Sometimes it's our fellow horse people who touch our lives as much as the horses themselves...
Submitted by Cassie Aaenson
On July 10th, our friend and fellow NWRA club member, Carol Greenhalgh lost her hard fought battle with breast cancer. July 30th would have been Carol's 58th birthday. Carol was a special person and a very active rider and volunteer within the club. With the support of her husband Mike, she and her beloved horse "Cisco" began showing with NWRA in 2005 and together they quickly became one of the top teams to beat in Beginner B and C classes. In 2007, Carol earned a special buckle for earning the most points overall in the beginner division and she missed taking home the Beginner B buckle by a half a point.
Carol was a tough lady. She was brave, strong and determined to do her best in whatever she did. She loved to quilt, had studied sign language, and was a big Harry Potter fan. Most of all, she loved horses and especially loved Reining. She had a fun sense of humor and a laugh that you could hear across a crowded room. With everything that she went through, she never lost her focus or faith. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and even those who didn't.
To honor Carol, the NWRA club has decided to dedicate this year's August 16th show at Bridle Trails as the "Carol Greenhalgh Memorial Show". It will be a "Pink" show to honor her fight against the terrible cancer that cut her life short. We hope that everyone will wear pink and come out and ride to show their support of Carol and her family. Donations will be accepted at the show to be given in Carol's name to cancer research and the fight for a cure.
Carol was a true representative of the NWRA club both as a rider and a volunteer. We will all miss her spunky personality, her wonderful smile and warm generous heart.
When you name your event “The Event,” I guess you'd better be able to live up to the name. This Gold Cup stop took place July 23 through July 26 in the big sky country of Kalispell, Montana at Rebecca Farm and attracted such names as Amy Tryon, Jessica Heidemann, and Kelly Prather, just to name a few. This was one of eight Gold Cup events held this year around the United States and one of three FEI World Cup stops in North America.
In the CIC-W3 level (serving as the designated Gold Cup level) Bodega, California’s Kelly Prather on Andrea Pfeiffer’s Ballinakill Glory (pictured at right) would start the competition with a dressage score of 45.6, just ahead of Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister‘s 47.0 score. Kelly and Ballinakill Glory continued to lead over the Cross Country course with only a 9.6 time penalty and then took care of the final day with a clean stadium jumping round. They finished the competition, just as they did the first day, in first place. Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe and Daisy Tognazzini’s The Good Witch finished in second place, and rounding out the top three was Kristi Nunnink riding R-Star. Tiana Coudray ended up falling to eighth place.
Absent this year were last year’s CIC-W3 winners: Tory Smith and Bantry Bay V, who recently were eliminated from the Jersey Fresh Three Day Event during the cross country leg.
Other highlights included two-time Olympian Amy Tryon of Duval, WA riding five different horses in five different levels including CIC-W3 and CCI 1 (pictured at left on Jude's Law). In the latter, she finished first place. Jessica Heidemann of Cain Lake Stables in Alger, WA finished first place in the Sr. Open Training B Level and Robyn Fisher, the somewhat underrated talent from West Hills, CA took first in three different levels: CCI 2 on Lady Calido (pictured below, right), YEH 4 on Artesian, and YEH 5 on Claire de Lune SE.
The blazing hot Rocky Mountain sun paled in comparison to the competition this year at Rebecca Farm. The 400+ turnout cemented Rebecca Farm’s position as one of the top locations for Three Day Eventing in the western United States. “The Event” certainly lived up to its name; the only downside is having to wait a year for the next one.
Wow, it's been quite an incredible adventure with April’s Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM). I never thought that it would take so much time to get her AST & CPK levels back to normal. Great news! On Friday I drew blood and took it over to Kulshan Veterinary Hospital. Our test results were great!
Blood test from 7/24/09:
Normal for AST = 100 to 600; April was 358
Normal for CPK = 10 to 350; April was 178
Just the results I was hoping for! This was after two weeks of increasing exercise by 2 minutes per day. We got up to 24 minutes (I took Sundays off). This past Sunday we went for an hour and fifteen minute trail ride. There was one hill, but it was short. She seemed to do fine.
She has developed a bit of a cough. It doesn’t seem to be related to exercise, as she hacks when she’s just standing. I’m guessing it’s an allergy. Do they make Claritin for horses? Anyway, I’m keeping an eye out for other signs of fatigue or lethargy. I think the extreme heat wave we’re having right now has something to do with the energy level. I checked her temperature and it was normal, so we don’t appear to have an infection going on. She doesn’t sound congested, just the dry hacks.
I usually get up around 5:30 in the morning and work her so it’s bearable. We go for a 10-minute walk, and then I lunge her at a trot for up to 30 minutes. We're just waiting to hear back from Dr. Sauter on the new exercise program. Gosh, I am so anxious to get back in the saddle again! She is such a fun horse to ride I can hardly wait.
My goal for 2010 is to get in the show pen and make the Northwest Reined Cowhorse Association (NWRCHA) and the North West Reining Association (NWRA) shows. Wish us luck!
Please make sure to submit your stories, share your photos, and even send in some video, if you like. We would love to have some short (less than 5 minutes) videos to share with our readers in the Northwest. See below for reader story and photo guidelines.
We don't have a reader story for you today (I hope that means you're all out riding your horses!) so I just wanted to let you know about a few things going on here at The Northwest Horse Source.
First, we're thinking about opening up this reader story spot to reader-submitted videos as well. What's your opinion? Take the poll on our home page to let us know if you're interested in that and other video offerings. You can also leave a comment on this post if you'd like to say a bit more.
In other news, we just opened up a photo contest! The first announcement went out in our reader newsletter, and details will follow in the next newsletter, which comes out August 5th. Want to get in on the contest? If you aren't already signed up for the newsletter, just click here and fill in the form. The NWHS e-newsletter contains Northwest news and event highlights, links to articles of interest, a look at what's ahead at NWHS, and more.
Speaking of what's ahead, we have a new Trainer's Corner series starting in September. After numerous reader requests over the past year, we've found a driving trainer who is willing to share her expertise and give NWHS readers a bit of a background on driving and the basics to get you started. Look for the first part of this three-part series from Kayo Fraser of the Fraser School of Driving in the September issue!
Photographs courtesy of Wendi Ross, Blue Ribbon Equine Photography
Have you ever watched one of those movies where the main character loses consciousness and is suddenly transported to a fantasy world? I can only imagine that Happ’s would be that place if the main character was an equine fanatic.
Located in the small town of Ethel, Washington, Happ’s Inc. is a family owned ranch that plays host to nearly 20 carriage driving events per year and has seen everything from polo cross competitions to weddings.
Happ’s Inc. held their first competition in 2000. The variety of both humans and horses they have welcomed includes entrants from the USA, Canada, and even Australia, and breeds such as Friesians, Norwegian Fjord Ponies, and American Miniature Horses.
In an effort to keep things exciting, they have both portable and permanent obstacles, including a built underpass, overpass, waterfall, and covered bridges. Everything on the property came from the imagination of owners Ken Olsen and Maureen Harkcom. With Ken's background in construction and concrete, it's no surprise he built everything on the property.
Along with the driving competitions, Happ’s also holds five trail challenges spanning June through October each year, along with horse trials each May. People sometimes camp nearby for two to three days simply to use the facilities that the ranch has to offer.
Happ’s Inc. photographer Wendi Ross describes Ken and Maureen as “Humble, salt-of-the-earth people who would never brag about what they have done.” The hard work and time that they both have put into the ranch is unimaginable. It wasn’t until April of this year that the two of them finally spent a night away from the ranch to attend a carriage auction. This sort of attitude and work ethic has brought Happ’s a wealth of friends and supporters who have in return donated their time just to enjoy being at Happ’s.
Plans for the future of Happ’s include over 500 stalls and 3 barns and arenas. No public money has been spent on the facility; it is Ken and Maureen’s blood, sweat and tears that have turned this fantasyland into a reality.
So the next time you are taking your lunch break and you find yourself dreaming of a world full of horse-drawn carriages, cascading waterfalls and covered bridges, hoping that you are going to find that golden ticket in last night’s leftovers, don’t worry about it. That world exists, right here in the Northwest, and there is no golden ticket required.
On July 11, April went back to the vet for a follow-up on her PSSM condition. She has been exercised regularly with only Sundays off. Her feed has been moderate (local hay only), no grain and only low carb feed. I'm currently using LMF’s Low Carbohydrate Feed along with Equine Nutrition's Trifecta as a supplement. It’s very important she gets at least 2000 mg of Vitamin D per day.
I had been hand-walking her for 10 minutes per day plus 6 minutes of trotting. We drew blood to determine the AST & CPK Levels. They were as follows: AST: normal range is 100 to 600; April’s was 511. CPK: normal range is 10 o 350; April’s was 240. Yahoo! Now we can increase the exercise.
In the two weeks following the exam, we've had an increase of two minutes per day in her exercise. I’m currently at 20 minutes and will be drawing blood again this Friday to see if we can ride a little this weekend. I can’t wait to get back on her again! I think she’s getting pretty bored herself. This is certainly a long, slow process to get her back on track--her tying up instance was back on May 2. That's eleven weeks and counting...
Check back next Wednesday, July 29, for an update!
Our first cowboy/cowgirl poetry submission! The author chose to remain anonymous, but the rest of you don't have to be shy. Send us your stories, poems, essays and photos to share with the rest of the Cyber Saddle community!
Washington State Trail Closures: Don't Panic, but Do Pitch In
by Brandon Enyeart
There has been a lot of panic lately based on speculation that trails in Washington State may soon be closed to the public due to lack of funds. Given that Washington is a hotbed for various activities such as cycling, hiking, and of course, horseback riding, this is a potentially frightening development.
However, not all is lost just yet. In fact, at this point most trails are still open to the public seasonally (May-November). Trails such as those at Blanchard are still operating with full services and amenities, while trails at Strawberry Island and Samish are open to the public for day use, but have reduced amenities. It is still a tense situation; not much will be known until this fall when the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be able to take a look at the broader picture and know exactly where each individual trail stands financially.
Groups like The Backcountry Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) are already offering a helping hand to prevent potential trail closures. Getting involved with any organization that provides volunteer trail maintenance can help keep trails accessible for horses and humans alike. So can the “pack it in, pack it out” mentality, which minimizes the trail maintenance costs for the state. If you have witnessed someone littering and/or vandalizing the trail, the Washington State DNR urges you not to speak to the offenders directly, but to try to take down as much information as possible, such as car license plates, photos, etc. and report them. All the money put toward cleaning the park up after vandalism could be money spent on pumping outhouses or other jobs crucial to keeping trails open and running full steam ahead.
Obviously, there will be continuing developments as we make our way through the summer and into the fall, but the Washington State DNR is trying to be optimistic about the situation. With enough help from the public, we won't have to lose our equine-accessible land. To stay up to date on which trails are running with full amenities and which ones have been reduced, please visit www.dnr.wa.gov.
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Resource: Mark Mauren, Washington State Department of Natural Resources
No updates at the moment on April's health, so here's a bit of fun from the expo in Sacramento last month. Now that's how to sell products to horse people! I couldn't resist.
We've had a request to open up the reader story here on The Cyber Saddle to more than just essays and true-to-life stories, so as of today we're accepting short fiction (under 750 words) and poetry for our Reader Story Fridays here at NWHS.
Guidelines are the same as for any other reader story: it must relate to horses or other equids in some way and be G-rated and non-advertorial/promotional. Beyond that, we're open to whatever you have to offer. Send stories, essays, and poems to editor@nwhorsesource.com with the subject line "Reader Story." We'll choose one each week, so check back every Friday. Don't forget the Reader Photo of the Week on Mondays, too! Show us what you're up to with your pony pals.
NWHS Congratulates Christy West on her Spirit Award
On June 27th, Christy West was presented with the annual Chris Brune Spirit Award by American Horse Publications. This award goes to the individual who has shown the most commitment to AHP, the organization governing horse-related publications in the US. As a webmaster and editor for publications such as The Horse and The American Farrier's Journal, Christy was recognized for her dedication, vitality, and enthusiasm for the industry and her work.
What many of you may not know is that Christy also stepped in as webmaster for The Northwest Horse Source last fall, and has done an incredible job not only with the website itself, but also in assisting other staff members and providing feedback.
We would like to offer our personal congratulations to Christy on this well-deserved award!
Greetings from the American Horse Publications in New Orleans!
by Karen Pickering
On Wednesday, June 24, I left Blaine, Washington to take an adventure—I was on my way to the annual convention for members of American Horse Publications (AHP), held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana. The second night in town, a group of us toured the French Quarter via the “haunted history” tour. Our tour guide was author of New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo and Vampires…Journey into Darkness, Kalila Katherina Smith. She has been interviewed by the History Channel, Travel Channel, Discovery, Fox News, Sci Fi, MTV, CNN and more! She told many tales of ghostly encounters within the streets of the French Corridor.
Many mule-drawn carriages took people around New Orleans. I’m not sure how they survive the heat--I didn’t do so well. That second evening, the temperature was close to 90 degrees with 100% humidity! I took refuge in a fantastic restaurant with good friends, Cheryl and Kerry of California
Riding Magazine and Daniel of California Horse Trader.
After dinner, the heat finally caught up with me. Ringing ears, a feeling of weakness and no peripheral vision were the first indicators I was experiencing heatstroke. The gang called a cab, poured me in, and got me back to the hotel. Once I’d cooled down, though, everything was fine. Whew, glad I live in Washington! They’ve had a record heat wave here in New Orleans, something most of us Northwesterners aren’t accustomed to.
I’m having a great time and learning lots of new things at the convention--it’s quite an honor to be a part of this group. Tonight we got a surprise visit from Molly, a Pony of the Americas survivor of Katrina and her Aussie companion, Ruby. I had the privilege of a photo with Molly, who is doing incredible work visiting hospitals, schools, nursing homes and army bases. Molly’s story is an encouragement to everyone struggling with a handicap. She survived the hurricane but was later attacked by a traumatized pitt bull, another tragedy of Katrina, and now wears a prosthesis after having her leg amputated. I encourage you to read her story at www.mollythepony.com. She is the “spokeshorse” for a worthwhile cause, so I encourage you to consider a donation to her work.
All in all, it’s been a great trip. Please enjoy the pictures and let me know if you have any adventures to share! We post reader stories every Friday!
Submit your photos and stories to us for The Cyber Saddle!
We post a new photo every Monday and a new story every Friday. Share your funniest, scariest, most touching and
exciting moments with the Northwest equine community. Submit stories (.doc, .rtf, or text in the body of an email)
and photos (.jpg) to
editor@nwhorsesource.com or use our Reader Story Submission Form. All rights remain with the writer/photographer.
