SUMMER FUN, BLUE skies, green pastures and long days of sun are finally upon us. It’s certainly a favorite time of the year for most us living on the North Olympic Peninsula. And since it seems the worst of the pandemic is behind us, horse rides, competitions and events are raring to go once again.
Looking for a ride companion? Check out Olympic Peninsula Riders and the Back Country Horsemen’s local chapters — Buckhorn Range, Peninsula or Mount Olympus — on Facebook.
Our local Washington High School Equestrian Team (WAHSET) athletes arrived home from the state meet at Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake with outstanding news.
Amelia Kinney of Chimacum won gold in breakaway roping. Syndey Hutton won gold in hunt seat over fences while Sara Holland won the bronze.
Head coach Nancy McCaleb of the Port Angeles School District and Living Well Farm trained all three.
In my June 13 column, I mistakenly wrote, “Coach Nancy McCaleb gave Holland the team’s Exceptional Athlete Award for giving up her place in dressage at state so teammate (Katie) Marchant, who was an alternate, could attend.” In actuality, names of team members who qualified for state were pooled, and McCaleb then randomly drew Holland’s name, sending it to officials before the meet as agreed by the team. It had nothing to do with Holland deciding to give up her dressage spot so another teammate could attend state finals. That in no way diminishes Holland’s very gesture.
McCaleb said she mentioned the mistake because it showed the random draw worked and that the award wasn’t based upon her personal choice.
While Sequim’s team didn’t place in the top 10 at state this year, coach Katie Newton said they all tried hard, had fun and had a wonderful experience.
Events
• Freedom Farm just finished its Summer Horsemanship Day Camp while the Hoof Beats Horsemanship Team attended its first out-of-area competition in a long while at Bainbridge Island Saddle Club. Both were a rousing success.
Upcoming events include a Dave Ellis “Horsemanship, Versatility and Cow Work” clinic July 14-18 and Mary Gallagher’s “Connecting to the Feet” clinic Aug. 21-23.
For more information, contact Gallagher at 360- 457-4897 or visit freedom-farm.net.
The farm is located at 164 Spring Farms Road in Agnew.
• On July 10-11, Olympic Peninsula Equine Network (OPEN) is hosting its second annual OPEN the Trails Camp Out & Fireside Social Fundraiser at Layton Hill Horsecamp. Festivities include trail rides, an equine obstacle course, a hay ride, wine pull, silent auction, raffle prizes, a band and community campfire with s’mores.
Riders are invited to camp out for the weekend with or without a horse, or come just for the afternoon and/or evening activities and the Fireside Social. Reservations and tickets are available online at tinyurl.com/PDN-OPEN-Trails.
All proceeds benefit OPEN’s horse rescue, rehabilitation and adoption program based at 251 Roupe Road in Sequim.
For more information, email event coordinator Volenti Clark at volenti@olypenequinenet.org or leave a message at 360-207-1688.
Check out OPEN’s new and easy-to-use donation portal at olypenequinenet.networkforgood.com. Each donation, be it $5 or $500 or more, helps horses in need, and with this new link, you even choose to help a specific project.
Or mail donations to P.O. Box 252, Sequim WA 98382.
Layton Hill is the only privately owned horse camp on the Peninsula. It has access to miles of scenic trails open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. It is located at 2514 Chicken Coop Road in Sequim. Find them on Facebook or www.laytonhillhorsecamp.com.
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Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Sunday 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.
Best friends, Zeke Kirsh, in the helmet, and Isaac Stromberg, in the goggles, enjoy a summer ride on Lacey, ledStromberg’s mother Brooke Stromberg, riding Sunny. (Photo courtesy Mary Swinney.)
