SUBMITTED BY THE GULF ISLANDS HORSE ASSOCIATION
The Gulf Islands Horse Association (GIHA) is a non-profit organization based on Salt Spring Island, committed to supporting the local equestrian community and maintaining the public riding arena in Mouat Park next to the Farmers’ Institute property.
The goal of GIHA is to provide the Salt Spring Island horse community with a well-maintained riding space and to foster connections within our community. It is easy to become a member — visit our website for more information at giha.ca.
GIHA proudly hosts the annual Horse Show at the Fall Fair and provides an inclusive, welcoming space for riders of all ages and skill levels. GIHA members are invited to use the arena for training, lessons, practice or simply enjoying time with their horses.
GIHA is powered entirely by the dedication of volunteers and the generous support of sponsors. We are especially grateful to Horse Council British Columbia (HCBC), one of our major contributors, for awarding us a generous grant this year to support our operations.
One of the ongoing challenges we face is maintaining the arena footing to keep it in the best condition for its users. Thanks to HCBC’s donation, we were able to purchase a lawn mower that helps us maintain the surrounding grass areas and harrow the footing. This has significantly improved the usability and preservation of the arena, benefiting all equestrians in our community.
Many additional thanks to all of the local businesses and other donors who generously support our organization. We look forward to seeing our local arena continue to improve and be used and celebrated by community members.