OH, WHAT GLORIOUS riding weather we’re having!
I absolutely love this time of year when it’s dry, warm and sunny outside.
The Peninsula’s been bursting with fun horse activities, shows and events.
Agnew’s Freedom Farm experienced lots of fun-packed activities this month with its summer camps for horse-loving youths, a camping trip at the beach with horses and kids, and is fresh off four days of a successful Western dressage and cow-working clinic with clinician Julie Lorton.
This coming weekend, local chapters of Back Country Horsemen are having a group campout at Heather Creek Meadow in Brinnon, and all the 4-H groups are gearing up to show off their skills and horses at the annual county fairs.
Last weekend at the pre-fair show at the Clallam County Fairgrounds, 4-H members honed their skills at the so-called Friendzy show.
Neon Riders co-leader Katie Salmon-Newton says they experienced some fun and memorable moments at the two-day show, like a “great potluck with all the clubs,” and the kids played fun games like “Cheetos face”(one teammate with shaving cream on the face, the other teammate tossing Cheetos), a wheelbarrow obstacle course, a scavenger hunt and more.
“The horse 4-H’ers needed to do their district demonstrations, so it was so fun to have former 4-H’er Marissa Wilson now in the role of judging demos,” says Katie.
Pleasure horse high-point winners were Kaylie Graf, high-point intermediate and miniature pleasure horses; Paige Swordmaker, high-point senior pleasure horse; Haylie Newton, reserve high-point senior pleasure horse; Kaiya Ochis, reserve high-point walk/trot pleasure horse; Rylie Michaelis, high-point walk/trot pleasure horse; Jocelyn Smith, high-point junior pleasure horse; Sierra Ballou, reserve high-point junior pleasure horse; Katie Marchant, reserve high-point miniature pleasure horse; and Emily VanAusdle, high-point green horse.
Relief
For all those who have horses that suffer from skin problems like my Indy, EQyss Micro-Tek is a wonderful product that provides soothing relief.
This time of year, those little flying biting bugs drive Indy crazy.
He gets girth itch and is also searching for a good scratching post to rub his face and neck on, resulting in loss of hair and little scabs on his face and around his ears.
Lacey, too, gets relief from the welts caused by mosquito bites (they seem to flock to her blond coat).
I know the Micro-Tek provides them with relief because they step toward me and lower their heads when they see that black spray bottle in my hand — which they don’t do for the fly spray.
I picked up mine at Sunny Farms, 261461 U.S. Highway 101 W. in Sequim.
Rescue news
Eyes That Smile’s Diane Royall reports that the nonprofit placed one of the rescued Yakima foals this week, plus brought home two new young mares from the Rochester kill pen that “are amazing.”
All the foals have “completed the quarantine with flying colors. We thought they were older but now realize they are only about six weeks to 3½ months,” she said.
“They are survivors, for sure.”
The mares were saved by a “village of people” Monday.
They would have shipped to a slaughterhouse yesterday had not a caring group of people stepped up to help save them.
These are high-quality, well-bred, top-notch quarter horses from a large ranch in eastern Montana.
Diane says: “We don’t know the whole story, but there was a large herd dispersal a couple years back, and these two fillies were somehow part of it. . . .
“They are safe now and will be in quarantine for 30 days, and then enter our training program and be available for adoption.”
Check out Eyes That Smile’s Facebook page to learn more about these mares, Lassie and Lexie.
And remember, ETS can use ongoing help in feeding and caring for these rescue horses.
Even a few people making a small monthly donation of $20 a month can go a long way.
Visit www.eyesthatsmile.org or phone Diane at 360-582-9455.
Events
■ Saturday and Sunday — Back Country Horsemen ride-in and camp at Heather Creek.
For information, phone Cate Bendock at 541-761-1849.
■ Monday through Friday, Aug. 8 — Freedom Farm’s summer horse camps for kids, 493 Spring Road in Agnew.
Phone Mary Gallagher at 360-457-4897.
■ Thursday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 10 — Freedom Farm’s adult beach camp at Long Beach. Daily instruction and group beach rides.
Phone Gallagher at 360-457-4897 or visit the website, www.freedom-farm.net.
■ Aug. 8-9 — Jefferson County Fair and 4-H horse show.
■ Aug. 10 — Open gaming/barrel racing with payouts at the Jefferson County Fair.
Contact Angie Doan at 360-385-6683 or oneshot37@hotmail.com for information or entry forms.
■ Thursday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 17 — Clallam County Fair and 4-H horse show.
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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.
