HORSEPLAY: OP is alive again with equine events

ISN’T IT NICE to see folks taking part in group activities again after the pandemic shut down?

Back Country Horseman’s Peninsula Chapter’s been as busy as beavers these past couple of months — and I love it!

Over the past six weeks the chapter’s held three exciting events: The annual Spaghetti Ride at Salt Creek, the Olympic Prize ride and a Youth Trail Clinic. Earlier this week chapter member Linda Morin was so happy to tell me there were five new members at the last monthly meeting! To paraphrase what an astute friend recently shared with me, “Social connectedness is really one of the most important factors in our emotional and physical well-being.” Now, ain’t that the truth!

Oct. 14 was the Spaghetti Ride at Salt Creek Country Park. “It was a beautiful, clear day and we had 12 riders hit the trails with 23 in total for the meal,” said Morin.

At this year’s lunch they gave honor and a hearty thank-you to the Gray Wolf Trail Crew and its trail leader Rebecca Wanagal for restoring old trails and building new trails throughout the 196-acre park, located west of Port Angeles at 3506 Camp Hayden Road.The crew built a new trail at the top.

“Wow! The views are fantastic!” Morin said. “On a clear day you can see beyond Vancouver Island to Salt Spring Island.”

A trail they used to ride, called the Suicide Trail because it was so steep, is now closed because it’s now too unstable. She said the trails there are steep so horses need to be in good condition.

Youth

Over the Sept. 30 weekend, the chapter sponsored a Youth Trail Clinic. Donna Hollatz said in the spring Chapter Vice President Kim Merrick embarked on an ambitious plan for the chapter to host a trail clinic, camp out for youth, and their horses at Sage Hill. She was awarded a grant from BCHW to help fund the event.

Instructors taught four sessions: Riding Skills Needed on the Trail, Navigation of Trail Obstacles, Trail Clearing and Building, and Trail Safety on Shared Trails (the 3S program).

The group was blessed with beautiful weather. The kids and their horses got a lot of individual attention because the classes were small.

“It was a great opportunity for our instructors to work the kinks out of the training and for seeing ways we can improve the program for next year,” said Hollatz.

Linda Morin and Julie Kustura taught the 3S Safety Program (Stop-Stand-Speak) which teaches safe interactions between user groups (hikers, bicycles, and equestrians) on shared trails. The standard protocol for all multi-use trails when approaching others to speak up to let others know you’re there. Hiker’s, runners, bicyclists and anything with a motor are to stop and step to the side of the trail and let them pass when encountering horses, mules and lamas; bicyclists are to slow down and stay under control to allow time for hikers are to step to the side and yield way to them. A US Forest Service motto is Wheels yield to Heels when approaching other trail users. In other words, all users are to stay alert and courteous.

Hollatz and Joan Wildman instructed the group on the tools used to build trails, what to carry as a first aid kit, and how to cut obstacles back far enough for safe clearance. The kids were able to practice using a small trail pack saw, loppers and clippers.

Arianne Raser, an instructor from Port Townsend, worked in the arena with the kids and their horses to help them learn safe trail riding skills, such as proper following distance, being able to turn on the haunch and forehand, and riding with loose, relaxed reins.

Amanda Jackson of Poulsbo helped the riders and their mounts practice the obstacles at Sage Camp with great success for both kids and horses.

Theresa Percy, Stephanie Burns, and Suzanne King then led the mounted group on a trail ride through the Sage Camp property.

A campfire with s’mores completed the day’s activities. The families camped a second night and headed home on Sunday. Another Trail Camp for Youth is planned for next summer.

Prize Ride

Sept. 9 was the chapter’s annual fundraising event, the Olympic Spirit Prize Ride.

Held at Sage Horse Camp off Chicken Coop Road, proceeds are used to help cover the costs involved with performing trail work, providing youth and community education about equine pursuits, trail etiquette and conservation, and for chapter business expenses.

Sixty-four riders turned out with their horses to ride the trails. Most came from out of the area, with about 40 horse trailers camping Friday night, and some Saturday. A barbecue rib dinner was served to 50 people and over 60 prizes were available in exchange for raffle tickets.

Thanks to Sequim and Port Angeles businesses providing sponsorships, prizes for riders totaled $1,150. Sponsors included First Federal Bank, Cole’s Jewelers, Sequim Co-Op Farm & Garden, Sound Equine, Mary Craig, Sound Community Bank and Brown’s Outdoor Store.

The ride itself was about eight miles (taking about three hours to ride) and included a maze of Department of Natural Resource dirt roads, along with forest trails. A few new connecting trails were built over the summer by chapter members, so less time was spent riding on the roads and lovely new views were opened to riders.

“The weather was beautiful and skies were clear to take advantage of the fantastic 360-degree vistas,” said member Hollatz.

Thanks to the helping hands of numerous members the event went smoothly and without a hitch. Many riders expressed their appreciation for the well-organized ride and are planning to return next September. In a follow-up survey, participants overwhelmingly gave “strongly agree” and positive evaluations for all elements of the ride. For more information visit the Facebook page Backcountry Horsemen of Washington – Peninsula Chapter, or website http://www.pbchw.org/.

________

Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Saturday of each month.

If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also call her at 360-460-6299.