ARE YOU FEELING beat by the heat? It’s sure had me feeling down for the count. Among those able to push past the hot (upper 80s) temperatures — and even excel — were those athletic riders and horses who took part in last weekend’s three-day Patterned Speed Horse game show at the Crosby Arena in Agnew. More than a handful even attained record-breaking rides.
For decades, the Crosbys’ arena has been known to be among the best arena racing grounds in the state. In a large part due to the dedication and work of Ted and Shirley Crosby, who bought the land in the 1970s, and in support of their daughter Pam’s love of speed events, followed by granddaughter Ady, who currently is a riding instructor and serves as next year’s Sequim High School equestrian head coach for Washington High School Equestrian Team (WAHSET).
With the loss of her father and an aging mother, Pam said, “We couldn’t still be holding these shows if we didn’t have the Parks family organizing and running it.”
The Parks family head is Super Seniors fast and furious rider Sam Parks, 73. Prior to their retirement, for years he and his wife Donna had served as top organizers and supporters of local family-oriented horse organizations, including as co-founders of Peninsula Junior Rodeo. Donna also became well-known locally as a talented show outfit/costume designer and seamstress.
Their daughter Jessica is a retired U.S. Navy officer who’s known as a fierce and able competitor. During the show I watched, she and her horse ran another fast “A” time of 8.73 in the Keyrace.
Son Jamie and his wife Melanie are lead organizers and producers of shows at the Crosbys. She keeps track of race times and paperwork, while he’s the lead announcer. Jamie is also this year’s PSHA president and he’s currently working on getting his auctioneer license. Both can always be found working hard behind the scenes at shows their children, Duncan, 18, a recent high school graduate, and Samatha, 16, compete in.
Due to Duncan’s horse experiencing some issues with timed events, Sam said the two shared his horse, Ed, three weeks ago at an PSHA O-Mok-See competition. There, he said, they both had, “some smoking runs” on Ed, including the “fastest Keyrace run I’ve ever had with a time of 7.5.”
In Keyrace, an “A” division time is 8.749 and under while a supreme time is 8.30 and under.
“So I’m calling that a super, super supreme time,” he said with a happy smile. For more information, visit the website speedhorse.com.
I apologize for not being up to date on all the local contestants there, but I will say it was wonderful seeing so many families there, including Misty Gilbertson competing alongside her daughter (and WASHET competitor) Kennady Gilbertson, as well as Tammy Hull, competing with daughter Tanya, a former WASHET competitor) and grandson Levi — and it was very exciting seeing new a competitor and Tanya’s husband Charles Duerr racing as well.
Events
• Today and Sunday, Winning Your Horse’s Heart through Bodywork with Sylvie. Participants $255, auditors $25 a day. Held at Freedom Farm, 493 Spring Road in Agnew. The phone contact is 907-342-5744.
• 9 a.m., July 27-28, the Peninsula Chapter of Back Country Horsemen hosts its annual Campout, Ride & Dutch Oven Dinner at Sage Horse Camp. Saturday ride out at 10:30 a.m. Happy hour 5 p.m., dinner 6 p.m. Individual horse corrals for two horses with campsites donated to BCH members. RSVP ASAP to reserve yours. Sage Horse Camp, 2514 Chicken Coop Road, Sequim. Contact Theresa Percy 360-301-6238.
• July 27-28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Equine Health & Emergency First Aid basic and advance clinics with Amber Palmer. Living remotely, sometimes it’s difficult to get a veterinarian to respond. You are your horse’s first responder. Here’s an opportunity to better prepare yourself.
Cover the basics: Conditioning your horse to accept treatment, vital signs, wounds, bandaging, colic, choke, collapse, casting, burns, snake bite and more. $159. On July 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be the Advanced Equine First Aid. Covers extreme scenarios, conditioning, confirmation, second chest wounds, flail chest, fractures, trapped horses and more. $159. $295 for both days. Classes count as CE for PATH International, EAGALA and IAABC. Held at The Farm at Freshwater Bay, 507 Freshwater Bay Road, West Port Angeles. (Off state Highway 112 on the way to Joyce). For more information, contact Vanessa Lowe (Paradise Awaits Mustangs) 530-307-0417 or Amber at 833-423-3133. Sign up at www.streepridgetrails.com.
• July 26-29. Space is open in Freedom Farm’s Dave Ellis clinic. Four days of advancing horsemanship and cowmanship in Cow Work, Cowboy Dressage, Ranch Versatility & Working Equitation. Your horse will thank you — Dave always helps us communicate with our horses more effectively and gives us plenty of ways to apply what we learn. To register, email Jerry Schmidt at holstein01@msn.com. Auditors are welcome. Freedom Farm (freedom-farm.net), 493 Spring Road in Agnew.
• On Aug. 9-10, Foxbell Farm and 4/L arena will host the second annual Rescue Fundraiser English Jumpers and Western Games shows with all proceeds going to local pet (dog, cat, horses, etc.) emergency groups, including Center Valley Rescue, which assists both wild and domestic animals). Spectators welcome. Gates open one hour prior to show time.
• 11 a.m. Aug. 9 starts English rider’s show with Shelby Vaughn. The big outdoor course includes trot poles, cross rails and jump classes from 2-2’ 9”. Special class requests can be made by contacting Shelby. All participants will receive an award, trophy and Rosette Ribbon. Senate auction raffle and more. Preregister by Aug. 1. Payment may be made on-site morning of the show. $100 day. Contact Shelby 206-399-7683.
• 10 a.m. Aug. 10 starts the timed Western speed events, including Barrels, Cal Stake. Polo turn, Half 8 and Tarp Alley. Four timed brackets, with custom trophy buckles awarded to the top three riders in each bracket, and all participants receive a nice end-of-day award. There also will be a silent auction, raffle and more. Pre-registration is encouraged. $65 for entire day. Payment may be made on site the day of the show. For more information, contact Kari Payne at 503-789-4247. 4/L Arena is located off Blue Mountain Road at 95 S. McCrorie Road, east of Port Angeles.
• On Aug. 24-25, Peninsula Junior Rodeo Association will host its first junior rodeo at Clallam County Fairgrounds in more than a decade.
“It’s been many years since we’ve had a junior rodeo in Port Angeles and we’re excited to be bringing the rodeo back for local cowboys and cowgirls,” co-organizer Jen Bond said. “We’ve revived coached rodeo practices at the rodeo arena at the Fairgrounds, as was done in years past. But we’ve done something entirely brand new — brought in rough stock (steers and bulls) so local kids can have a chance to practice riding rough stock. It’s been a huge hit and we’ve had a great turnout of local kids that want to try their skill at riding rough stock.”
For more information, contact Jen at 360-461-9588.
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Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also call her at 360-460-6299.
