Plymouth’s Rapid Growth Challenges Silver Buckle Saddle Club
Along County Road 47 in Plymouth, you can see signs of the city’s changing landscape. Brand new homes are on display for potential buyers, and other properties are in various stages of construction.
But tucked between the new developments sits the home of the Silver Buckle Saddle Club.
“We’ve been in Plymouth for 40 years. This is where our home is,” said Annie Mickelson, a member of the Silver Buckle Saddle Club.
Mickelson has been coming here for 16 years to ride, practice, and compete in horse shows.
“It’s fun to see how well you do at each show and then also to compete against your friends and have each other to cheer you on and support you,” she said. “So part of our club is just a big support system, so we all know each other, we know each other’s horses.”
The members consider this 11-acre site as their own little community.
“The horse world is big, but small,” said Rachel Veschio, another member. “So everyone kind of knows each other. It’s a great community to be a part of.”
Silver Buckle Saddle Club Tackling Challenges Head-On
Membership to this community has its benefits. Aside from the friends and memories made here, the members also own the property.
“It’s silver-buckle owned,” Mickelson said. “The not-for-profit owns this place, and we all are able to come in ride because we are members.”
However, ownership also brings a certain set of challenges. They’re responsible for paying the property tax, which has skyrocketed to more than $9,400, thanks to the surrounding development and higher market value on the property.
“It’s been really frustrating,” said Kirstin Whitmore, another member. “We have to work really hard to raise money and we have to focus a lot more on that than having fun and enjoying it.”
To help pay that bill, they’ve secured several sponsors who’ve placed signs on their property. But the hope is that they’ll get more people to come out to horse shows, and help support their fundraising efforts to keep the club alive.
“There’s so many memories. It has a big sentimental attachment to us, too,” Veschio said.
The club is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, May 26, featuring a horse show and silent auction. For more information, go to https://www.silverbucklesaddleclub.com/horse-shows
