Karen Griffiths

Best pals Kammi Short

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Peninsula riders streak to big finish at patterned games

FEELING THE MIGHT and power of their mighty steeds beneath them, a handful of local riders showed they are among the best of the Pacific… Continue reading

Best pals Kammi Short
Peninsula contestants rode like gangbusters last weekend at the annual Junior Rodeo

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Peninsula riders fare well at Junior Rodeo

PENINSULA JUNIOR RODEO Association members gave corking good performances at the annual Junior Rodeo at the Clallam County Fairgrounds last weekend. More than 90 contestants… Continue reading

Peninsula contestants rode like gangbusters last weekend at the annual Junior Rodeo
The County Mounties and Silver Spurs 4-H drill teams performed at the Jefferson County Fair last weekend. From left are Kalyssa Strayer

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: 4-H drill teams ride to victory at fair

>ON SATURDAY, I asked my mother to accompany me to a photo shoot of the 4-H drill teams at the Jefferson County Fair. There, I… Continue reading

The County Mounties and Silver Spurs 4-H drill teams performed at the Jefferson County Fair last weekend. From left are Kalyssa Strayer
Sequim's Jaylean Dalman and her horse

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Riders deck out Star Spangled show

EQUESTRIAN KYLE ELLIS' long-standing dream came to fruition when the Star Spangled Performance Horse Show took place at the Clallam County Fairgrounds in early July.… Continue reading

Sequim's Jaylean Dalman and her horse
Backcountry Horsemen Peninsula Chapter's Cate Bendock and Project Manager Tom Mix cut the ceremonial cake during dedication ceremonies for the Dan Kelly Olympic Discovery Trail trailhead parking area on June 22. Karen Griffiths/For Peninsula Daily News

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ PENINSULA HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Backcountry Horsemen celebrate new parking lot, trailhead

IT WAS A typical rainy day in June when I attended the Backcountry Horsemen dedication ceremony for the completed trailhead and parking lot off Dan… Continue reading

Backcountry Horsemen Peninsula Chapter's Cate Bendock and Project Manager Tom Mix cut the ceremonial cake during dedication ceremonies for the Dan Kelly Olympic Discovery Trail trailhead parking area on June 22. Karen Griffiths/For Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles Hardwood's Brandon Dodson

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Trials of wild cow milking, muddy trails

PA HARDWOOD'S WILD cow milking team members told me they had a grand time at the Roy Rodeo earlier this month, especially after achieving the… Continue reading

Port Angeles Hardwood's Brandon Dodson
Jefferson County Mounties 4-H helps host equine events such as the May performance and game show at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. From left are Tia Brown

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Old-fashioned tactic can trump gadgets at times

AT TIMES, MY horse Indy can be a bit pigheaded. Last month, he had me stymied on how to get him to trot next to… Continue reading

Jefferson County Mounties 4-H helps host equine events such as the May performance and game show at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. From left are Tia Brown
Peninsula Junior Rodeo teammates are

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Peninsula riders thrive at Kitsap rodeo

I'M TOLD THE weather was beautiful for the first Junior Rodeo of the season earlier this month at Kitsap Posse Rodeo in Silverdale Team mom… Continue reading

Peninsula Junior Rodeo teammates are
Experienced volunteer trail workers Tom Mix

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Horse group volunteers time on trails

WHAT DOES RETIREMENT mean to you? A dictionary describes it as withdrawal from active working. Apparently, Tom Mix didn't get the memo because he's working… Continue reading

Experienced volunteer trail workers Tom Mix
From left

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Sequim group makes small-team wins

“Oh, What A beautiful mornin'/Oh, what a beautiful day./I've got a beautiful feelin'/Everything's goin' my way . . .” Or so I thought as that… Continue reading

From left
Local Washington High School Equestrian Teams graduating seniors with their coaches are

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Peninsula riders win big, break records

ASIDE FROM GETTING drenched with rain at their third and final district meet in Elma last weekend, Washington State High School Equestrian Teams from Port… Continue reading

Local Washington High School Equestrian Teams graduating seniors with their coaches are
Tylar Decker of the Sequim High School equestrian team set a new Washington High School Equestrian Team district record for individual flags with a time of 8.71 seconds. The next WAHSET meet will be Thursday

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Sequim high-schoolers trot to victory

SPRINGTIME'S UPON US, and so far, it's looking like a good time for trail riding. Back Country Horsemen members have been hard at work fixing… Continue reading

Tylar Decker of the Sequim High School equestrian team set a new Washington High School Equestrian Team district record for individual flags with a time of 8.71 seconds. The next WAHSET meet will be Thursday
The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association has changed its name to Peninsula Therapeutic Riding to more aptly describe the type of services it provides to the community. Pictured are

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Riding clinic on lookout for help

YVETTE LUDWAR HAS a heart of gold with a bulldog tenacity, and she's on the hunt for a benevolent benefactor to give Peninsula Therapeutic Riding… Continue reading

The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association has changed its name to Peninsula Therapeutic Riding to more aptly describe the type of services it provides to the community. Pictured are
The Port Angeles High School equestrian team members are

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Port Angeles, ‘satellite’ riders qualify for state

MY LAST COLUMN was all about Sequim High School's first Washington High School Equestrian Team competition, with nary a mention of Port Angeles' WAHSET team.… Continue reading

The Port Angeles High School equestrian team members are
Under rainy Northwest weather

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Sequim team rides to top-15 finishes

READY, SET, GO! Our Clallam high school equestrian teams successfully completed their first of three qualifying meets this year. This column's about the Sequim team.… Continue reading

Under rainy Northwest weather
Equestrians Mary Tulin and Marilyn Crimmel are two of several folks who tone their bodies for riding by participating in Freedom Farm's Rider Fitness Class every Saturday at Sequim's Anytime Fitness. Rick Crimmel

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Riders fit up with strength training

TO ME, WAKING up early to go to a gym workout at 7 a.m. — on a Saturday, no less — sounds as enjoyable as… Continue reading

Equestrians Mary Tulin and Marilyn Crimmel are two of several folks who tone their bodies for riding by participating in Freedom Farm's Rider Fitness Class every Saturday at Sequim's Anytime Fitness. Rick Crimmel

Peninsula Home Fund provides many heartwarming stories, big and small

EDITOR’S NOTE: For 24 years, Peninsula Daily News readers in Jefferson and Clallam counties have supported the “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund.… Continue reading

After having lived on the streets

Out of the rain, thanks to Peninsula Home Fund

PORT ANGELES — Now I lay me down to sleep — but where? It's the question David Latimer, a single parent of three children younger… Continue reading

After having lived on the streets
Members of the Jefferson Equestrian Association and Buckhorn Range chapter of Back Country Horsemen clear the entrance to the new Horse Park in Jefferson County on Saturday. The group hopes to begin hosting events this spring. Michelle Coleman Grimmer

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Port Townsend Horse Park takes shape

AND THEY'RE OFF! Looks like the Port Townsend Horse Park is close to becoming a reality, thanks to the Jefferson Equestrian Association, its active volunteers… Continue reading

Members of the Jefferson Equestrian Association and Buckhorn Range chapter of Back Country Horsemen clear the entrance to the new Horse Park in Jefferson County on Saturday. The group hopes to begin hosting events this spring. Michelle Coleman Grimmer
Roommates and longtime friends

Home Fund gives longtime friends positive energy along with a hand up

EDITOR'S NOTE: End the year on a high note — offer struggling families on our North Olympic Peninsula “a hand up, not a handout” through… Continue reading

Roommates and longtime friends