 7 cattle production sales held last year at the Calnash Centre, attracting international buyers into the town.
•
Events at the SAEC will offer, both economic diversification
(generating revenue) and diversification in presentation
(something for everyone).
-
some events currently under consideration ...
• horse shows
• cattle shows
• swine shows
• Fibre & Goat shows
• alpaca shows
• rabbit shows
• pigeon and fancy bird shows
• ranch rodeos
• 4H events
-
Strathcona County Fair ...this could / would feature several days of agricultural displays, demonstrations and livestock shows. This Fair could / would attract both rural and
Sherwood Park residents, as well as a huge population of out of town exhibitors and spectators. As well, cattle buyers come
from all over the world to buy cattle being shown at these types shows if properly planned and organized.
•
Educational events Northlands has discontinued hosting a very successful event called Amazing Ag. This eventwould be a perfect fit for our
facility. Northlands only included grade four students... a 3 day
event which attracted many different segments of the Ag community to teach the students about Agriculture. Imagine if we included several grades for a similar event in SMPA.. the facility could be in use for a whole month (or two) catering to EIPS and EICS students, during the weekday.
• Other concepts that could work along side the actual
facility include Community gardens and Urban Garden
s. In Northlands, the Urban Gardens, school students come in for field trips, book clubs use it for gatherings, poetry readings etc...
imaginationis the limit.
-
Ag Smart activity for farmers , that would include Crop plots where small plots of land are used to demonstrate land management, new innovations in seed research, pesticides, fertilizers etc. Speakers and trade shows accompany such events. (check agsmartolds.ca)
-
Bee keeping ... educating and informing the public about the importance of bees in our community.
-
trade shows, Christmas Markets, Farmers Markets, Dog shows, Dog Agility Shows ... and much more

Keys to Success
•
strong construction, marketing and operational expertise, provided by a knowledgeable and experienced team in Ag Event Management ie Ag Event Management Specialists with
County staff working in a support role.
• utilizing the experience of our marketing and operations event staff to develop relationships in the Ag world and community.
-add value to every exhibitors, advertisers and spectators
experience The management team is highly service oriented.
•
Self Hosting.. we host (the team), organize and run many of these events. Many organizations do not have the administrative people or the volunteers to work their events. When the SAEC team
takes on that role it makes it easy to attract groups to come and participate.
The revenue possibilities can far surpass those of just renting out the facility.
-
Strathcona County residents and workers can be / should be
ambassadors for the Event Centre and major events coming to SAEC Support from the whole community would create an amazing experience for visitors to our community. Can you imagine walking into a restaurant and being asked if you are planning
on attending the big weekend event at the Event Centre ... it can happen. This Event Centre will benefit the whole community. Sherwood Park residents can and will be ab
le to attend most events, free of charge, and have the opportunity to touch and feel as they become immersed,
learn about and become engaged in the world of Agricultural. This is an event Centre all county residents will be proud of.
County Council needs to vote YES to continue to build and develop this Agricultural Event Centre TODAY!