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Photos by Karen Griffiths Top: Earlier this month, Patterned Speed Horse Super Senior Division rider Sam Parks, 74, on Ed, finished the barrel race in just 15.08 seconds at the Crosby arena, 122 Franson Road in Agnew. The next show there will be July 5-6. Bottom: 4L arena belt buckle awards.

Life

HORSEPLAY: The dangers of feeding others’ horses

THE AUDACITY OF throwing grass clippings over a fence to a neighbor’s horses! You may think it’s a…

Conner Mead in the Bareback competition at last year’s Peninsula Junior Rodeo at Clallam County Fairgrounds. In July, he will compete in the event at the National High School Rodeo Finals. (Photo by Emma Lou)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Mead, Bond bounce back from injuries

HEART’S POUNDING, ADRENALINE pumping — can you sense the rush junior rodeo competitors feel in the chute as…

Kendra Fors Peninsula Junior Rodeo’s participants in Sequim’s Irrigation Festival Grand Parade included Kenzie Fors (wearing cowboy hat) and Skylar Burgett (helmet).

News

HORSEPLAY: 130th Sequim Irrigation Festival parade

I LOVE A parade: The tramping of feet, I love every beat … mostly, I love seeing horses…

Kimi Robertson Freedom Farm Hoof Beats member Lily Robertson and her horse Queen of Hearts (Ruby) showed excellent style and form, placing first in the 95-meter jumper class at the Bainbridge Saddle Club’s first Hunter/Jumper Show of the season.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Spring is the perfect time to go horse riding

SPRING IS IN the air, everywhere I look around. Spring is in the air, in every sight and…

Photo Katie Salmon-Newton Sequim Equestrian Team winners competing at WAHSET State Finals in May are Asha Swanberg, left, Taylor Lewis, Celbie Karjalainen , Joanna Seelye , Kenzi Winters , Paisley Morris and Kaija Johnson.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Sequim Equestrian Team members qualify for state

GREAT NEWS! PENINSULA Pet Emergency is now up and running for emergency dog and cat services with veterinarian…

Earlier this month, the Neon Rider 4-H group held a very successful fundraising bake Grocery Outlet in PA .Photo by Katie Salmon-Newton.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Planning for an emergency

I THINK IT was the radiant smiles, or it could have been the dazzling display of baked goods…

At the annual BCHW rendezvous, held earlier this month in Ellensburg, President Dana Chambers gave the President’s Diamond Award to Larry Baysinger in recognition of his outstanding dedication, passion and commitment to the BCHW mission.

News

HORSEPLAY: Peninsula man wins BCHW Diamond award

BCHW GATHERINGS AND awards were not on his mind, as the longtime Peninsula Chapter member concentrated on doing…

Katie Newton-Salmon For many years, Freedom Farm owner Mary Gallagher has offered use of her indoor arena, with its mud-free ground, for Sequim and Port Angeles’ equestrian team practices — which is helpful during the cold, dark winter evenings. From left are Kiaja Johnson, Katelynn Middleton-Sharpe, Joanna Seelye, Kenzi, Winters and Savannah Boulton.

News

HORSEPLAY: Sequim equestrian team members place at meet

SEQUIM’S EQUESTRIAN TEAM is back home after completing a successful second Washington High School Equestrian Team District 4…

Submitted photo A happy Hannah Grace Nordstrom, with Carolina, exit their halter class with ribbons in hand at the JeffCo Fairgrounds 4-H show in 2018.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Empower youth through positive support

“EVERY SUCCESS, NO matter how small, is a victory worth celebrating,” are inspiring words Hannah Grace Nordstrom said…

Photos by Katie Newton-Salmon 2024 Sequim and Port Angeles Equestrian teams got off to a great start during its first WAHSET competition, bringing home where they brought home nine first place wins. Top row from left: Katelynn Sharpe, Kennedy Gilbertson, Savanah Boulton, Celbie Karjalainen, Asha Swanberg Bottom row left: Coach Misty Gilbertson, PA member Olivia West, Kenzie Winters, Lilly Meyer, Joanna Seelye, Taylor Lewis, Kiaja Johnson, Paisley Morris, PA member Zakara Braun, and coach Ady Crosby. Not pictured non-competing member Paige Reed and advisor Katie Newton.

News

HORSEPLAY: First high school equestrian event of the year for Sequim

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL’S equestrian team had a “great first meet,” said coach Misty Gilbertson of the first Washington…

Life

HORSEPLAY: Peninsula disaster volunteers

LAST NIGHT WAS the highly anticipated meeting of volunteers who are willing to take part in the Clallam…

Life

HORSEPLAY: Planning can help prevent disaster in an emergency

ISN’T IT TRUE in life, when one door closes and appears locked up tight, you can usually find…

Photos by Katie Salmon Cutline: Just look at those smiling and happy faces of the Neon Riders 4-H horse group as they hold up their completed community service projects — care packages filled with personal hygiene items (toothpaste/brushes/shampoo) along with snacks, colored markers and coloring books for children — they gave to organizations helping recently displaced families

Life

HORSEPLAY: Yes, you can be a mentor to a child

MENTORS. ASK A group of adults if anyone had a good mentor while growing up, one who helped…

In 2017, BCHW certified sawyer Larry Baysinger, left, spent a day teaching, and getting chainsaw-certified, members of the new Mt. Olympus Chapter, enabling them to use a chainsaw to clear West End trails of fallen trees and branches. Sadly, due to diminished membership, the chapter is closing. A final potluck dinner will be held Dec 17, 6:30 p.m.,. at Black Diamond Community Center, 1942 Black Diamond Rd, Port Angeles. RSVP rainforestrider@gmail.com. (Photo by Sherry Baysinger)

Life

HORSEPLAY: Happy trails to Back Country chapter

THE CHAPTER STARTED off like gangbusters. Or should I say trailbusters, as the 40-member-strong group forged through backcountry…

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Life

HORSEPLAY: The story of how Robin Hill Park came to be

“WANNA MEET ME for a ride at Robin Hill Park?” I think 2007 was the first time I…

Photo by Karen Griffiths When Ukrainian musical group Kommuna Lux played at the Palindrome recently they met up with Paradigm Sporthorse Trainer Rebecca Cushman to see her two Ukrainian Warmblood imports Tux (shown) and Artist. From left Sergei Zhuravel, Volodymyr Gitin, Bagrat Tsurkan, Oleg Vasianovych, Sergei Poltorak and Yaroslav Besh. They’re currently touring the U.S. and Cananda to raise money to aid their fellow citizens affected by Russian’s military attacks.

Life

HORSEPLAY: From inhuman to humane

THIS FEBRUARY WILL mark the third anniversary of Putin’s large-scale war on Ukraine. His warring atrocities have proven…

Photo by Emily Bishop Cutline: Suzanna Bishop’s horse Dru happily walks away after head butting the scary “Giant Chicken Monster” at a fun-filled obstacle course hosted by JeffCo’s 4-H Horse Club.

Life

HORSEPLAY: Scaring is caring. Halloween is for horses, too.

HIGH WINDS BLOWING debris wildly through the air on an overcast day can be scary to a horse,…

Life

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…