Eau Claire Bit & Spur Foundation, Inc
Halter, Showmanship, Western, English, Games and Fun Shows!
ABOUT US
Eau Claire Bit & Spur Foundation has been in existence since the early 1900's. All of Eau Claire Bit & Spurs shows are WSCA Champ Show qualifying with shows being held May-September. Our facility & grounds offers an entry stand, food stand, 88 stall barn, a wash rack, a pleasure and a gaming arena; plenty of space to park and camper hook ups for staying overnight to enjoy one or even two full days of showing at our shows! We are located at: 10421 West Cameron Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. We look forward to seeing you at our NBHA, Pleasure and Game Shows!
The History of the Club
In 1925, nineteen polo riders founded the Bit and Spur Club, naming it after their old club. It was inactive for three years during the depression, and was reorganized in 1933. The first show of the Bit and Spur club was held in 1925 at the Cavalry Barns on Highway 53 in Eau Claire. The first show at the new location on Highway E was held on June 12, 1938. The 1940 show had equitation classes, open hunter, ponies, amateur owners, five-gaited, three-gaited, parent and child (with parent riding too), pairs classes (man and a woman) and senior championships. The current club house is a full log building that was constructed in the 1940’s and was the site for dances, chicken and beef dinners, pancake breakfasts and smorgasbords. The Current Bit and Spur show grounds are 6 miles west of Eau Claire on county road “E” also known as Cameron Street.
In the 1950’s they met weekly for rides of two or three hours with dinner and a social time afterwards. In 1979 the club merged with the Eau Claire Trail Riders.
In the early 1990’s shows attracted competitors from Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota. Not all Bit and Spur members ride, but nearly all have a history of riding. The 88 stall barn on the grounds was paid off in 1994.
In recent years, the Bit and Spur Club has been the site of many breed shows including Saddlebreds, Morgans, Arabians, Quarter Horses, and even the Lippizzaner Stallions. Some club members are third and fourth generation to belong, work and ride. In any given show you can see riders aging from three to 83. The club is committed to continuing this legacy.