Karen Griffiths

Troy McKelvey in front of the Port Townsend Community Center. After he was laid off

Peninsula Home Fund — Veteran now with ‘the best job I’ve ever had’ reflects on the aid he received

EDITOR'S NOTE: For 25 years, Peninsula Daily News readers in Jefferson and Clallam counties have supported the “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund.… Continue reading

Troy McKelvey in front of the Port Townsend Community Center. After he was laid off
Troy McKelvey in front of the Port Townsend Community Center. After he was laid off

Peninsula Home Fund ‘hand up’ precedes ‘best job I ever had’

EDITOR'S NOTE: For 25 years, Peninsula Daily News readers in Jefferson and Clallam counties have supported the “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund.… Continue reading

Troy McKelvey in front of the Port Townsend Community Center. After he was laid off
Z Barker uses a rasp to shape the edges of her donkey Broos' hoof. Equine owners can save a lot of money doing the work themselves — if they learn how to do it correctly. Doing it wrong can do more harm than good.

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: A little off the hoof with tips for trimming

I'VE HEARD SOME use a tree stump, a few use a makeshift stand, and others use their hands and knees to support the hoof as… Continue reading

Z Barker uses a rasp to shape the edges of her donkey Broos' hoof. Equine owners can save a lot of money doing the work themselves — if they learn how to do it correctly. Doing it wrong can do more harm than good.
Perched atop Mount Muller

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Endurance rider writes about going bitless

A FAVORITE TRAIL ride of mine is from Littleton Horse Camp to the Mount Muller summit. I've ridden it several times, and each time, I… Continue reading

Perched atop Mount Muller
These Western games 4-H competitors are all smiles after racking up the points and having a successful run during the Western Washington State Fair in Puyallup. Clockwise from top left are Marissa Wilson

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: On 4-H’ers, home trims, PSHA wins

LATELY, MY COLUMNS have featured how well our Peninsula 4-H youths performed at September's state fair in Puyallup. At one point, I was asked why… Continue reading

These Western games 4-H competitors are all smiles after racking up the points and having a successful run during the Western Washington State Fair in Puyallup. Clockwise from top left are Marissa Wilson
Four-H senior performance riders who competed at the state finals in Puyallup last month include

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: Senior 4-H riders show big at state

LAST TIME, I mentioned how well the intermediate-aged 4-H riders did at the Western Washington State Fair in Puyallup. Now, it's the senior performance riders'… Continue reading

Four-H senior performance riders who competed at the state finals in Puyallup last month include
Puyallup State Fair 4-H Intermediate Performance Riders representing Clallam Country with their blue ribbons of truth

KAREN GRIFFITHS’ HORSEPLAY COLUMN: 4-H’ers win big in Puyallup contest

EARLIER THIS MONTH, parent and equestrian coach Katie Salmon-Newton accompanied four Peninsula 4-H intermediate performance riders — Clallam County 4-H winners — to the Western… Continue reading

Puyallup State Fair 4-H Intermediate Performance Riders representing Clallam Country with their blue ribbons of truth
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