History of the Island Riders Saddle Club (IRSC)
In 1960, a group of horse riders in the Pine Island area decided to form a saddle club which they named “Island Riders, Incorporated.” There had been a saddle club named Pine Island Saddle Club previously which had disbanded. A group of families including Nosers, Shelstads, Archers, Nesbitts, Bjugans, Hawkins, Jacksons, Hickeys, Smiths, Hawleys, Bartas, Hindals were among those who wanted fellowship, community involvement, and to hold events such as horse shows. Articles of Incorporation were signed on July 21, 1961, with by laws submitted and Bob Noser as the first president.
The newly formed saddle club initially met at the old Pine Island library and later at the Pine Island school. The first horse shows were held in a field near the Pine Island nursing home. Posts were put in the ground and a rope strung in a circle. After two years, the show moved to a field in what is now Fox Meadow. By 1965, more room for parking was needed. Club member Lorrie Finstuen was renting a pasture from the town veterinarian located in southwest of Pine Island on the river road so events were held there through 1969 when the land was sold. Two long-time members, Lorrie and Joe Pike, began searching for a new place for the club. They felt the 5+ acres owned by Darrel and Ruby Miller would work for the club and approached them about renting long term.
The club rented the land from 1970 through 1989 when a Land Committee was formed to negotiate a land purchase. During the almost 20 years that the Club rented the land, permission was given by the owners to make improvements. Members hauled lumber from the Cannon Falls Lumber Mill and had the posts drilled into the ground to form an arena. A food shack was built and shingled by members. Following the Rochester flood in 1979, members rode into the woods north of 75th Street and took porta potties down out of the trees (the company said they did not want them back and had already turned in insurance claims). After major sanitizing, they were set up at the arena grounds. A small pavilion was built. Tiling was done at the entrance to the arena to help drain away water.
A set-back came following the spring tornado in 1981. The tornado took down our buildings and damaged many of our members homes and farms. The club pulled together to help with clean-up initially and then spent days walking fields picking up truck loads of debris so farmers could plant their fields. Members then rebuilt at the club grounds.
During these rental years, the club held up to four horse shows a season, trail rides, Easter Egg Hunt, multiple fun days every year, dances, and for several years brought in calves and horses and held a rodeo for club members.
An incident in early May 1989 was the catalyst to form a Land Committee at the May 1989 saddle club meeting. The land owner had approached our club president, Dan Stussy, in town and demanded he pay the rent (which was not due until fall) right then and was stating he could sell the land to the highest bidder. At the May club meeting, the Land Committee (consisting of Bob Lindahl, Lorrie Finstuen, Joe Pike, Dale Hayward and Terry Leary) was selected and charged with negotiating the land purchase and brainstorming ideas to raise the purchase money. The owners accepted the committee members with the provision that these five members would remain consistent through the whole process. The committee met with the Millers 1-2 times a month from May till November listening to their proposals and countering with club proposals. On November 17, 1989, the Land Committee held a special meeting at the school (with 101 members attending) to discuss the four proposals put forth by the Millers. Counter proposals were voted on and taken back to the Millers for discussion. One proposal not accepted was that if the club dissolved or moved, the land would go back to the Millers for $1.00. Compromise was reached. The Millers or their heirs would have right of first refusal but would have to repay the purchase price. Another special meeting was held on December 9, 1989, for club members to vote again. The final proposals were accepted. Now there was a need to immediately raise $12,000.
In 1989, this was a lot of money for a club to raise. The club immediately made a down payment of $500. The idea of selling Lifetime and 10-year memberships was brought up. Five Lifetime and 16 ten-year memberships were sold, raising $6000 immediately to pay half the asking price. Terry Leary and Nancy Reber were authorized by the Club to approach the PI Bank for a loan, appraisal, required a $50 appraisal which was done, and the Millers paid for the land survey and title search. Terry Leary signed the bank note to enable the Club to get the loan.
The Club needed to raise the $6,000 to repay the note. A dance committee was formed and we held dances in both Pine Island and Rochester. We also did bake sales and raffles. The Memorial Day ride as well as our horse shows were used as fund raisers. For the next ten years, Island Riders Saddle Club was known for being welcoming and inclusive, encouraging new members, often with 50-60 members attending meetings and events. The Club repaid the bank loan in just over three years.
The Club has continued to add amenities, examples: extending the pavilion to the south (thanks to a generous donation by Charlotte Hindal in her husband Gary’s name), adding some tie lines, pouring a floor in the pavilion, painting, and re-shingling.
With over 60 years of history and still some original members in the club, the Island Riders Saddle Club has a rich history of stories, events, and memories. Members are welcome to share their memories, photos, and campfire stories to add to the Island Riders history.
The newly formed saddle club initially met at the old Pine Island library and later at the Pine Island school. The first horse shows were held in a field near the Pine Island nursing home. Posts were put in the ground and a rope strung in a circle. After two years, the show moved to a field in what is now Fox Meadow. By 1965, more room for parking was needed. Club member Lorrie Finstuen was renting a pasture from the town veterinarian located in southwest of Pine Island on the river road so events were held there through 1969 when the land was sold. Two long-time members, Lorrie and Joe Pike, began searching for a new place for the club. They felt the 5+ acres owned by Darrel and Ruby Miller would work for the club and approached them about renting long term.
The club rented the land from 1970 through 1989 when a Land Committee was formed to negotiate a land purchase. During the almost 20 years that the Club rented the land, permission was given by the owners to make improvements. Members hauled lumber from the Cannon Falls Lumber Mill and had the posts drilled into the ground to form an arena. A food shack was built and shingled by members. Following the Rochester flood in 1979, members rode into the woods north of 75th Street and took porta potties down out of the trees (the company said they did not want them back and had already turned in insurance claims). After major sanitizing, they were set up at the arena grounds. A small pavilion was built. Tiling was done at the entrance to the arena to help drain away water.
A set-back came following the spring tornado in 1981. The tornado took down our buildings and damaged many of our members homes and farms. The club pulled together to help with clean-up initially and then spent days walking fields picking up truck loads of debris so farmers could plant their fields. Members then rebuilt at the club grounds.
During these rental years, the club held up to four horse shows a season, trail rides, Easter Egg Hunt, multiple fun days every year, dances, and for several years brought in calves and horses and held a rodeo for club members.
An incident in early May 1989 was the catalyst to form a Land Committee at the May 1989 saddle club meeting. The land owner had approached our club president, Dan Stussy, in town and demanded he pay the rent (which was not due until fall) right then and was stating he could sell the land to the highest bidder. At the May club meeting, the Land Committee (consisting of Bob Lindahl, Lorrie Finstuen, Joe Pike, Dale Hayward and Terry Leary) was selected and charged with negotiating the land purchase and brainstorming ideas to raise the purchase money. The owners accepted the committee members with the provision that these five members would remain consistent through the whole process. The committee met with the Millers 1-2 times a month from May till November listening to their proposals and countering with club proposals. On November 17, 1989, the Land Committee held a special meeting at the school (with 101 members attending) to discuss the four proposals put forth by the Millers. Counter proposals were voted on and taken back to the Millers for discussion. One proposal not accepted was that if the club dissolved or moved, the land would go back to the Millers for $1.00. Compromise was reached. The Millers or their heirs would have right of first refusal but would have to repay the purchase price. Another special meeting was held on December 9, 1989, for club members to vote again. The final proposals were accepted. Now there was a need to immediately raise $12,000.
In 1989, this was a lot of money for a club to raise. The club immediately made a down payment of $500. The idea of selling Lifetime and 10-year memberships was brought up. Five Lifetime and 16 ten-year memberships were sold, raising $6000 immediately to pay half the asking price. Terry Leary and Nancy Reber were authorized by the Club to approach the PI Bank for a loan, appraisal, required a $50 appraisal which was done, and the Millers paid for the land survey and title search. Terry Leary signed the bank note to enable the Club to get the loan.
The Club needed to raise the $6,000 to repay the note. A dance committee was formed and we held dances in both Pine Island and Rochester. We also did bake sales and raffles. The Memorial Day ride as well as our horse shows were used as fund raisers. For the next ten years, Island Riders Saddle Club was known for being welcoming and inclusive, encouraging new members, often with 50-60 members attending meetings and events. The Club repaid the bank loan in just over three years.
The Club has continued to add amenities, examples: extending the pavilion to the south (thanks to a generous donation by Charlotte Hindal in her husband Gary’s name), adding some tie lines, pouring a floor in the pavilion, painting, and re-shingling.
With over 60 years of history and still some original members in the club, the Island Riders Saddle Club has a rich history of stories, events, and memories. Members are welcome to share their memories, photos, and campfire stories to add to the Island Riders history.