IT WAS UNDER a bright-blue sky and warm sunshine when I stopped by a Patterned Speed Horse Association (PSHA) show June 4 at longtime members Jim Beam and Waynora Martin’s arena off Runnion Road in Carlsborg.
There, I caught Tylar Decker and friend Sara Hopf racing in two-man stake.
Hopf is a good example of the overall good, friendly and helpful people found in the organization.
Her father, Greg Hopf, told me when his daughter got started a few years ago, she didn’t have a horse, just an interest in horses.
“She had so many people helping her get started, especially Marie Dickinson and her daughter, Tylar Decker,” he said.
Learned to ride
On a borrowed horse, Sara Hopf was able to learn how to ride and the basics of gaming patterns.
At first, “she was only allowed to trot” the patterns, her father said.
Three years later, she’s competing on RC, Dickinson’s former racing horse.
“Last year, she was the 2015 state high-point champion in her division,” said the proud papa.
“She won four champion buckles at the state finals.”
The next gaming show will be Saturday and June 19 at Quarter Moon Ranch starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by June 25 and 26 and July 2 and 3 at the Crosby arena on Franson Road in Agnew.
As a new event was being set up that day at Quarter Moon, I said hello to Kammie Short (here racing from Whidbey Island) and then sauntered over to a group of folks lounging under a large shade canopy located in front of the arena.
There, I was able to catch up with friends Tammy and Tanya Hull (and arranged a play date for my great-nephew Isaac and Tanya’s son, Levi, who are both 3 and full of energy) and Pam Crosby.
Crosby’s daughter, Ady Crosby, and my niece, Brooke Stromberg, competed in PSHA and team events together back in their high school days.
Both champions
Both were champions and high-point winners, and Ady Crosby still holds a record she broke in 2006 for the fastest time of 7.920 seconds in individual flags at the Washington State High School Equestrian Team’s (WAHSET) state finals.
Since then, she has attained her bachelor’s degree in history (with minors in English and anthropology) at Western Washington University, but before she settled down, she wanted to “travel the world.”
So after graduation, she worked hard and saved enough money (she hopes) to pursue her dream.
On March 31, Ady Crosby departed for Thailand.
There, she’s got a six-month commitment teaching English as part of XploreAsia.
After that, she’ll be backpacking and traveling the world “until she’s broke,” said her proud mom, Pam Crosby.
Fellow Sequim equestrian team and WAHSET member Katie Adophson plans to join Ady Crosby’s travels through Australia and New Zealand in the months ahead.
I also spoke with Donna Parks.
She was sitting under the canopy with her mom, Wilma Pyles (who never misses a local show), and sister Tina Rocheleau.
Parks’ “baby sister,” Rina Brandt, showed up a bit later.
All were in attendance to cheer on Parks’ husband of 45 years (in July), Sam Parks.
She told me the previous weekend they were in Yelm, where hubby and horse ran their fastest time ever in barrel racing: a lightning-quick 14.49.
Congratulations, Sam.
“When he heard his time, he just burst out crying, he was so happy,” she said.
“He had tears of happiness and joy flowing down his cheeks. We all did.”
The “we” in Yelm included the Parks’ son and daughter-in-law Jaime and Melonie Parks, and their kids, Duncan, 10, and Samantha, 8.
Baseball trumps
They weren’t at Quarter Moon on this recent day because it was the grandchildren’s final baseball game of the season.
And because dad Jaime is the coach, they “kind of had to attend,” Donna Parks said.
Horses have always been a part of the Parkses’ life, even before Jaime and his older sister, Jessica Parks Welsh, arrived on the scene, which is why the family-friendly PSHA is a wonderful organization for them to be part of.
While her daughter still loves to ride, she now lives out of state.
Jaime and his wife currently don’t race, but they do play an important role as show announcers and bookkeepers.
Jaime also plays the part of the one who is rescued in rescue events and is the fourth member of the family’s bareback relay team.
“Life is good,” said Donna Parks. “We have a lot of family fun.”
Two businesses
She also has two businesses related to the horse world: Donna Parks Custom Care & Repair (she customizes, cleans and repairs horse blankets, sheets and wraps, and dog and cat blankets and beds) and WOW! Designer Western wear.
She custom-makes show jackets and shirts, along with “reblinging and mending, or whatever is needed,” she said.
Those interested can find her on Facebook or call her at 360-457-3446.
On a side note, Sam Parks will be retiring after many years working at the public utility district — but that’s another story.
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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 write Griffiths at PDN, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
