When the Horsey Ladies get together for the holidays, they are guaranteed plenty of laughter, delicious food and a lot of money raised for a worthwhile cause.
The 19th Annual Horsey Ladies Charity Auction & Banquet was held Nov. 18 at Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club.
“We sold out in a record three weeks this year, with a waiting list,” said committee member Nancy Roman, adding that 132 horsey ladies attended from all over the interior.
More than 100 donated items were on the auction tables, with all proceeds going to a local charity that the ladies vote on this same evening.
This year’s committee also included Ruby Edwards, Elspeth Manning, Michele Gould, Amy Vaughan, Sheila Sperling, Patti Thomas, Sly Keyes, Donna McNab, Kathy Woodward, Mary Relkov and Holly Wood.
The public does need to be reminded that this fundraising group of “Horsey Ladies” is neither a club nor a society, there is no bank account or board of directors; they are just a bunch of gals that get together each year to celebrate their love of horses. Anyone can buy a ticket and attend – whether they have a horse or not.
“This year we raised just over $8,000, and the top two vote-getters were BC SPCA Cruelty Investigations Department, and Pipsqueak Paddocks, a rescue for miniature horses,” said Roman. “We never know who will win the money; it’s a surprise for everyone in the room.
“A few years back, our friend and committee member Cheryle Hickman moved up to the Bridge Lake area of the Cariboo and has been hosting a Horsey Ladies fundraising event there for six years. Between the two events over the years, Horsey Ladies have just tipped the $100,000-plus mark in donations!”
See Facebook page, Horsey Ladies Okanagan, for a list of sponsors, photos and the history on how it all began.