ZORINA “Z” BARKER is my riding buddy. So I was bummed when I had to let her go solo for her 22-mile adventure Friday.
She lives in Sol Duc Valley adjacent to the Mount Muller trail system — soon to be part of the Olympic Discovery Trail Adventure route — and has always wanted to ride the trail system to friends Jennifer and Kenneth Reandeau’s, home in Joyce.
So when Back Country Horsemen’s Peninsula chapter designated their home as the starting point for the Saturday Sadie Creek ride, Z decided it was the opportune time to ride there.
Rain gear loaded up
She loaded up Dolly, her Hanoverian pony — a hardy stock bred for mountain riding — with treats and meals for both, rain gear and an extra set of Mac boots for Dolly.
(Instead of metal shoes kept on full time, Z protects her horse’s hooves with Mac boots on all fours during rides.)
Perhaps if the weather were sunny and warm, I could have joined Z, but, as we’re all aware, the start of summer’s been quite cold and damp — a combination that makes me miserable on long rides.
A good decision on my part since Z, in spite of her rain gear, got cold and had to dismount to walk “quite a few times just to keep warm.”
In theory, since she wasn’t on mountain trails, the gear Z brought should have been enough, but it wasn’t.
She could have used a warm wool sweater or other winter clothing during this unseasonably cold year.
Still, this gal with a pioneer spirit relished her ride through the trees, which included traversing several bridges and a walk in the water for Dolly in Lake Crescent.
To date, the Adventure Trail isn’t complete, so Z also rode under the power lines on the Bonneville Power Administration road in Joyce.
The last mile of her journey — and probably the most treacherous because of passing trucks — was riding the side of state Highway 112.
Dangerous final mile
Worried for her safety, Ken walked out to meet her and escorted her on the last leg of her ride to his home.
There, she and Dolly were received with warm food, laughter and a soft place to lay their heads, though Z said Dolly wasn’t nearly as tired as she and just wanted to frolic with the Reandeaus’ horses, since it’s her birthplace.
More than 20 riders showed up the next day for the 111⁄2-mile ride in the Sadie Creek area, a ride that covered varied terrain: muddy trails, logging roads and steep declines and inclines for Sadie Creek itself.
The weather was overcast but not as cold as the previous day.
The sun broke through in the early afternoon, which made for a pleasant ride.
Only two riders chose the shorter four-mile loop.
There were two lost shoes, one of which was recovered.
Tracy Groom’s horse turned up lame, so she borrowed one from Jennifer. Alas, the new horse hadn’t been ridden in awhile so first took Tracy on a bit of a rodeo ride around the home.
By the time the horse settled down, it was too late to join the other riders, so Tracy stuck around and helped set up the end-of-the-ride potluck in Ken and Jen’s yard, a reportedly bountiful meal with fresh produce, spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and homemade red velvet cupcakes.
Events
■ 6 p.m. start Mondays, July 11, 18 and 25 — Chimacum Creek 2011 Summer Barrel Racing Series at Chimacum Sadderly on Chimacum Road.
Phone Bethel Moore at 360-301-1547.
■ July 3, 4, 9 and 10 — Patterned speed horse game show at Crosby’s arena, 122 Franson Road, Port Angeles.
Phone Pam Crosby at 360-670-3906.
■ July 13-17 — Open Horse Camp for kids and adults older than the age of 8; sponsored by Jefferson County 4-H Horse Program.
Features include showmanship, English & western, dressage, trail, western games, grooming classes and evening trail rides.
For beginners through advanced riders. There is limited room. Enrollment forms available at most feed and tack stores and at Washington State University in Port Hadlock.
For more information phone Glenda Meeks 360-302-1064.
■ 9:30 a.m. rideout Saturday, July 23 — Back Country Horsemen Miller Peninsula Ride.
Follow U.S. Highway 101 east out of Sequim, turn south on Pierce Road (about one mile west of Diamond Point Road) and follow the BCH signs to the parking area. A potluck will be after the ride.
Phone Tom Mix at 360-582-0460.
■ For Freedom Farms July events, phone Mary at 360-457-4897.
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Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears every other Wednesday.
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 write Griffiths at PDN, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
