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HORSEPLAY: Better to be safe than sorry in an emergency

BETTER SAFE THAN sorry is my motto for emergency preparedness. I’m in my 21st year of writing Peninsula…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Tackling the abandoned dog crisis, local business owners Shelby, left, and Martha Vaughan share their progress in getting the new non-profit Fox-Bell Humane Society, operating under OPEN’s 501c3 non-profit, up and running in Clallam County. Very soon the doors on the new facility on Barr Road (on 3-acres behind the Fox-Bell Event Center) which will be dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming horses, dogs, and other animals. Key to its mission is offering low-cost spay and neuter programs to dogs and cats in order curb crisis off too many unwanted animals overcrowding shelters across the nation.

News

HORSEPLAY: A call to help those who help the community

I TIP MY hat to three passionate, action-orientated and strong women who are life-long animal rescuers and advocates…

Photo by George Campbell Cutline: Angeles’ Reegan Pare, 14, throws her lasso over the steer’s horns in the team roping event at the Peninsula Junior Rodeo in August.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Peninsula youth take to arenas this summer

WELL, CHUTE DOGGITY Dog! I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw such tiny tots competing in…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Cutline: As the last egg carrier, Luke Seeley, with Ruby, loped around the arena — and keeping his raw egg snuggled firmly into the spoon — making him the winner of the Egg on a Spoon contest at the JeffCo Fair.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Keep kids off electronics with summer equestrian events

OH HOW I relish celebrating our area youth equestrians’ accomplishments. I say the more we can get them…

50 young ones signed up to take part in Fox-Bell Farm Training’s Hawaiian themed Kids Camp last weekend, including McCoy Sprenger, 7, on Moon, who played a ring toss game as instructor Sofie Feik looked on. (Photo by Mike Sprenger)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Kids, horses take center stage on the Peninsula

IT WARMED MY heart seeing how much pleasure the 50 campers and helpers encountered during Fox-Bell Farm &Training’s…

At the end of the Clallam County prefair show, Wes Church received the Biggest Helping Hand Award for helping to keep the barn clean, running errand and giving encouraging compliments. (Photo by Katie Newton)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Peninsula equestrians compete, feature at fairs

WEATHER WISE, WE’RE certainly experiencing some delightful riding weather this summer! Lots of bright, warm (and even hot)…

During the PSHA game show at the Crosby arena in Agnew last weekend, Duncan Parks, 18, and Ed ran a blazingly fast “A” division time of 8.45 in the Keyrace. (Karen Griffiths/for Peninsula Daily News)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Olympic Peninsula equestrians beat the heat

ARE YOU FEELING beat by the heat? It’s sure had me feeling down for the count. Among those…

Life

HORSEPLAY: Equestrian summer camps and horse trailer heat risk

THIS TIME OF year, I get frequent inquiries asking if I know of any horse camps, and/or have…

Submitted photo Photo: Bottom left to right, Coach Natalie Blankenship, Paige Reed, Libby Swanberg, Joanna Seelye, Katelynn Middleton-Sharpe, Kennady Gilbertson, Coach Katie Newton. Top left to right, Taylor Lewis, Lily Meyer, Asha Swanberg, Sydney Hutton, Coach Ady Crosby and Coach Misty Gilbertson.

Life

HORSEPLAY: WAHSET state finals

SEQUIM’S SMALL YET mighty equestrian team gave a dazzling display of finesse, power and speed at the Washington…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Cutline: A fundraiser for WAG and Open starts Today at 11 a.m. with an English and jumping fun show, followed tomorrow with a Western Games show at Kari Payne’s 4-L arena off Blue Mountain Road, 95 S. McCrorie Rd. Port Angeles. Fox-Bell Farm owner Shelby Vaughan, and her assistants Sophie Feik and Kaia Lestage (holding Marley) will be there to host. Shown is Tatar Trots, 10. a horse Shelby got from OPEN five years ago when he was a feral, unhandled stallion and, now, after castrating and training, he’s a docile horse who enjoys teaching kids how to ride. (Rescue dog Rocky laying down if he’s shown in photo)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Rescue program gives horses new life

SHELBY VAUGHAN WAS born into the rescue mindset. She grew up on Bainbridge Island on a farm where…

Photo by Katie Newton By the end of meet three, Sequim High School Senior Sydney Hutton’s multiple wins included Gold in Jumping, Silver in Saddle Seat, Bronze in Dressage.

News

HORSEPLAY: Sequim High team wins District 4 championship

OH MY, MY, but these gals can boogie!

OPEN’s Spring Tack Sale is Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 251 Roupe Road (off Hooker Road). Proceeds benefit rescued horses, minis, ponies (such as the one pictured with grossly overgrown hooves) and donkeys. Western and English saddles, saddle pads, halters, sheets, bits, bridles; western jewelry, clothes, boots and more. (photo by Valerie Jackson)

News

HORSEPLAY: Clean up after yourself and your horse

CLEAN UP ON aisle 7! Remember: Unlike a grocery store clerk who calls an employee over the loudspeaker…

Deb Pavlich-Boaz and her husband Tony Boaz say strangers stop to feed her horses and it’s endangering their health. They care for aging equines and others with special dietary needs at their home off Old Olympic Highway in Agnew. (Karen Griffiths/for Peninsula Daily News)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Hey, don’t touch the hay. Don’t feed strangers’ horses

“ONE BAD APPLE don’t spoil the whole bunch girl!” Today’s column is about reminding folks NOT to feed…

Libby Swanberg and Sydney Hutton took part in the Senior Salute, which lauds the accomplishments of graduating high school seniors and bids them a successful future. (Photo by Katie Salmon-Newton)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Sequim equestrian team wins, sets record

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL equestrian team is certainly having a winning season!

CutlIne: What beautiful long ears and adorable eyes he has! Meet Rio, a mammoth donkey who grew to 16’2 hands tall.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Want a donkey? A beginners guide to donkey care

GOT THE URGE to bring home a cute, adorable miniature donkey? I’ve been resisting that impulse myself since…

Photo Credit: Anna Swanberg Cutline: Sequim’s high school equestrian team brought home a whopping 12 first place wins at the first WAHSET meet of the season , from Left: Libby Swanberg , Kennady Gilbertson, Joanna Seelye, Katelynn Middleton-Sharpe and Asha Swanberg.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Sequim High School opens season with 12 blue ribbons

I’M SO PROUD of Sequim High School’s equestrian team for bringing home 12 blue ribbons from their first…

Photo submitted by Karen Griffiths Melody Johnson with mini donkey Maximus

Life

HORSEPLAY: The magical and musical world of training donkeys

WITH A FIRST name like Melody, it seems appropriate that Sequim’s self-proclaimed “Donkey whisperer” Melody Johnson has a…

By Karen Griffiths Marissa uses Freesia, 6, a Paisley Desert HMA Oregon BLM Mustang, Liberty training to instruct her to lift her left leg up.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Trust, kindness are keys to training wild horses

TO QUOTE THE Glen Campbell song, “You Got to Try a Little Kindness” when training an unbroken or…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Cutline: During a lesson in Freedom Farm’s indoor arena Hadley Wolslegel goes over a set of cavetti under the guidance of farm owner and instructor Mary Gallagher. Working over cavetti, which can be set up with varying heights and poles, helps the rider learn how to maintain a sense of timing, balance and form, and aids the rider in developing the ability to evaluate distance and measuring the horse’s length of step —shortening or lengthening —when going over jumps.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Learning Lessons

“I FELT LIKE I was flying,” is what my niece Ashely Griffiths, then 8, my brother’s middle child,…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Still a wild mustang who, overall, dislikes being touched, Freya offers her nose for Vanessa to touch.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Wild BLM horses find a paradise on the Olympic Peninsula with Vanessa Lowe

PARADISE WAITS WITH open arms to help abused, abandoned and aggrieved Bureau of Land Management wild mustangs live…

    Best of Olympic Peninsula

    Best of Olympic Peninsula