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Carrie Kirksey (gray sweatshirt, front left) and Raquel Edwards (far right) had fun learning some new dance moves while listening to local band JFA during OPEN’s annual fundraiser at Sequim’s Layton Hill Horse Camp. The two traveled from Snohomish to support the event after Kirksey adopted her horse Missy from OPEN. Thanks to generous donations OPEN reached its goal of raising enough money to fill its barn with another year’s worth of hay. (Karen Griffiths/For Peninsula Daily News)

Life

HORSEPLAY: OPEN fundraiser helps feed needy horses during winter

“IT’S SUCH A wonderful feeling knowing we have a year’s worth of hay stacked in our barn,” exclaimed…

Photo by Katie Newton Cutline: 4-H High Point winners from a show earlier this month which qualifies riders to compete at the Clallam County Fair’s horse show Aug. 17-20. Left to right: Intermediate Champion Lila Tore;, Intermediate Reserve Champion Ellie Karjalainen; Helping Hands trophy Kinlee Morris; Walk Trot Champion Elise Sirguy; Walk Trot Reserve Champion Grace Karjalainen; Games Champion Katelynn Sharpe; Senior Reserve Champion tied between Celbie, Karjalainen and Ava Hairell; Senior Champion Taylor Maughan. Not pictured is Games Reserve Champion Zakara Braun.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Clallam County 4-H horse show a success

EXCITEMENT AND GIGGLES were in the air during this month’s pre-fair 4-H horse show at the Clallam County…

Submitted photo Congratulations to these Equitese Pony Club members for attaining higher levels of accomplishments through the U.S. Pony Club of America. Levels of certification start at what is called D Level (beginner), progressing to C Level (intermediate) then to B Level and A Level (advanced). From left: Hazel Vidal, level D3 in dressage; Addi Staley, D2 in hunt seat equitation; Lisa Cartwright, D2 in dressage and D3 in horse management; Galadriel Nichols, D2in dressage and D3 in horse management; Katie Haman, D2 in dressage and D3 in horse management; Rose Soini, D2 in eventing (in flat work) and horse management . Visit www.ponyclub.org for more information. Follow the club on its Facebook page, Equitese Pony Club.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Tips and tricks for dealing with equine insect issues

“DID YOU INCLUDE her bits and pieces?”

Photos by Karen Griffiths Cutline: Members of the Peninsula Chapter of Back Country Horseman gathered for at Miller Peninsula State Park for a pre-ride breakfast before hitting the trails for its annual Rhody Ride. The state’s official flower, the pink flowered Pacific Rhododendron, R. macrophyllum, was in full bloom.

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HORSEPLAY: Rhody rides and events make summer fun

IT’S BLOOMING RHODY time! June is the month when our native Pacific Rhododendron’s pink flowers are on full…

Fork’s Destiny Ashue, 9, was all smiles when she got to touch horses for her first time during the Annual Save the Trails event last month at Littleton Horse Camp. Hosted by Backcountry Horsemen’s Mt. Olympus and Peninsula chapters, she was overjoyed to be able to lead this mini-horse by herself (under the watchful eye of Mt. Olympus BCH Chapter member Wendy Brundle)Photos by Karen Griffiths

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HORSEPLAY: Warm weather helps make ‘Share the trail’ a success

I HITCHED A ride with Kim Bues last month to the annual Share the Trail event hosted by…

Cutline: Sequim parents cheered the team on wearing their fan vests made by mom Anna Swanberg. Bryan Swanberg, left, Anna, Christie Sharpe, and Misty Gilbertson

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HORSEPLAY: Sequim High School equestrians finish out season strong

LIFE CONSTANTLY THROWS disappointments our way, doesn’t it? Learning positive ways to overcome problems, is why it’s important…

Photo by Karen Griffiths At a May 6 Patterned Speed Horse game show honoring his great-grandfather Ted Crosby, a very young Nyle Crosby James is led through his first competitive barrel racing pattern by his mother, Ady Crosby, while steadied by his father Jeff James. Crosby, 87 passed away March 30 of complications of prostate cancer.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Equine veterinary services in short supply

SPLAWN LIVES! IN my April 22 column I mentioned how we horse owners missed the dedication and service…

Sequim’s high school equestrian team celebrates taking home the district 4 small teams Championship, along with belt buckles and medals at the end of their final district WAHSET competition. The team’s high scores also earned them 24 qualifying placements to compete at the State Finals in May. Standing from left: Coach Katie Newton, Celbie Karjalainen, Katelynn Sharpe, Lily Meyer, Kennady Gilbertson, Coach Bettina Hoesel, Assistant Coach Keri Tucker. Sitting from left: Libby Swanberg, Sydney Hutton, Paige Reed. Photo submitted by Katie Newton

Life

HORSEPLAY: WAHSET competition; how to treat choking

THREE CHEERS AND a hip-hip hurrah for Sequim High School Equestrian Team, with Celbie Karjalainen, Kennady Gilbertson, Paige…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Cutline: Griffiths’ horse Sunny was a beautiful and powerful barrel racer, plus all around good horse, who had a soft spot for her grand-nephew Rory Ceballos, then 5. Sadly, after a harsh winter filled with illness she was put down last week.

Life

HORSEPLAY: It’s hard to say farewell to a four-legged friend

WITH A HEAVY heart, I said goodbye to Sunny, my light-colored palomino last week. Horseplay readers may recall…

Photos by Karen Griffiths Cutline: Peninsula Junior Rodeo competitors Lillian Bond and Jasper practice Breakaway Roping (meaning she releases the rope after she throws the loop around the steer’s head instead it staying attached to her saddle horn and backing up to keep a tight connection between horse and steer)) using a “dummy” steer pulled by a Quad driven by her mom Jennifer Bond.

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HORSEPLAY: Kids come join PJRA; learn the ropes, riding

CALLING ALL BUCKAROOS, cowboys and cowgirls! It’s time to saddle up and join our local Peninsula Junior Rodeo…

Sequim Equestrian Team won 1st place in 10 events at its second of three Washington High School Equestrian Team meets, held Feb. 24-26, at Grays Harbor Fairgrounds indoor area. Competing with borrowed horses in Showmanship were Katelynn Sharp, left, with Nikki (coach Keri’s horse) and Celbie Karjalainen with Pistol.Sequim Equestrian Team won 1st place in 10 events at its second of three Washington High School Equestrian Team meets, held Feb. 24-26, at Grays Harbor Fairgrounds indoor area. Competing with borrowed horses in Showmanship were Katelynn Sharp, left, with Nikki (coach Keri’s horse) and Celbie Karjalainen with Pistol (Coach Katie’s horse). (Photo courtesy of KATIE SALMON-NEWTON)

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HORSEPLAY: Cold weather for Washington High School Equestrian Meet

ARE Y’ALL TIRED of the freezing cold temperatures? March 20 is officially the first day of Spring. I…

Photo by Donna Hollatz Cutline: After Robin Hall County Park closed due to a Nov. windstorm which fell a large amount of big trees — causing a dangerous situation to the public — BCH Peninsula Chapter member Tom Mix, left in green hat, led a Sawyer Training and Certification Day at the park. Here, members are taught techniques for using a cross-cut saw. Training also included using a chainsaw.

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HORSEPLAY: Like chainsaws? Sawyer training may be for you

TRUTH BE TOLD, I’m a bit fearful when we’re faced with freezingly cold, strong, gusty winds blowing in…

Submitted photo Cutline: Sequim’s WAHSET Cattle sorting team of Katelynn Sharp, left, and Riley Smith at a recent practice in Port Orchard

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HORSEPLAY: Sequim WAHSET takes top spots at first meet

FIRST, SECOND, THIRD — Sequim’s cowsorting team swept the event, with first place going to Libby Swanson and…

Photo by Sherry Baysinger Cutline: Larry Baysinger dismounts his horse Scout to clear fallen tree branches off a trail in Mt. Mueller. Davidson, his mules, is fitted with a pack saddle designed to carry his chainsaw on top, an axe (the yellow axe handle is seen sticking out of the pack box) and other tools, and even two small chairs he and his wife to sit on when taking a break.

Life

HORSEPLAY: The keepers of Mt. Mueller

THE “KEEPERS OF Mt. Mueller,” is how I refer to Larry and Sherry Baysinger. For more than 30…

Photo by Karen Griffiths As OPEN enters its 16th year, the local horse rescue organization is reaching out to the public to ask for more donations, because for the first time, the 2022-year end finances showed a deficient. Co-founder Diane Royall, left, with horse trainer (and her daughter) Kate Tibbits, board member Glenda Cable and Co-founder Valerie Jackson stand in front of OPEN’s used tack shop at 251 Roupe Road in Sequim. Open by appointment only, all proceeds go to help horses in. For an appointment or other inquiries call and leave a message, including your name and phone number, at 360-207-1688.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Olympic Peninsula Equine Network looks for support

BY NOW OLYMPIC Peninsula Equine Network, or OPEN, runs like a well-oiled machine. But even a well-oiled machine…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Cutline: The Steffen family with their BLM mustangs from left: Glamour (4), Sierra Steffen, Freesta (4), Stardust (5), Marisa Steffen, Tahani (5), Lucy (2), Eliza Steffen and mom Erica Steffen with Big Guy (1). The girls are taking part in a 100-day training competition with some of the mustangs, and at the end will show their new skills at the Teens and Oregon Mustang Showdown, held during the Northwest Horse Expo in Albany, Oregon March 24-26. On the evening 26th the mustangs in the competition will be auctioned off.

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HORSEPLAY: The Steffen family is all in for the mustangs

WILD MUSTANGS! WHAT comes to mind when you read those words? Perhaps pictures or movies of them rearing…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Cutline: It’s common for horses in advanced stages of osteoarthritis to refuse to allow a hoof to be lifted off the ground due to high pain it causes. After watching a farrier on YouTube use a 2 x 6” board to stand the hoof on it with a side overhanging the edge, which allowed enough room to slide a file under to rasp off excess hoof. Lacey would only stand on the board a few seconds at a time, finding it more comfortable to have her leg lifted up and stretched forward to rest on the hoof stand so the undercarriage could be worked on.

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HORSEPLAY: Hoof trimming for the arthritic horse

I REMEMBER CLEARLY the day my beautiful palomino Lacey refused to let me pick up her left front…

Submitted photo Neon Riders 4-H Club’s Ruby Coulson stands in front of the renowned Saddlebred Horseman Tom Moore’s statue fresh from her win in the Individual Presentation Contest for her slide-show and speech, “Equine Regenerative Therapies.” at the 4-H National competition in Kentucky. Billed as the Largest Youth Equine Education Event in North America, it’s a huge accomplishment for the young woman from Sequim.

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HORSEPLAY: Sequim student wins first at 4-H Nationals

WHO’D A THOUGHT the day would come when stem-cell therapy would be used to improve the healing of…

Life

PENINSULA HORSEPLAY: Learn how to hike, bike or motor near horses

“WELL, SURPRISE, SURPRISE, surprise!” I’m hearing Gomer Pyle’s catch phrase from the 1960s Andy Griffith TV show going…

Photo by Karen Griffiths Cutline: A crowded room greeted Washington State Park’s Miller Peninsula planners when they hosted an Open House Tuesday in an event room at the 7-Cedars Hotel. Local residence were there to voice their concerns and opposition to the State’s plan to turn the well-used multi-use community park set in its natural surroundings into a recreational tourist attraction with 127 camp sites — some large enough for big Recreational Vehicles — and even a lodge style hotel.

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HORSEPLAY: Miller Peninsula planners hear an earful from equestrians

THE HUNDREDS OF people in attendance were packed like sardines into the Blyn-Bay event room at the 7…