NATCHEZ &045; The county is getting closer and closer to opening an equestrian arena for local riders to enjoy on Foster Mound Road.

Saturday, volunteers and members of local riding clubs began putting up a fence at the 20-acre site assigned for a recreational complex by the county recreation board.

Although actual construction of the arena was stalled because of dirt work, the volunteers plan to erect the panels for the moveable arena.

&uot;It’s going to be a great place when we get through,&uot; said Ruthie Hinton, a committee member for the arena.

But the fence is just a first step and once the panels are up, the first phase will be complete.

Then the clubs can begin to host horse shows, team penning and barrel racing, Hinton said.

Also, the arena can be used by local and surrounding 4-H clubs.

The first phase should be open for riding Jan. 1.

In phase two, a full rodeo arena would be erected and phase three would be adding a roof to cover it all, which would take grant money, Hinton said.

But for now, the volunteers and riding clubs are looking for donations and are about to begin writing grants. And, Hinton said people can begin to sign up for memberships now by contacting her or Lissa Graves, another committee member.

These memberships will be effective Jan. 1.

So far, they have raised close to $7,000 that will pay for the lights, something Hinton said they had to have whether it was a rodeo or a riding arena.

The temporary arena cost about $2,500 and &uot;every bit of the supplies we are using on it will be used on the future facility,&uot; Hinton said.

Once the county and city took over Liberty Park, where an arena used to be, many riders in the county and in surrounding areas have been traveling elsewhere to ride if not quitting altogether.

&uot;When we lost it, it was devastating to the kids,&uot; Hinton said.

Hinton and Graves said their club, the Dixie Riding Club, goes to Amite County and Franklin County many times to ride and compete.

Both said there is a lot of interest here, with at least 100 people in their club alone, accounting for about 40 families.

&uot;With the amount of horse clubs and horse owners in this area, it’s long overdue,&uot; said Jessie Turner, committee member and member of Too Hot to Trot riding club.

Clubs Too Hot to Trot and Rough Riders are also helping build the arena, with each of the three clubs having members on a committee set to construct the arena. Hinton and Graves said their club alone hosts eight events during the year that could be moved to the new arena.

&uot;It is important for us to have an arena of our own,&uot; Turner said. &uot;It will generate income in the area because of people that come in to ride.

&uot;More importantly for the kids, it’s just clean, good, American fun.&uot;

The county had this property as part of an industrial park and offered it to be used for an arena when groups of people asked if something could be done since the other arena was closed.

Hinton and Graves said if a business does want to move where the arena is, they would gladly move, especially since the arena is moveable.

&uot;It (the arena) was a big need,&uot; said Lynwood Easterling, Adams County Board of Supervisors president.

&uot;It is not really going to cost the taxpayer anything because they are doing the work themselves.

&uot;That is a way rec can be done in the county &045; through people that will work and volunteer.&uot;

The volunteers have gotten community support although they admitted there have been some naysayers but hat does not discourage them.

&uot;The current supervisors have been supportive and the new ones promised to be,&uot; Hinton said. &uot;We want to keep it in front of people and let them know it is going to happen.&uot;