Olympics Equestrian Coverage

I thought this was interesting. I'll be watching for sure!

__________________________________

USET Foundation Lauds NBC's Decision to Stream Olympics Live on Web

Gladstone, NJ - July 30, 2008 - The 2008 Summer Olympics marks the first time equestrian enthusiasts will get to watch the competition in Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping from start-to-finish, thanks to NBC's decision to stream 2,200 hours of live coverage of 25 sports at http://www.nbcolympics.com/equestrian/index.html.

__________________________________

The Olympics start on Aug. 8th and a complete schedule can be found at the site above.

Homemade Horse Treats

Hey, if you've got some time on your hands these days (I know, as if any of us do in the summer!), here's a link to a great site that has tons of homemade horse treat receipes!

http://www.moniteausaddleclub.com/horse_treats.htm

Horse TV - Free Online!

Here's a great resource if you've got some time on your hands. The NickerNetwork offers 25 channels of shows that feature anything and everything horsey.

So, kick back, put your feet up, grab the popcorn, and take it all in!

(Note: a high bandwidth internet connection is highly recommended)

Horse Camps - Gifford Pinchot National Forest

I just found this map online and thought I'd post here. It lists the horse camps in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Pretty neat resource!

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/trails/documents/horsecampmap2006.pdf

Goat Rocks Trail Update

Got this today from Back County Horseman.

USFS has got Trail #96 cleared from Berrypatch Trailhead (Chambers Lake area) to Snowgrass Flats. Bypass Trail #97 has also been cleared - connects #96 to 2000 (PCT). Snow levels are preventing stock passage on the PCT after Snowgrass Flats.

The PCT in the Cispus Basin has some serious problems. The trail is washed out at the falls and not passable for stock. Pacific Crest Trail Association will be working on the washout the 3rd week of August.

Here's a map I found online. If someone has a more up-to-date map, please feel free to provide a link.

And a few other helpful details (from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest):

Southeast of Seattle and Mt Rainier near Packwood, the Goat Rocks Wilderness is a 105,600 acre wonderland. The Goat Rocks Wilderness is a portion of the volcanic Cascade Mountain Range in southwestern Washington between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams.

The Goat Rocks are remnants of a large volcano, extinct for some two million years. This ancient volcano once towered over the landscape at more than 12,000 feet in elevation, but has since eroded into several peaks averaging around 8,000 feet. The cluster of rocks and peaks have become known as Goat Rocks because of the bands of mountain goats that live here.

Goat Rocks Wilderness features mountainous terrain with elevations from 3,000 feet to 8,201 feet on Gilbert Peak. Much of it lies above timberline, providing out-standing alpine scenery. Many high-elevation trails remain impassable, due to snow, until July and snow can return as early as September.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
GPNF (360) 891-5000; WA Tourism (800) 544-1800.

SEASON:
Jun. - Sep.

RATING:
Moderate

BASE CAMP:
NFS Walupt Lake Campground

Email me if you have any additional information on this ride. I haven't been but sounds like a good one to check out!

Event Review - Steve Rother Clinic

This weekend Leeann will be hosting a clinic with Steve Rother in Washougal. I asked that she write up a quick article on the event to share with you.

As a side note, I've been to a couple of Steve's clinics and have found them invaluable. He's a great teacher and I've learned so much about each of my horses because of these clinics.

If you participate in the clinic with your horse, you can expect 1:1 teaching from Steve. He will cover ground work techniques that build trust and respect between horse and rider so that the issues under saddle will be easier to combat. In addition, you'll learn tips/techniques to really communicate and build a partnership with your horse. After the ground working portion of the clinic, you can mount up and put some of those techniques into practice under saddle.

Event Details
Friday Aug. 1st
7:00 pm - Demo
Saturday Aug. 2nd
9:00 am - 12:00pm Foundation I
1:00pm - 5:00pm Horsemanship I
Sunday Aug. 3rd
9:00am-12:00am Foundation II
1:00pm-5:00pm Horsemanship II
Monday Aug. 4th
9:00 am - 12:00pm Foundation I cont'd
1:00pm - 5:00pm Horsemanship I cont'd
Tuesday Aug. 5th
9:00am-12:00am Foundation II cont'd
1:00pm-5:00pm Horsemanship II cont'd

Website: http://www.eastwindwalkers.com/steverotherclinic2008.html

Spectators are welcome and participants (horses/riders) are still being accepted.

Questions? Leeann - 360-619-2181

Here are Leeann's comments.

Have you ever been inspired by a video or a story and wished that you could do that with your horse?

Have you ever been so moved that you say to yourself…I'm going to get out there tomorrow and start working with your horse and that tomorrow never comes?

Or when you do finally make the commitment and you start working with your horse, within an hour you are frustrated and calling your horse bad names and you find yourself wondering why you even own a horse as your gelding or mare
is running away from you and you have just spent 45 minutes trying to catch him
or her only to have them side swipe you , run you over, knock you down or throw
a cow kick at you as they lounge around you in mindless circles?
At that point are you walking in the house looking up the number to your local auction house?

Have you ever been so mad at your horse that you actually smack him and swear he's the stupidest creature on earth because he just can't figure out what you are asking of them? Have you ever caught yourself saying" "He's never done that before" " He's never bucked before" " I don't know what got into him/her"
Then you find yourself reaching into your bag of excuses and start justifying your horse's bad behavior to save face.Does your horse paw in the trailer?

Does he dig big holes when tied?

Does he cause wrecks when he's tied because he pulls back?

Has he ever refused to load in a trailer?

Does he balk at water puddles, water crossings?

Does your horse send well under saddle?

Has he ever turned his butts towards you when you are approaching?

Does your horse run from you when he sees a halter and lead rope in your hand?

Does he get in your space? Is he pushy?

Are you a notorious treat feeder?

Do you think the horse should learn how to relate to us on our terms instead of us learning to speak their language?

Be honest when you are reading these questions as you silently answer them to your selves in the privacy of your own home where no one else can hear your answers.

And if you are finding it hard to be honest, that's okay because I've heard that Verizon now has cell service even in DENIAL!!!!!

Horses are not human and never will be human. They think differently than us and process information differently than us. They are prey animals and are hard
wired to fight or flight. This is how they have survived for thousands of years. Horses do not have the ability to reason as humans do. Horses do not have the ability to understand English.

Sit down in front of channel 409 and listen to the Spanish speaking channel for a few minutes. That's what we sound like to our horses. They don't understand words. They understand tones and more importantly, they understand body language. Horses live in a silent world. They have approximately 5 or six different sounds they make. Other than that, they speak to each other with physical body language. They have a different interpretation for every physical move we make than what we would expect. They view the world from the eyes of a prey animal where everything that moves is a threat until shown otherwise.

This is the very essence of Natural Horsemanship. This is the reason why we as humans if we want to give the gift of love to our horses, we will put aside our egos, we will put away our anger and will be humble enough to learn the art and the language of the equine. Then and only then can you start to work with the horse in a way that he/she understands. It is amazing how fast horses can learn. I want my horses to learn because they want to not because they fear. I want my horse to be a willing partner, not one forced by tie downs, harsh bits, and whatever
other crazy devices we as humans feel are acceptable to subject to a horse.

Make the right thing easy, make the wrong thing difficult.

Horses just want to get along. That's their nature and a horse will always choose the easier way to get along every time. Use as much as necessary and as little as possible to achieve the goal you are after. Working with a horse is all about FEEL. It's timing of knowing when to ask and when to give. Horses do not learn by pressure but rather by the removal of pressure. They learn by repetition. Erase and ReRecord. Give the horse a better option than the one he's been using.

There is nothing magical about Natural Horsemanship and anyone who wants to can learn it. It's all about timing and all about the feel. Know when to give and when to release. The definition of Insanity is" Doing the same thing over expecting different results. A horse will continue to do the same behavior until he is shown a
better way. All the antics and bad behaviors that horses on occasion will display are all linked to holes in their training and those are all linked backed to the basics of training…THE GROUND WORK. LET ME REPEAT THAT…All behavioral issues can be resolved by going back to the basics of Ground work with Intent.

If you get the opportunity to be a part of a Natural Horsemanship clinic do it. It will be the best gift you will ever give your horse.

Some useful links:

Leeann's website to sign up for the clinic.

Some photos of the 2007 clinic.

Steve Rother's website.

Insiprational videos

Sometimes, when I'm not feeling all too motivated to go ride my horse, I like to surf YouTube, looking for motivational videos that will inspire me to get out and ride.

So ... here are a few of the best-of-the-best that I've found.

Dressage: ANDREAS HELGSTRAND - WEG2006 Freestyle Final - Truly an amazing partnership between horse and rider. I get chills each time I watch this one.

Dressage: Best horse in Europe - Pretty funny commercial.

Bad habit Horse rehab - I love seeing the transformation of these horses. Not to mention the rider is very talented in her handling of the horses. I don't think I could stick some of those bucks and rears that she manages to cling through.

Shetland Pony with identity crisis - Just plain cute.

The Wild West - The true story of how the west was won.

Wow. Big big big horse.

How to ride a horse ... Goofy Style!

Stacy Westfall - Riding bridle-less and without a saddle. Just amazing. I get choked up each time I watch it. I strive for this kind of communication with my horse. I doubt I'll achieve it, but watching the video makes me want to go work harder to make it happen. Here's another one of her that cool too.

Snowball Fight - I love all the Clydesdale Budweiser commercials, but this one in particular makes me laugh each time I see it. I can see my mare doing this to the other horses in her "herd".

Anyway, let me know if you've seen a video on YouTube that's worth checking out!

GPS and the Trail

It's getting harder and harder to get my trail riding schedule to match up with my friend's trail riding schedules. However, I just can't seem to let these nice days pass me by without striking out on a ride or two and so I've found myself hitting the trails alone.

Normally, I don't bat an eye at going to Battle Ground Lake or Whipple Creek alone but lately my adventurous side has been pushing me towards Rock Creek, the Elk Reserve ... essentially, further out and more rural ... also known as "the boonies".

Probably the worst thing about this whole riding alone thing is that I have a horrible sense of direction. I can generally find my way home eventually but the thought that there might be a time when I can't find my way home ... well, that scares me.

So, to keep myself on track, I purchased a Garmin GPS (Global Positioning System).

After getting it installed, downloading maps, and setting up waypoints (or a starting point), I was anxious to try this little bugger out.

Today I started at Rock Creek Campground and meandered along the North Tarbell Trail. I rode that direction for approximate three miles before I ran across signs that the trail was closed for herbicide spraying. So, I turned back around, went back through Rock Creek, and took the Southern Tarbell Trail for another two miles. All told, Buttons (my mare) and I went approximately 10 miles.

Here are some other cool stats my GPS was able to tell me.

Our average speed was 4 mph. She went between 2 and 3 mph when we were going away from the truck and 3 to 4 mph back to the truck. Sneaky little girl!

Our top speed was 10 mph but it was a short lived canter as the road got pretty rocky and I didn't want to risk a stone bruise. But ... for a whole 113 feet, she was a speed racer!

And the coolest thing the GPS recorded was the exact direction I needed to head in order to get back to my truck. I'm attaching an image of the final trip.

The green path on the image to the left is my route and in the middle of that is the Waypoint marker I added to help me find my way back to the truck.

On the ride, I was able to reference this point as well as the trail I'd already ridden to tell me which trail I needed to take when options were presented.

After today's successful adventure, I really see the GPS becoming a staple in my trail gear and I would highly suggest that anyone else hitting the trail alone get one as well.

Kalama Horse Camp Update

I just received this and thought I'd pass it along.

Kalama Horse Camp Trail Status - As of 7/21

The camp is open and was full last weekend.

The trails to Kalama Falls are open and clear.

Cinnamon Trail is blocked by snow on the East end, and has only been cleared for about two miles from camp. Fossil Trail is blocked by snow within a couple miles of Kalama HC, but cleared up to that point.

Kalama Ski Trail/Blue Horse Trail/Toutle Tail Loop (about ten miles of trail) from the horse camp is passable, but you will encounter some blow down and snow.

The Northern sections of the Toutle Trail and Blue Horse Trail (North of Blue Lake) still have deep snow.

The Toutle Trail is still blocked by deep snow on the steep hillside section from McBride Lake to Red Rock Pass, so you cannot make the Blue Lake / Red Rock Pass loop - there has been no maintenance in the upper trail sections yet.

Check out the Trail Map from the USGS.

Schooling Horse Show - Winlock

With gas prices sky-rocketing, I know many of you might not be too interested in travelling a great distance to attend a horse show. Believe me, I feel your pain.

However, there is one show that (if you can muster up the gazillion dollars for gas) would be worth your time to check out.

The Good Life Stables Schooling Show in Winlock, WA is a low-key way for new riders and horses to get used to the show ring and have a great time doing it!

The shows generally bring 25 - 30 riders so the classes aren't hugely overwhelming to newbies (like me) and yet they are approved by APHA - PAC so advanced/intermediate riders can get paint points.

They offer a full class schedule (halter, showmanship, english, and trail) in all ranges (beginner horse, beginner rider, 17 & under, 18 & over, etc.).

The cost is very reasonable at $50 for the entire day or $8 per class. There are stalls available for an additional $10 and the snack bar is open serving breakfast and lunch items (you've got to try the baked potato and nachos!) during the show.

Parking is also very convenient with a pull-through parking arrangement for trucks/trailers.

Here are further directions and a map.

All in all, it's a great event for anyone and everyone! And who knows, maybe I'll see you there.

Beach Riding Update

I just got a great email from Mani that has some fun stuff to check out at the beach. Take a peek and let us know if you have any other ideas!

I think Long Beach, Wa is definitely the best riding beach out there. It goes on forever, is really straight and flat, and there are several places that accommodate horses.

If you want to spend the weekend there are several boarding options right in the city of Long Beach. Go to http://www.funbeach.com and look for horses under activities.

We have stayed at the Red Barn Arena, you have to ride through town to get
to the beach.

If you are are just going for the day I would head up the peninsula to the Ocean
Park beach access and unload horses there. There are fewer people then there are right in downtown Long Beach.

Have fun, Mani

Mt. Adams Horse Camp - Fire Update

I recieved this information today and thought I'd share.

The Mt. Adams Horse camp is still closed due to the Cold Springs fire that started on July 13. It has consumed about 8,000 acres of National Forest, Yakima Reservation, DNR, & private timberlands. The NF and Reservation took the biggest hit. They presently have about 45 miles of firehose laid out and are trying to build a 300' fire line around the burned area. There are 14 Hotshot crews still assigned to the fire and about 1000 firefighters were involved. Some demobilization is taking place.

The trails near camp (# 54,# 38, # 39, # 51 and the lower Loop-no number) were not affected. Gotchen Trail # 40, Cold Springs Trail # 72, Snipes Mt. # 11, Pine Way Trail # 71 suffered heavy fire so it will be a while before they are opened up.

Riding at the Beach

I'm trying to hunt down beach riding information and was hoping someone out there in Clark County Horse land might have information to share. With the good weather coming this weekend, I'd love to get my horses over there before the summer is past us.

What's the best beach to go to?
What about parking?
Got any tips/thoughts/stories to share about your beach riding adventures?

Please drop me a comment or an email info@nwhorseplay.com.

Thanks in advance and happy trails!

Whipple Creek Trail Ride

Whipple Creek is located in Ridgefield, WA just off the freeway and close to the Clark County Fairgrounds. It's easy-to-find location, well groomed trails, and ride-ability, make this a great go-to place when you're looking for a quick, easy ride.

The heavily forested trail is an approximately 4.3 miles. On the back side of the ride, there is a small picnic area that's great for enjoying a quick bite before hitting the trail again.

Driving Directions:
West of the Clark County Fairgrounds on NW 179th Street, south on NW 21st Ave to the trail head.

Map:
Map of the trail.


Footing:
The trail is covered in hog fuel so it's good for unshod horses but it can also be very slippery after a heavy rain.

What to Bring:
Everything! There is no water for horse or rider. There are no restrooms. You'll also want to pack mosquito repellent for this ride.

Parking:
The parking area is fairly large and most days (if the park isn't too full) you can pull through with ease.

Seasons:
Since the trail does get a bit slippery, it's best to head out in the summer/fall or in the winter if things are really dry ... which, as you know, doesn't happen around these parts!

Happy trails!

Ode to Bailing Twine

Bailing twine is a staple in every barn across the country. The orange or blue strings have so many uses.

So, this post is dedicated to bailing twine - the under-appreciated, often ignored, yet super handy tool all horse owners love to hate.

Here are a few of the ways bailing twine adds value to my horse life.

1) Emergency barn fixes - hang a gate quickly, fix a stall front, tie panels together, etc. Basically, patchwork things together until I can get to the tack store for supplies.

2) Hair Accessory - There's nothing worse than working in the barn and having your hair flopping in your face so when I've forgotten a rubber band, I tie it in a knot with bailing twine. No one said you had to be stylin' while at the barn, right?

3) Saddle Bag Ties - I can cut it, re-cut it, then cut it off the saddle so I love to use bailing twine to hold my saddle bags to my saddle for those long trail rides.

4) Makeshift reins - this isn't something I'd recommend but once on a trail ride the screw on my reins disappeared so I used a piece of twine to finish out the ride.

5) Hay Bale Opener - Twine cuts through twine when friction is applied so when I can't find my hay knife, I grab the twine and open bales that way.

How do you use bailing twine? Do you love it? Hate it? Or love to hate it? Drop a comment and fill me in.

Rock Creek Trail Ride

Yesterday I went up to the Rock Creek Camp ground for a day-ride and had a blast.

I started out at the Rock Creek camp ground and meandered my way up the Bells Mountain Trail to the North (upper trail). I rode for about 30-mins before I ran into some logging activity. The trail was still open, but I was on a green bean horse and didn't want to risk the "scare factor" so we turned around and took the lower Tarbell Trail instead.

On this trail, be prepared to pass over a lot of small wood bridges and just past the Cold Creek campground is a steel and concrete bridge that can be quite intimidating to most horses.

The ride is definitely worth it though. The views are amazing. You can ride along the creek and further down the trail you can even splash across the creek and get your horse used to running water.

Be sure to follow safe riding rules (don't ride alone, tell someone where you're going to be, etc. etc.) but be sure to check it out!

Driving Directions:
From Battle Ground, take 503 north for 5-6 miles to Rock Creek Road. Turn right on Rock Creek Road (which becomes Lucia Falls Road) for 8.4 miles to Moulton Falls County Park, where the road swings north toward Yacolt. Instead, turn right on Sunset Falls Road. Go 2.1 miles to Dole Valley Road. Follow this (south) for 5 miles to Rock Creek Campground

Map:
Click here to go to the DNR map.

Footing:
It's dirt most of the ride but they call it Rock Creek for a reason! There are quite a few areas where you'll run into large sharp rocks. Shoes are recommended.

What to bring:
Water! There is a watering hole for horses but nothing for people so be sure to bring clean water for drinking. Also, the map is very helpful as there are lots of different trails to go on.

Parking:
The Rock Creek Campground is great for horse trailers. There are day use parking areas as well as camping areas. The roads are wide and the parking areas all loop around so not too much backing up is called for.

Seasons:
This trail gets wet and snowy in the winter so the best time to check it out is in the summer and fall.

______________________________

All in all, this really is a great place to go for a summer day-ride.

Happy Trails!
-Wendy

Welcome

Hi, and welcome to the first post of Clark County Horse Trails and Tribulations!

Here I'll post some of my recent horsey adventures and hope that they don't bore you to tears ... too often that is.

Feel free to comment and come back often.

In the meantime, if you'd like to write a story to share, please send me an email! I'd be happy to add your stories to this blog as well.