Karen Griffiths

Snickers the rescued donkey with owner Tony Boaz, left, and farrier Glade Rankin. (Karen Griffiths / for Peninsula Daily News)
Snickers the rescued donkey with owner Tony Boaz, left, and farrier Glade Rankin. (Karen Griffiths / for Peninsula Daily News)

Jehovah’s Witnesses return to places of worship, not your doors

SINCE MARCH 2020, the once bustling Kingdom Halls have stayed eerily silent, devoid of Jehovah’s Witnesses activities, after the organization decided to put a halt… Continue reading

Photo by Karen Griffiths

Cutline:  At the horse trailer parking area off Happy Valley Road in Sequim, riders Teresa Crossley, left, Linda Morin and  Judy Dupree were all smiles after finishing up the BCH Peninsula Chapter’s March 13th ride at the Dungeness Trails, located just outside city limits off River Road.

HORSEPLAY: Rides of March wander down Dungeness Trails

BEWARE THE RIDES of March. That was the phrase Back Country Horsemen Peninsula Chapter Event Coordinator Linda Morin used to title the synopsis of the… Continue reading

Photo by Karen Griffiths

Cutline:  At the horse trailer parking area off Happy Valley Road in Sequim, riders Teresa Crossley, left, Linda Morin and  Judy Dupree were all smiles after finishing up the BCH Peninsula Chapter’s March 13th ride at the Dungeness Trails, located just outside city limits off River Road.
Photo by Katie Newton

 

Cutline: WAHSET competitors from the Sequim and Port Angeles teams get ready to compete in Versatility at the second district meet of the season, held at Gray’s Harbor Fairgrounds, are from left, Sydney Hutton, Haley Bishop, Maggie Anderson, and Libby Swanberg getting ready for Versatility

HORSEPLAY: Equestrian meets a team challenge

DO I DARE? The weather’s getting warmer and spring is almost here, so do I dare keep the hose I use to put water in… Continue reading

Photo by Katie Newton

 

Cutline: WAHSET competitors from the Sequim and Port Angeles teams get ready to compete in Versatility at the second district meet of the season, held at Gray’s Harbor Fairgrounds, are from left, Sydney Hutton, Haley Bishop, Maggie Anderson, and Libby Swanberg getting ready for Versatility
Karen Griffiths

 

Cutline:  Three horses that were rescued from abusive homes and taken to Center Valley Animal Rescue are, Tilly, front, Angel (center) and Diva where they are being rehabilitated and made ready for adoption by Sara  Penhallegon and her crew of volunteers.

HORSEPLAY: Animal rescue center: Home between homes

AN ARRAY OF creatures large and small, domesticated and wild, reside at Center Valley Animal Rescue in Quilcene. Sadly, all are there because of owner… Continue reading

Karen Griffiths

 

Cutline:  Three horses that were rescued from abusive homes and taken to Center Valley Animal Rescue are, Tilly, front, Angel (center) and Diva where they are being rehabilitated and made ready for adoption by Sara  Penhallegon and her crew of volunteers.
All photos by Katie Newton

 

Out of small sizes come great teams: With just six competing member’s between them Sequim and Port Angeles WAHSET teams this year, both were allowed to partner together on team events. Maggie Anderson , left,  Libby Swanberg, Haley Bishop,  Sydney Hutton wait for the cow sorting competition at Grays Harbor Fairgrounds, Jan. 21-23.

HORSEPLAY: Sequim, PA teams compete in district meet

MY HEART’S AGLOW at the acts of kindness and generosity of the coaches of the Sequim High School equestrian team for figuring out a way… Continue reading

All photos by Katie Newton

 

Out of small sizes come great teams: With just six competing member’s between them Sequim and Port Angeles WAHSET teams this year, both were allowed to partner together on team events. Maggie Anderson , left,  Libby Swanberg, Haley Bishop,  Sydney Hutton wait for the cow sorting competition at Grays Harbor Fairgrounds, Jan. 21-23.

HORSEPLAY: New horse vet sets up shop on Olympic Peninsula

THERE’S A NEW horse vet in town. Like a boomerang, Cori Youngblood has returned to her roots on the Olympic Peninsula to hang up her… Continue reading

Photo by Jennifer Bond

 

Cutline: Knowing access to drinking water is vital to an animal’s health Lillian Bond uses a pick axe to break through the top layer of ice in her horse’s water trough.

HORSEPLAY: Planning on riding in winter? Here are a few tips

CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH. That was the sound I heard as through the snow I trudged. A twice-daily task it was to feed hay to my… Continue reading

Photo by Jennifer Bond

 

Cutline: Knowing access to drinking water is vital to an animal’s health Lillian Bond uses a pick axe to break through the top layer of ice in her horse’s water trough.
Jan Whitlow’s equine family gather around her in a circle wearing their new waterproof blankets to help protect them from freezing cold, wind and rain that would flatten their otherwise thick and fluffy winter top-coat that serves as an insulator to keep their bodies warm.  From left are Thunder, Mulla the mini-mule, Orion, Patch, Teddy and Shetland pony Belle. (Karen Griffiths/for Peninsula Daily News)

HORSEPLAY: Advice for blanketing horses for winter

SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS AND frost in the lowlands greeted us Tuesday morning, Dec. 21, Winter Solstice and the first day of winter. Which begs the question:… Continue reading

Jan Whitlow’s equine family gather around her in a circle wearing their new waterproof blankets to help protect them from freezing cold, wind and rain that would flatten their otherwise thick and fluffy winter top-coat that serves as an insulator to keep their bodies warm.  From left are Thunder, Mulla the mini-mule, Orion, Patch, Teddy and Shetland pony Belle. (Karen Griffiths/for Peninsula Daily News)

HORSEPLAY: A few thoughts on horses, weather and training

BRR! THE WEATHER outside is frightful, but the warm fire from my wood stove is just so delightful. The other day, as I was sitting… Continue reading

PHOTO courtesy of WASART

Cutline: A Washington State Animal Response Team tends to Tango,  a horse who’d lain down in his stall and wouldn’t get back up. They used a tripod to lift the horse, place on a glider and then maneuvered into a horse trailer for transport to an equine hospital.

HORSEPLAY: Animal rescue group seeks volunteers

WHEN YOUR ANIMAL is in need of a rescue, who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters! If your horse, dog or livestock falls into a ravine,… Continue reading

PHOTO courtesy of WASART

Cutline: A Washington State Animal Response Team tends to Tango,  a horse who’d lain down in his stall and wouldn’t get back up. They used a tripod to lift the horse, place on a glider and then maneuvered into a horse trailer for transport to an equine hospital.
Visiting clinician Martin Black instructs the principles of working with cows to students earlier this month at Freedom Farm in Agnew. He’ll be back to give another clinic on horsemanship skills the week of March 16-20. For more information, call Mary Gallagher at 360-457-4897. (Submitted photo)

PENINSULA HORSEPLAY: Wind, vandals wreak havoc on trails, camps

Howling winds have knocked trees and other debris down onto trails, effectively blocking the way. If venturing out, be sure to bring wood-cutting tools with… Continue reading

Visiting clinician Martin Black instructs the principles of working with cows to students earlier this month at Freedom Farm in Agnew. He’ll be back to give another clinic on horsemanship skills the week of March 16-20. For more information, call Mary Gallagher at 360-457-4897. (Submitted photo)
Back Country Horsemen of Washington Peninsula Chapter member Del Sage helps a Scout with Troop 1498 with his horse-riding skills at Layton Hill Horse Camp. (Courtesy of Linda Morin)

HORSEPLAY: Scouts get help with horsemanship badges

“WOW! WHAT A weekend,” exclaimed Linda Morin, a member of Back Country Horsemen’s Peninsula Chapter, when she and fellow members helped Sequim Scout Troop 1498… Continue reading

Back Country Horsemen of Washington Peninsula Chapter member Del Sage helps a Scout with Troop 1498 with his horse-riding skills at Layton Hill Horse Camp. (Courtesy of Linda Morin)
Photo by Karen Griffiths

Cutline; To promote healing caused by an injury Dayna  Killam performs pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on Nova, a horse owned by Lori Colson George during an Olympic Peninsula Equine Network fundraising event held at Layton Hill Horse Camp in Sequim.

HORSEPLAY: Alternative therapy can help equine friends

IN A SPLIT second, my life was changed forever, and not in a good way, after a table saw accident in 2010 rendered the index… Continue reading

Photo by Karen Griffiths

Cutline; To promote healing caused by an injury Dayna  Killam performs pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on Nova, a horse owned by Lori Colson George during an Olympic Peninsula Equine Network fundraising event held at Layton Hill Horse Camp in Sequim.
Photo by Kimi Robertson
In August Freedom Farm’s trainer Mary Gallagher (far right) took her Advanced Hoof Beats students to camp and ride along the shore on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula in Long Beach.  All came home with wonderful lifetime memories.

HORSEPLAY: Hoof Beats on beach for August treat

I IMAGINE RIDING a horse on an ocean beach is a dream come true for every horse lover. And it’s an opportunity that Freedom Farm… Continue reading

Photo by Kimi Robertson
In August Freedom Farm’s trainer Mary Gallagher (far right) took her Advanced Hoof Beats students to camp and ride along the shore on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula in Long Beach.  All came home with wonderful lifetime memories.
Photo by Katie Newton

Cutline: Ready for the Hunt seat class at the 4-H horse show at the Clallam County Fairgrounds are Lela Bankson, left, on Banjo, KK Pitts on Mikey and Lila Torey on Smokey.

HORSEPLAY: Time to get 4-H, other groups going again

SMASH AND GRABS are on the rise at Olympic Peninsula trailheads. Recently, there were a number of break-ins reported by trail users at Miller Peninsula… Continue reading

Photo by Katie Newton

Cutline: Ready for the Hunt seat class at the 4-H horse show at the Clallam County Fairgrounds are Lela Bankson, left, on Banjo, KK Pitts on Mikey and Lila Torey on Smokey.
Photo by Denise Hupfer

 

Cutline:  Back Country Horsemen of Washington members Linda Morin, left, Ray and Rochelle Sutherland had a grand time leading the equine Joyce Daze Parade entries from three local chapters  on Aug. 7

HORSEPLAY: Summer full of blackberry joy and wildfire fears

WHO DOESN’T ENJOY a parade? Especially one centered on fresh wild blackberries and homemade blackberry pie? This year marked the 38th annual Joyce Daze Parade,… Continue reading

Photo by Denise Hupfer

 

Cutline:  Back Country Horsemen of Washington members Linda Morin, left, Ray and Rochelle Sutherland had a grand time leading the equine Joyce Daze Parade entries from three local chapters  on Aug. 7
Nose to Toes Certified Acupressure Practitioner Bridget Stumbaugh, left, applies finger pressure to a meridian point on Laurie Corson’s horse Nova to aid in releasing pain caused by an injury and restore the body's qi, or positive energy flow. Aroma therapy with therapeutic herbal oils also helped turn the usually nervous horse into a relaxed and happy equine. (Karen Griffiths/for Peninsula Daily News)

HORSEPLAY: Acupressure helps horses with physical pain, mental well-being

WATCH OUT! IS your horse sounding the alarm that it’s in pain? Untold injuries to humans have been caused by a horse in pain. I… Continue reading

Nose to Toes Certified Acupressure Practitioner Bridget Stumbaugh, left, applies finger pressure to a meridian point on Laurie Corson’s horse Nova to aid in releasing pain caused by an injury and restore the body's qi, or positive energy flow. Aroma therapy with therapeutic herbal oils also helped turn the usually nervous horse into a relaxed and happy equine. (Karen Griffiths/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo by Katharyn Rivers

Cutline: Congratulations to PA’s high school equestrian team for winning medals  at the WAHSET State Finals held last weekend in Moses Lake. Sara Holland, left, won the bronze while  Sydney Hutton’s high score gained  her first place and the gold medal in Hunt Seat Equitation over fences.  Amelia Kinney, right, triumphed over all with a first place time of 3.89 that helped her bring  home the gold in Breakaway roping.

HORSEPLAY: Port Angeles equestrians place at state finals

SUMMER FUN, BLUE skies, green pastures and long days of sun are finally upon us. It’s certainly a favorite time of the year for most… Continue reading

Photo by Katharyn Rivers

Cutline: Congratulations to PA’s high school equestrian team for winning medals  at the WAHSET State Finals held last weekend in Moses Lake. Sara Holland, left, won the bronze while  Sydney Hutton’s high score gained  her first place and the gold medal in Hunt Seat Equitation over fences.  Amelia Kinney, right, triumphed over all with a first place time of 3.89 that helped her bring  home the gold in Breakaway roping.
Sequim and Port Angeles high school equestrian teams take a break at the Washington High School Equestrian Team District 4's third and final meet in Elma before state finals. They are bottom row, from left, Haley Bishop (PA), Katie Marchant (PA), Libby Swanberg (S), Keri Tucker (S), Sydney Hutton (PA), Abby Garcia (S), Sara Holland (PA) and Amelia Kinney (PA); top row, from left, Susannah Sharp (S) and Rainey Bronsink (S). (Photo courtesy of Katie Newton)

HORSEPLAY: Port Angeles, Sequim equestrians ready to head to state finals

SEQUIM AND PORT Angeles high school equestrian teams did an outstanding job at the third and final state high school Equestrian District 4 meet of… Continue reading

Sequim and Port Angeles high school equestrian teams take a break at the Washington High School Equestrian Team District 4's third and final meet in Elma before state finals. They are bottom row, from left, Haley Bishop (PA), Katie Marchant (PA), Libby Swanberg (S), Keri Tucker (S), Sydney Hutton (PA), Abby Garcia (S), Sara Holland (PA) and Amelia Kinney (PA); top row, from left, Susannah Sharp (S) and Rainey Bronsink (S). (Photo courtesy of Katie Newton)