Storm damage help

Property tax relief is available to the owners of properties damaged or destroyed by recent snows or flooding, according to the Washington State Department of Revenue

Property owners can apply to county assessors to reduce the taxable value of affected properties. Relief could include a partial abatement or refund of taxes paid in 2009 and a reduction of future taxes until the property is restored.

To apply for property tax relief in Clark County, the owner must file a Taxpayer's Claim for Reduction of Assessments form together with a Petition for Property Tax Refund with the Department of Assessment and GIS.

These forms are also available through the Clark County Assessor's office webpage or you can call them at 360-397-2391.

Not news to us -

Activities at Silver Buckle

I don’t know about you but I am looking forward (way forward) to spring and all the fun stuff. To get there, I need more activity now and so do my horses. Dennis and I don’t show or game. We are just recreational riders and most of that is done during the spring, working calves on a cattle ranch, summer trail rides and gathering cows in the fall. We don’t have a bunch of stuff that we commonly do this time of year so we have to find activities for our boys.

A relatively new option is available now. Silver Buckle Ranch (SBR) is opening up their facilities to all of us – including adults – for cow play activities like sorting and break away roping and just general horse activities. There are instructional workshops and play times to practice. They have also scheduled jack pots and sorting clinics to get together on horseback and just have fun. All of the activities are set up to be fun times, not high pressure competition.

The folks at SBR are also teaching classes about basic horsemanship and horse keeping for those new at this activity and are offering riding classes taught be a CHA Certified Instructor. They are also making their arenas available for rent.

The mission at Silver Buckle Ranch has not changed. Their main focus is still serving the at-risk youth of the community with the premise that ‘Horses change lives’. We all know that, but they are teaching the rest of our community that reality.

To be able to continue to serve those kids into the future, SBR is trying new ways for us to help with the funding by having us come out, pay a little and play a lot with our horses. With the support of our horse community this program can continue to offer help to our county youth and grow into a great place for us to play.

There is a Sorting Jackpot scheduled for Saturday that needs more players. It will be indoors if need be. Give Maryjo a call at 360-260-8932 to reserve a spot and gather a bunch of friends to cheer you on.

What a "Free Horse" costs you

Some fun stuff to start the week -

A friend gives you a horse...
You build a small shelter...$750
You fence in a paddock...$450
Purchase small truck to haul hay...$12,000
Purchase a 2 horse trailer...$2,800
Purchase 2nd horse...$2,500
Build larger shelter with storage...$2,000
More fencing...$1,200
Purchase 3rd horse...$3,000
Purchase 4 horse trailer...$17,500
Purchase larger truck...$23,000
Purchase 4 acres next door...$38,000
More fencing...$2,000
Build small barn...$18,000
Purchase camper for truck...$9,000
Purchase tractor...$23,000
Purchase 4th & 5th horse ..$6,500
Purchase 20 acres...$285,000
Build house...$185,000
Build barn...$56,000
More fencing & corrals...$24,000
Build covered arena...$182,000
Purchase Dually...$44,000
Purchase gooseneck w/living quarters...$45,000
Purchase 6th, 7th & 8th horse...$10,750
Hire full time trainer...$50,000
Build house for trainer...$84,000
Buy motor home for shows...$125,000
Hire attorney -- spouse leaving you for trainer...$35,000
Declare bankruptcy, spouse gets everything.
Friend feels sorry for you...
gives you a horse.....

Storm Damage

I found this by way of the 5:00 news this evening that sent me to the blog at http://www.cresa911.blogspot.com/


Clark County Residents Need to Report Storm Damage
Homeowners, renters, and business owners in Clark County who sustained damage from the recent winter storms, flooding, and landslides should report their damage as soon as possible to Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency at (360) 992-9229.
Please call if you had damage to your primary residence or business - vacation homes and outbuildings are not eligible for disaster assistance - that occurred between December 11, 2008 and January 9, 2009 - that was caused by the winter weather, flooding, and landslides - that occurred in this period - that is not covered by insurance.
To report damage, please call (360) 992-9229 between 7 AM and 6 PM, Monday through Friday through Wednesday, January 21st or send an e-mail to cresaemergencymanagement@clark.wa.gov.
Check back on the blog at http://www.cresa911.blogspot.com/ for further updates on damage assessment efforts.

Currently, no disaster assistance is available to disaster victims in Washington State. Emergency management officials are in the process of collecting damage information from families, individuals, renters, business owners, non-profit agencies, and government agencies to determine if there is enough damage within Clark County for it to be eligible for disaster assistance. In order for local communities to become eligible for disaster assistance they have to demonstrate that they suffered damage that is beyond what the community can handle. This is why it is essential for people to report their damage. Reporting damage doesn’t guarantee that assistance will be provided but it does help make the case for receiving federal disaster assistance.

Here is another location with information - http://emd.wa.gov/documents/Dec_2008_ReportYourDamage.pdf

and this is the link to the story carried on KOIN news.

Free to Approved Home

Pat wanted me to pass on that Anthie, the horse rescue up in Ariel needs to find new homes for their horses. (I sent out a plea to help them dig out back during the snow - some help did come - thank you)

Between personal losses and feed losses and lots of damage from the extreme snow, they wouldn't have enough feed for their rescues to last for the rest of the winter. Because of this dire situation, these horses will be released for free to approved homes.

Contact Anthie @ ridgeriders@tds.net or call 360-231-4380 in Ariel Washington to view these wonderful horses. There are a few remarkable pictures to show how far these horses have come.

Buddy- 6 year old mustang that was gelded and then they attempted to break soon after. It looks like he was roped from behind and they caught a leg and held on anyway. He will not expose his butt to you. He had a girl working with him and he was given to her. She had been working on getting him to trust again when she lost her boarded pasture and had to move her horses, that is how he ended up here. NO shots or wormings here- but I will double check on this to be sure it did not happen during the gelding process??

Sandy- 4 year old brown and white Paint that has been with us for almost 2 years. It was very hard to get Sandy to trust us. When my daughter and I picked her up from the rescue facility in Feb 07, no one was around to help us with her and no one ever checked my references or returned my calls when I had questions concerning her. Anyhow this is what we have come to find out about her: taken from mom,neglected and/or abandoned, sent for slaughter when she was picked up by the people who we got her from in Oregon. To get her out of the mud they attached her to straps and a tractor pulled her out, all of this before being a 2 year old. We had a really tough start but we are making great head way. With so many we just keep plunking away at it all. She just mainly needs someone with more time and not at a rescue or foster type home, she needs to find her family. She will be great I feel it, that is why we have held onto her for so long until the right family is there for her, she loves children. She is also UTD on all, like I said we were making progress-now no time for serious training with being full with the fosters.

Ginger- This is an amazing little girl, almost scheduled to be put down until we took her, we are not sure of the breed, perhaps QH/pony (her age has been guessed at between 2 1/2 and 4 years old by several people including the vet) again we will be having Brian out for a check up again before spring to get a better understanding of her age. We have just left her alone at this point until she reached full weight, she has and grown as well, leaning towards her being almost 3 years old. We have hopes of starting some training this winter or early spring.

Pepper- 4 year old Arab/Pony cross?? This is a wonderful little grey mare. She is so sweet and so willing that we can not believe we had to chase her down to catch her and could not touch any of her legs or her tail or face just 6 months ago. She will make a great little pony for someone. She stands about 14 hands and again is UTD on all.(GK's notes: This one would make a stunning hunter or eventer pony, she is very well built, loves kids and is cute as can be!)

Scootin Balue Moon aka Oreo- 4/8/2006 Registered Blk & Wht Tobiano Paint-Still growing, very outgoing, curious, willing to learn anything new. He will do great where ever he goes. He loves water, has been ponied and saddled and I have been on his back with no kick buck rear, nothing, he just walked around where ever I asked. He will not be started by us until he is a 3 year old, because of his slow start, however he is ready to be placed now and they may start him if they wish, he has had a great growth spurt this summer and I am so pleased with the changes. This cute guy has no issues from where he came from last fall. His sister has now been placed with her forever family as a pasture buddy and family pet for the rest of her days.

Gamma Goat Kid aka Kid- 9 year old Thoroughbred approx. 15.2, not a leader either, a little shy, he will hold back as well until the others are finished at the water or what ever the situation is in the herd. When he arrived, he had paraphamosis of the penis and he is not as cute some say due to the accident we believe came from the starting gates. UTD on all as well, his penis is completely healed, we will have the vet out to do check up to be sure that there is nothing more to be done. (Jan or Feb).

Chip Leader aka Chippers- 6 year old Thoroughbred approx.16.2, extremely sweet nature, has been ridden by myself as well as a few beginners on the trails 6 times now and has done extremely well. From the track, no desire to run for them, they said not aggressive. UTD on all.

Putting together a hay load

Is there anyone interested in going in on a semi-load of hay? Grass or alfalfa - it could be a split load.

Contact Shannon at 360-597-8011
or
Liz at lizbarnard@hotmail.com

New Years Resolution

I found this in my in-box and thought I should pass it on as a public service


At this time of year, after the holidays, ads for weight-loss programs saturate print media and the airwaves. Even TV talk shows devote time to the battle of the bulge.

I caught part of a Dr. Phil episode in which the prominent self-help guru was evaluating the situation of one overweight guest. The woman commented that she'd like to buy a horse so she could get exercise via riding. "That's great for the horse," responded Dr. Phil drolly, "but what good is it for you?" Obviously, Dr. Phil has missed out on the cardiovascular workout we women get attempting to get into a sports bra and riding pants.... Clearly, the good doctor doesn't own a horse. At least, not the right horse. A quiet, well-broke, agreeable mount may indeed not offer much in the way of fitness training. But, the right horse (and most of us have owned 1 or 2, haven't we?) will provide a body-building, cardiovascular-enhancing workout t hat would make Richard Simmons envious.

Allow me to explain.... With the right horse, you begin your fitness program by walking out to the pasture. As you stride briskly, you carry the halter and lead rope behind you, pushed up high on your back so the lead doesn't drag. The purpose of this is to tone your chest and upper-arm muscles (because you're not fooling your horse, for he knows what you carry). As you approach to within a few feet of him, he'll walk slowly away from you, but at a pace just so you can't reach him, then stop. This will be repeated several times in succession, until you're ready to jog. At that point, because you own just the right horse, he will trot, then gallop around the pasture. If you're at the advanced level of fitness, you may continue chasing after him for maximum aerobic benefits, or just stop and start throwing rocks at him to give your rotator cuffs a workout. (Make sure you switch throwing arms. Not only is this a benefit to you, your horse will think it hilarious). Beginners may prefer to toss the halter and lead on the ground, bend forward from the waist, and engage in heavy breathing and chanting (that's what we'll call it, anyway -- chanting) as the horse continues to circle the field. For those of you that have experience with this exercise, you may choose to throw the halter and lead, walk briskly, bend, pick up, repeat. When the horse determines you've had enough of this warm-up session, he'll allow you to catch him.

Now comes the total upper-body workout of grooming. The right horse, of course, will be caked in dried mud. The cement-like consistency of it will require work-to-exhaustion effort of your biceps and triceps. NOTE: This exercise has added value, the dried mud will stick to your face with perspiration, instant facial! Next comes the bending, stretching, and toning of hoof-picking. Bend over, pick up the horse's left front foot, then be prepared to jump back as he stomps it back down to the ground, narrowly missing your foot. (Keep your knees bent as you jump, to protect your lower back.) Reach down and pick up the foot again, hopping about with the horse to maintain your grip as you attempt to pick what seems to be dirt mixed with Super Glue from the hoof. Eventually the horse may stand still; you may be chanting by this time. Repeat the entire circuit 3 more times with the remaining feet.

Once you can stand erect again, it's time for the insect repellent exercise. True, with this one, your horse may actually get more of a workout than you do, but you certainly get more of the repellent. It goes like this: Squirt!-circle- circle. Squirt!-circle- circle. Squirt!-circle- circle--- and so on, until you're completely misted with repellent and chanting 'whoa you sonofab... whoa'. To receive maximum benefit from this exercise, make sure you are at the beginning of a deep inhalation during the 'squirt' cycle and exhale after the last chanting 'whoa'.

With the right horse, saddling up provides both aerobic and strength building benefits. The trick is to keep your feet moving as you heft the saddle blanket over and over (and over), trying to keep it in place on a moving target. The blanket exercise warms you up for the saddle exercise, for which the routine is the same, only the weight is much greater -- perfect for buffing those hard-to-tone shoulder muscles.

Now comes the mounting exercise. With the right horse, it's left leg up, hop-hop-hop, left leg down, heavy breathing. Left leg up, hop-hop-hop, left leg down, heavy breathing. For balance, go around to the other side and continue the exercise (right leg up, hop-hop-hop, heavy breathing, right leg down, heavy breathing, etc.). When your heart rate begins to exceed your target range, look for a bucket. Bend over, pick it up, place it upside-down next to t he horse, wait for the horse to move away, then bend over, pick it up again, place it next to the horse, and so on. NOTE: This is a cooling down routine, not to be confused with the warm up pasture routine. When the horse deems you've had enough of these repetitions, he'll stand still and allow you to actually mount.

At this point, of course, you'll be too exhausted to ride and your facial mask will be dropping off in chunks. It’s best not to overdo it, so dismount, grab a glass of wine, and head in to recover in a bubble bath.

Author unknown

Winter Lecture Series

Ridgefield Equine Clinic will be offering the 2nd in their 3 part Winter Lecture series on Saturday January 17th.

Meg Brinton, DVM will be speaking on artificial insemination.
A representative from Land O’ Lakes Purina feed will talk about Feeding the Senior Horse. They will also cover some basic nutrition information.

The 3rd lecture, on February 21st will be “Foaling 101”.

Coffee and goodies are at 9:00 with the lectures begining at 9:30.