The North Peace Light Horse Association was alive with competition at the Fall Schooling Show this weekend.

Riders from around the region competed in Western and English events on Saturday and in jumping on Sunday.

Marissa Ratzlaff borrowed her friend’s horse, Storm, to compete in the jumping events.

It was her first time jumping Storm.

"Intense, very intense. The first class I did, I was very nervous and it showed on her because I clamped and she reacted. The second class I kind of breathed and relaxed and we did a lot better. She did very well. She put full effort into it and so did I and I can’t ask for anything more from her,” she said, adding that she has always been a western riding girl and was never really into jumping before.

“I don’t like to get thrown into the saddle like that. I’ve fallen off before and hurt myself bad. But Storm is excellent, she just powers herself over and I just glide with her so it’s fun riding her. I’m enjoying jumping now.”

Nine-year-old MacKenzie McArthur rode Lucky and said she was proud of her first place standings in jumping and English pleasure.

“I like jumping. It just feels awesome.”

The show drew more interest than organizers expected. There were up to 10 people in some of the classes, which was good considering the show was on short notice, said organizer Sam Yaeger.

“I think it’s good to have people come. It gets people back into a routine kind of. It’s nice to be able to have a circuit, the horse shows going from Chetwynd to Fort St. John to Dawson Creek,” she said.

"Everybody seems to be happy."

Tammy MacKenzie said it was good to host a show in Fort St. John again.

“It’s awesome because we’re home and we’re proud of our home, we’re proud of our facility and we’re trying to breathe new life into it and it’s awesome to get it going,” she said, adding that it's nice not having to travel to compete.

Alan Bourdon was one of the volunteers who spent countless hours sprucing up the multi-purpose NPLHA.

“Just so the sport continues on,” he said of why he and Brady Yaeger worked so hard and readying the arena.

“It’s nice to be having something local for people to do instead of going out of town all the time.”

This was one of the first shows in a long time at the NPLHA and it won’t be the last.

"We had a lots of sponsorship and interest. It went very well," said Yaeger.

She said the NPLHA is working towards a spring show and a bigger horse show next summer.

Members hope to host clinics this year and reintroduce specific nights for different disciplines like reining and jumping.

Ratzlaff said the more the merrier, in both competitors and spectators.

“We got a great turnout. It’s nice when you have the competition, you can improve your skills and watch everybody else,” she said.

For more information on the NPLHA, contact 250-787-7153. It is located at 6929 Equestrian Ave.