Mustang Adoptions

I just received this schedule of BLM adoptions for Oregon and Washington and thought it was worth posting. There are a lot of great opportunities to own your own mustang!



The Burns BLM facility is open year round, Monday- Friday, 8:00 am - 3:00pm. Horses can be viewed and adopted during these hours. Information on adoption regulations as well as adoption applications can be found on the following link: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/wildhorse/index.php



April 3-4
Ontario, Oregon, Malheur County Fairgrounds, 795 NW 9th Street-
30 mustangs

Friday, April 3
4-7pm: Preview and registration



Saturday, April 47
12:00 noon: Preview and registration
12-12:30.: Adoption through silent bid process
1pm: Loading
1-4pm: Walk-up adoptions



April 17-18
Oakland, Oregon, Holy Spirit Ranch, 918 Rice Valley South Road-
10 mustangs



Friday, April 17
4-7pm: Preview and registration



Saturday, April 18
7-12:00 noon: Preview and registration
12-12:30.: Adoption through silent bid process
1pm: Loading
1-4pm: Walk-up adoptions



April 25-26
Arlington, Washington, Black Raven Stables, 24717 43rd Ave NE-
18 mustangs


Saturday, April 25
8am-2pm: Preview and registration
10am & 12 noon: Gentling demonstrations
2-230pm: Adoption through silent bid process
3pm: Loading



Sunday, April 26
8am: Finish processing/loading as necessary


June 5-6
Cottage Grove, Oregon [THIS ONE IS STILL UP IN THE AIR...]-
30 mustangs



June 19-20
Joseph, Oregon, Joseph Rodeo Grounds, 405 West Wallowa-
10 mustangs



Friday, June 19
4-7pm: Preview and registration



Saturday, June 20
7-12:00 noon: Preview and registration
12-12:30.: Adoption through silent bid process
1pm: Loading
1-4pm: Walk-up adoptions


July 11-12
Longview, Washington, Cowlitz County Fairgrounds,
1900 7th Ave
[TENTATIVE; PENDING APPROVAL]- 30 mustangs

July 17-18

Arlington, Washington, Black Raven Stables, 24717 43rd Ave NE- 12 yearling mustangs, gentled and trained by Washington state 4-H members

Ray Hunt

I am a fan of natural horsemanship. I don't think it's the only method of training that works nor do I adhere to all the pratices of NH. But, my horses and I have really benefited from the foundation of NH which has essentially taught us how to communicate with one another.

If you're a fan of NH then you've probably heard the name Ray Hunt mentioned in more than a few clinics and workshops. He's known to to be the father of NH.

Ray passed away on March 12th and I couldn't let his passing go without a little note.

Although I wasn't lucky enough to have been to one of his clinics, I see his hand of influence on so many of the trainers that are out there now. His methods of patience, softness and respect resound with so many of us that struggle to make ourselves and our horses better creatures.

Ray was a big support of the theraputic riding programs and thus the family is requesting that donations be made to the Ray Hunt Memorial fund which supports programs dedicated to horseback riding for people with disabilities.

Here's a snippet from his website:

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Ray Hunt Memorial Fund
administered by the Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association. It will be used
solely in support of programs dedicated to horseback riding for people with
disabilities. Ray was impressed by how the horses were able to impact
people with disabilities in such dynamic ways and this program really meant a
lot to him. All donations are tax deductible. For more information
on CATRA please go the website: catra.net or contact Ben Nolt 717 – 649 – 9822. Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association, Inc. is a Not-For-Profit Organization
Recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.
CATRA, PO Box 339
Grantville, PA. 17028-0339

I'm thankful for people like Ray that dedicate their lives to passing their knowledge and experience to those of us that wait to soak it up.

And, my horses are thankful too!

Steve Rother Clinic

Did you see Steve at the Horse Expo last weekend? If not, there's another opportunity to check him out this coming weekend in Washougal at a four day clinic where he'll showcase many different horsemanship techniques.

Here's the outline from his website.

This clinic is designed to be an overall learning experience that builds on
several aspects of communication, confidence, respect, trust, impulsion, and
performance. The clinic is open to people of all skill levels and disciplines,
beginner to advanced are welcome. We also welcome horses of all ages and breeds.

This clinic builds on concepts that take several days to achieve. The best
format is to take the entire clinic. A minimum participation of 2 days is
required. If your horse is not rideable or too young, you can take just the
ground work class.

What you will learn:
• Confidence to overcome fears.
• Tools to keep your horse calm, curious, and respectful.
• Feel and timing to increase your horse’s try.
• Common mistakes of both the horse and rider.
• How to think from a horse’s point of view.
• What to do when your horse does the unexpected.
• How to accomplish incredible things with your horse.
• Key exercises to unlock your horse’s potential.
• Exercises to correct your horse’s bad habits.

Essentially we will be teaching you the building blocks for success!

Spectators are welcome - $20 per day
Friday Eve Demonstration $10 (buy one get one free)

I really enjoy watching Steve's clinics. He blends entertainment with information making it informative and engaging for both riders and spectators. His natural horsemanship methods are straight forward, easy to follow and are rooted in the Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman tradition.

Use this rainy weather as an opportunity to improve your knowledge and skill before you hit the trails (or arenas) this summer!

For more information on this clinic or to participate, contact Leeann at 600-4686.

A little bit of this ... a little bit of that

I'm a big fan of "horse multi-tasking". What I mean is that I want my horse to be well-rounded and able to handle any number of different sports and activities. This is primarily because that's how I am and I want a horsey-partner that can adapt to my changing mood.

We're all blessed to be living in a very active horse community where horse multi-tasking is a very real possibility.

We have beautiful trails that we can use year round, cow events at many different venues, drill teams, gaming, barrel racing, jumping, dressage ... well, you name it and it's probably happening somewhere in our county.

Along these lines though, I recently started sorting at the Silver Buckle on Thursday nights. It's a great environment to get your horse used to cows (beginners are welcome). It's a laid back atmosphere where horse and rider have plenty of opportunities to learn and play.

If you aren't sure of the rules, just ask! The group is great and willing to answer any questions you might have.

The activities start promptly at 7:00 pm so arrive around 6:30 pm to pay ($20 for 4 goes) and get settled in. If you don't have a partner, don't worry. There are lots of people that come each week that need partners so they'll be glad to find someone for you to ride with.

Just make sure you give Bryan (he's the gate guy) your name so that you're on the ride list. Or, like I found out my first night, you might be standing around on deck for an awfully long time!

In my opinion, sorting is a great way to get your horse in shape while keeping their mind occupied and alert. I don't know about you, but I'm gearing up for a great summer and that means I need to start getting my horse out now so that we're ready for warmer weather!

Anyway, I'll be there this week and hope to see some new faces!

Trail Closures

It seems that the bad economy is hitting everywhere and everything. Even Washington State Parks are not immune.

In poking around their website, it looks like there is a potential budget reduction of $23 million which means some parks might need to be mothballed (closed). For more information and to have your voice heard, check out their site.

Here's a snippet:

With our state and nation in a deep economic recession, the Governor and Legislature are faced with a budget challenge. Washington State Parks must do
its part in reducing expenditures in the 2009-11 budget to help meet the
challenge.The Governor's budget proposal, announced in December, was based on a revenue forecast that predicted a 5.7 billion revenue shortfall. The Governor’s
budget requires State Parks to take a 10 percent budget cut (approximately $10
million in general fund). More recently, the state’s revenue forecast was
predicted to have a revenue gap of more than $8 billion. As the Legislature
creates its budget for the Governor to sign in late spring, this greater
challenge may require State Parks to make even deeper expenditure reductions
that will affect parks and services. Legislators have asked State Parks to
prepare a scenario that would reduce the State Parks budget by approximately $23 million. The Legislature will adopt and the Governor will sign a final budget
into law in late spring, then the Commission will implement the final budget.

Public comment may be sent to pao@parks.wa.gov. All comment received from
the public will be shared with the Commission.

Horses for Free Foster

Want a horse but don't want to shell out big bucks for it? Royal Ridges has a couple great horses available for a free lease. These horses are already trained and just in need of a loving home where they will be ridden and cared for.

Check out the Royal Ridges website for more information.

http://www.royalridges.org/salehorses.html

Mustang Motiviation

I don't know how many of you had a chance to watch the Mustang Makeover at the Horse Expo last weekend, but let me tell you, it was inspiring!

I was lucky enough to watch on Saturday and was blown away by some of the horses and trainers. After 90 days, most of the horses could switch leads, had beautiful collection, could work cows, and one even laid down on command.

Hmmm .... I should be ashamed! Granted I'm not a trainer, but my goodness, I've had my horses for 5+ years and we're lucky to just now be working on leads and lead changes!

I find it motivating that these trainers were able to take wild horses and turn them into amazing mounts in such a short period of time.

Surely that means I should be able to get my already gentled (sometimes) horse to do some of the same things. Or, at the very least, to switch leads when asked!

Most of the trainers were from right here in the Northwest and the horses all came from BLM land in Oregon. At the end of the event, all the horses were sold and went to approved, loving homes.

I was humbled, inspired, and motivated watching this event. If you get a chance to watch an event like this in the future, I would highly recommend it.

Perhaps, as it did with me, it will inspire you to get down to the barn to work with your horse!

Article in Columbian

There was a pretty neat article in The Columbian about horse neglect in our economy. I mean, neat is relative I guess. Truthfully horse neglect is a sad fact but something we are seeing become more and more of an issue with the current economic situation.

As an aside, I think it's truly amazing what the local rescues are doing to support our equine community. Thank you!

http://www.columbian.com/article/20090322/NEWS02/703229948

If you would like to help, check the Organizations page for a couple of our very active local rescues.

"I Ride"

Someone forwarded this to me and I found it inspiring and so true. I thought I would post it here. I'm not sure who wrote it ... but would like to give credit where credit is due. If anyone knows who the author is, please let me know and I'll post it here.

I ride

That seems like such a simple statement. However, as many women who ride know, it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability.

I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride.

The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'the sickness.' It's a sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my model horses and dreaming of the day I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand the meaning of 'the sickness.' It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and, in some ways, who we are as women and human beings.

I ride.

I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle, whistle up my dog, and I ride.

I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees and savor the movement of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my ball cap down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the dust. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth.

I consider the simple statement; I ride.

I think of all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade into a freezing lake, race a friend through the Manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment.

Still I ride.

No matter how tired or how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse related injuries hurt.

I ride.

And I feel better for doing so. The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold beside rivers full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams. The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on the wing and bobcats on the Prowl add to the empowerment and joy in my heart.

I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie amongst the bunch.. We haul 40ft rigs. We back into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We understand and love our companions, the horse. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, wait, and doctor.

Your hands are a little rough and you travel without makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one.

Now you are there.

I ride.

New Events on the Calendar

Ok, I admit I've been remiss over the last month or so and the calendar has fallen off my to-do list.

But no more!

Today I've updated the calendar with all the events I could possibly find throughout the County (and beyond). So, take a peek, let me know if I missed something important, and hopefully I'll see you all out and about soon!

New Trails at Pilchuck Tree Farm

Check out this article that ran in the Arlington Times.

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/north_sound/arl/news/41032694.html

Good work Traildusters!