Firewise

I haven’t written for a long time but I just ran across information about being firewise with our horses and the information is important right now.

Dennis is up at our cabin West of the Klickitat River to mow down the weeds that we didn’t get to earlier in the year. He can see the smoke from the Milepost 28 fire near Goldendale. We also have friends in the Goldendale area. Fire up there is scary stuff.



This information is from the yahoo group - HorsesForCleanWater@yahoogroups.com by Alayne Renee Blickle.

With funding provided by Southwest Idaho Resource Conservation and Development, Alayne Renee Bickle developed educational materials for horse owners on ways to reduce risk and deal with wildfire. Her free Firewise materials as well as tons of other very good information “on green horse management” are available here.

This is the link to a very well done Planning Checklist and this is the link to her Evacuation Plan Checklist. This would even be really good information to have in the back of your mind as you venture out on a trail ride.

We do lots of other things to keep our horses safe – safe fencing, vaccinations, good feed, good shelter and general vigilance. Now you can add being firewise to that list.

Here comes the rain

Oh how we all cringe at that statement.

I know that we need God's liquid blessing so that this area we live in can stay green and beautiful. But..... I sure could live with the mud that is coming.

We have our horses on our property and I like being able to look out and see them happily munching away but there is a trade off. We spend our time working on fencing and the barn. Feeding, hauling hay and cleaning stalls.

Or we could have them at a stable where we could just drive over and ride them in a dry area.


Lucky K is just such a facility located at 16818 NE 223rd Circle in Battle Ground. They have big matted stalls, warm water wash rack and individual tack lockers in the barn. And from there you can go to the 72x120 covered arena with seating and a club room and an indoor bathroom. They also have a 60'round pen and parking for your trailer.


They have a basic boarding package for $375 a month. Give them a call at 360.718.7555 or cell 540.841.1642 and talk about your individual needs and preferences.

Trail connection coming soon.

A vision that has been held for decades is finally going to pay off.

I had heard that the "Fairgounds trail" was moving forward but saw in the paper this morning that even better than that, with enough volunteer help, it could be ready for use in a month.

In an article on the front page of the Life section of the Columbian, written by Scott Hewitt, says that this short trail will be an important connection to a trail that will eventually connect our regional parks. Lisa Goorjian, a landscape architect with the Vancouver-Clark parks says this trail will eventually run from the Columbia River on the west to the Mount Vista area, near the campus of Washington State University Vancouver, on the east.

Dennis and I were part of a committee that continued long standing work to get a trail from the fairgounds to Whipple Creek park. When that committee died because of a change in county employees, we felt like that option would be gone forever.

Let me encourage you to not give up on a good idea for the good of our horse community. Where we left off, others came in and now we will have our trail!

Thank you to all who worked to get this accomplished.

Now we just need 'wet gloves on the handle of a shovel' to get this trail ready to ride.

LOST HORSE

This is from a friend here in Vancouver. Please pass this information on to everyone!

Her 15'2 hand 10 year old grey mare Sophie was last seen 6/24 near Forest Road 1600/1611 off the Nile Road east of Naches in Yakima county during an endurance ride. She was wearing a black English saddle at the time she was lost.

There is more information on the lost horse international website netpossee.com - http://netposse.com/view_report.asp?reportid=1377&e=1391XXX

Please contact Misty or the Yakima County Sherriff’s office if you have any information on this horse.

Misty: 360-263-4551 mandmf@pacifier.com

Yakima County Sheriff’s office: (509) 574-2500 • FAX (509) 574-2501

2011 Trial Trials results

How fun.
Great weather, beautiful location and fantastic people.
Today's Trail Trials were a success and I will have tons of pictures in a day or two. In the meantime, I wanted to post the winners.

Congratulations to you all.......

Adult Placings
1st Lisa Lichte 126.5 Bridle
2nd Bill Bott 123 Groom tote
3rd Debby Williams 118 Saddle Pad
4th Pam Walsh 118 Saddle Pad

Youth
1st Chloe Nevins 115 Earrings or Bridle
2nd Emily Wickert 84 Silver Hoofpick

Extreme
1st Debbie Woodhouse 120 Saddle
2nd Kathleen Ingerson 117 Bridle
3rd Stephanie Gaylord 116.5 Hoofpick

2011 Trail Trials

Registration form for 2011 Trail Trials Saturday July 9th.

Clark County Fair Mounted Patrol Trail Trials
Saturday July 9, 2011
Zumstein Family Farm
41316 NE 12th Ave., Woodland, WA
(360) 225-8694
email at TrailTrials@aol.com

The Trail Trials is a judged competitive trail ride that emphasizes safety and good horsemanship. It consists of a trail ride of 1-2 hours with judged obstacles for horse and rider to negotiate along the way. Obstacles can be natural or a simulation of naturally occurring conditions. This event will have 12-14 obstacles including a bridge, creek, logs and hills.

If you don't feel like you want to complete, come anyway and just enjoy a ride on a beautiful historic tree farm while you challenge you and your horse partner.

Sign in starts 8:00 a.m. with first out at 9:00 a.m. The start time will be assigned at sign in. The last Entry will be accepted at NOON!

The directions to the farm are on the entry form.

Fees per class:

Youth 12 – 17 $25.00
(Helmets required)

Adults 18+ $30.00

Extreme Trail Horse $45.00
(adults only)

EHV-1 outbreak

This is taken directly from Ridgefield Equine Clinic's FaceBook page.
If you have any other questions, call the office at 360-887-8979.

by Ridgefield Equine Clinic, PC on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 12:27pm
Many of you have seen in the news in the past few days, there is an outbreak of the neurologic virus: Equine Herpes Virus type-1 (EHV-1). The numbers are changing by the minute, however at least 6 states including Washington have affected horses. Many of the affected horses attended the National Cutting Association’s Western national Championships in Ogden, Utah (April 30-May 8 2011), or were in contact with persons or horses who attended the Championships.
Some important information:
1)EHV-1 is highly contagious among horses and camelids (llamas and alpacas) but does NOT infect humans or small ruminants. Transmission of the disease can be by direct or indirect contact with a horse that is shedding the virus. Humans, tack, and buckets are all potential ways the disease is transmitted. Airborne transmission also occurs; how far the virus can travel and survive in the air is unknown at this time.
2)It can take up to 14 days after exposure to the virus for a horse to become ill. Often the first symptom is a fever (body temperature greater than 101.0 F), monitoring temperature 2-3 times per day of any horses that may have been exposed to the virus can be a helpful tool in early diagnosis. Other symptoms can include inappetance, lethargy, nasal discharge, dribbling urine, abnormal gait (wobbly) among others.
3)Proper biosecurity is a key component in preventing the spread of this, and many diseases. Stop the movement of any horses who have been in contact with affected horses or facilities. If a horse is known to have been exposed do not allow that horse to have contact with other non-exposed horses. Isolate sick horses. Do not share equipment among horses, wash hands, disinfect. The recommended isolation period for horses potentially exposed is a minimum of 28days.
4) If you are concerned your horse may be affected by, or in contact with horses affected by this outbreak situation, please call our office! There is some indication that vaccination with a high antigen load killed vaccine licensed for abortion control may help minimize the impact of this disease; also there are antiviral pharmaceuticals available for horses; these may be helpful in treating this disease--these can be discussed with us on a case-by-case basis.

COLD

Oh the joys of winter horsekeeping.

Does anyone else get that warm snuggie feeling when they hear the ring of poop-sicles falling into the wheelbarrow? Or remember fondly the joy of chiseling frozen poop? How about the deep mud holes that have now turned into moguls for horses and humans to navigate. What joy.

It's mornings like this that make me really enjoy my horses. I have to really enjoy them, don't I, or would I continue to do this year after year. The tough part is this is just a very early view of things to come in this year of the 2010 La Nina.

Well, off to hauling down jugs of hot water to even out the ice crusted water buckets. I know that bucket heaters would help but we don't have enough power in the barn to run them. At least all this heavy trudging is good exercise. Good prep for the Thanksgiving feast.

BTW, this will be an especially joyous Thanksgiving because we will have all our kids with us. Now that is joy. And yes, even when I'm flinging frozen poo, I am happy because that means that I do have a horse of my own.

Now that is JOY.

That's our Hummer

I was just reading thru the current Guideposts Magazine. "the up side" on page 14 had a quote by Actress Jane Seymour, from her new book Among Angels. She said that some people believe in blessings instead of luck. In the same way, she doesn't believe things are coincidences but miracles. I usually call those types of things God-incidences.
This brought to mind an event from last night.

Dennis and I went to beginning sorting at Silver Buckle. We are working on setting a plan of bringing our granddaughter, Emily, with us. She recently had a spinal cord surgery and her scoliosis is getting much worse so we have been bringing her in a wagon, padded and arranged for her comfort. I park the wagon in the corner just outside the sorting pen and she has been our timer - everyone having a good time. I put a barrel next to the wagon to sit on as I keep her company and as a barrier between Emily and whatever is happening in the arena.

Dennis and Hummer had completed a couple of goes and Dennis wanted to get some coffee so Emily and I held Hummer while Dennis went to the refreshment table. We were enjoying visiting with Hummer and he was nicely bending down so Emily could pet him. Emily was keeping time and we were visiting when I felt the barrel bump. I looked up and saw a horse bounce off Hummer while he just stood there quietly. What Emily and I saw was a horse that had somehow pulled off his headset with the bit still in his mouth. He was jumping around while the owner tried to get everything put back correctly.

A friend was watching and said that this horse came toward Hummer and he just stood there and puffed up while the other horse bounced into him. What is natural for a horse is to watch out for himself and get out of the way. What actually happened is that instead of moving away, Hummer just quietly stood right next to me and Emily and protected us from the other horse.

When Dennis came back with him coffee, I told him what happened and I got tears in my eyes. Hummer has walked into me many other times with much less provocation. This time Hummer was protecting Emily. I don't think it was a coincidence that Hummer was standing with us right then. God put him there to protect us. A miracle.

Park Plan Passes

For those of you that don't get The Columbian in print or online, here is the article from yesterday's paper.

County commissioners voted 3-0 on Tuesday to approve the Lower Daybreak Regional Park master plan, acknowledging that there’s no funding in sight but recognizing that formally adopting the plan opens up the possibility of receiving grants for the project.

This is a victory for the horse community in that extensive equine facilities are planned for the area. Clark County Executive Horse Council and interested individuals have worked for may years to get the county to ok something like this. There is no money to accomplish the plan right now but just having it ok'd is a start.

Many thanks to Butch Reynolds, president of the Clark County Executive Horse Council for getting this passed. It is a good thing............

The Horse

Within the warmth of my horse’s breath, I will find the air that I need to live today, I will find the wind to fly to the heights of my dreams, I will find the one I am meant to be.

Colleen Randall
NARHA Advanced Instructor
GaitQuest Therapeutic Horsemanship
806.934.2300
www.gaitquest.com

Heat Stroke

I'm guessing that this is the farthest thought from your mind today.

Our grandson asked if he could go down with me to let the horses out this morning and I said no. When he asked why, I said cause the muck would suck his boots off. He then offered that perhaps I shouldn't go there either. I just love the workings of a 4 year old mind. I said that I agreed but that someone had to let them out so they could have breakfast.

But remember last summer? Right now the memories seem to be from a far away land but summer will come and quite possibly, high heat.

As I continually confess, this horse stuff is new to us so if I'm offending anyone by sharing information that is too basic, sorry. We had to start somewhere and I'm guessing that there may be others in the same place. My poor vet keeps getting the "what do I do now?" calls. This article might save someone a phone call.

Plain Facts on Heat Stroke by Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD

Summers heat and humidity can be much more than just uncomfortable. They can be deadly. Horses lose their lives every year to heat stroke. Countless others struggle through anything from weakness to colic as a result of inadequate care in hot weather. Don’t let this happen to your horse! read more....

As a side note, the author, Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD, is the standing authority on Equine Cushings and IR and shares a lot of valuable information on the Yahoo web group - EquineCushings.

Stay dry and remember, this too shall pass.......

I need to tell you all how great I think the 'farm officials' are in this area.

I have had weed questions in the past and I can take in a sample and they'll scramble around until they come up with a name and tell me if it is toxic for horses.

The newsletter that Doug Stienbarger sends out from the Small Acreage Program is great and he keeps us all informed about upcoming events and opportunities.

Contact information:
Doug Stienbarger, Extension Director
(360) 397-6060 ext. 7716
doug.stienbarger@clark.wa.gov



Today I had another opportunity to experience the good service that we receive from our farm folks. I had a concern about the Lupine on the property next to us.

I shot Erin an email and within an hour she sent me a reply. She calmed my fears, gave me a reality check and even gave me an 'atta boy' for being vigilant about the condition of our pastures. We are especially fortunate that Erin is a horse person that grew up here and now she plans and schedules a lot of good classes and workshops for the Small Acreage Program. To see what's coming up, contact:

Erin Harwood, Program Coordinator
(360) 397-6060 ext. 7720
Erin.Harwood@clark.wa.gov

We have a lot of dedicated individuals within our community. Some do it as a job and others get involved as volunteers.

An example of this blend is the Clark County Equestrian Advisory Group. They have been meeting since last November and are working at making this a horse friendly area. The Executive Horse Council has been working towards this for years and that work is paying off. One of the items that the Equestrian Advisory Group is working on is identifying areas that should have an Equestrian zoning. Check out their web site to see what is happening now and to read the meeting notes.

There is a 'contact' form on one of the pages or for more information, you can contact:
Laurie Lebowsky
Clark County Community Planning
(360) 397-2280 ext. 4544
laurie.lebowsky@clark.wa.gov


Remember that our county will become more Equine friendly as we continue to be involved and make our voices heard.

Good job everyone!

Tack Sale - April 17th

The Outlaws are having a Tack Sale Saturday April 17, 2010.

Location: Clark County Saddle Club - 10505 NE 117th Ave. Vancouver, WA

It will be open to the public at 8:00 AM. Coffee & donuts & a limited lunch menu will be available.

If you are interested in being a vendors, please call Jorga @ 360-521-8532

Sleeping Around

I got this in an email today.....



It's ALWAYS the kids that suffer. His name is Zonkey

Upcoming Small Acreage Events

I just received this from Erin Harwood, the Small Acreage Program Coordinator for WSU Clark County Extension -


1) Small Acreage Expo - save the date!
2) Sustainable Small Acreage Living Workshop
3) GreenGate Farm Tour
4) Well and Septic Maintenance Workshop
==================================

Small Acreage Expo - 5th Annual Save the date! Saturday April 17th 9 am to 3 pm Battle Ground
Great classes on pastures, manure management, composting, weed control, chainsaw maintenance, rain barrels, beekeeping, chickens, business planning, and much more!! Further details available soon!

Sustainable Small Acreage Living - Tuesday March 23 6:30 to 8:30 pm CASEE Center, Brush Prairie
Learn to create an efficient property layout, protect natural resources, establish property management goals, manage water on your property, protect soil and improve its fertility, reduce chore time, and save money. Additional support for this event provided by Clark Conservation District.

Small Acreage Tour: GreenGate Farm - Saturday March 27 10 am to 12 pm Battle Ground
Come see unique manure disposal, pasture rotation, interesting guttering, and mud reduction. Learn how the owners run a small horse business. Gain valuable ideas for your property and take home great reference materials. Additional support for this event provided by Clark Conservation District.

Well and Septic Maintenance Workshop - Wednesday April 7 6:30 to 9:00 pm
Clark County Fire & Rescue, Dollars Corner
21609 NE 72nd Ave, Battle Ground
Learn from local experts how to properly maintain your septic system, prevent costly repairs, and protect your drinking water from contamination. Connect with local experts to have your questions answered. Additional support for this event provided by Clark County Public Health.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED ~ Space is limited!

Call (360) 397-6060 ext. 0 to register for any event and for directions


All events sponsored by the Small Acreage Program, a joint partnership between WSU Clark County Extension and the Clark County Clean Water Program.


Erin Harwood
Small Acreage Program Coordinator
WSU Clark County Extension
11104 NE 149th Street, C-100
Brush Prairie, WA 98606
Phone: 360-397-6060 x7720
Fax: 360-397-6122
http://clark.wsu.edu

Horses and Kids

What a grand combination.

When we moved to our place sort of in the middle of town, we figured we would have people, especially kids, come to see our horses. God has sent them and we have enjoyed the experience. The kids all seem to come in 2s probably for courage. The latest ‘2’ came on Saturday.

On Friday, I flew back from a month in Texas with our son and his family. They were moving back to Vancouver and I was there to help them pack. Dennis and Eric got in last night with the big Penske truck and two cars. Triann and the grandkids and I flew back.
The journey back took us 12 hours because we were blessed with a friend giving us standby passes. We made all the intended flights but had two plane changes and a 5 hour layover. It was a long day but the price was right and it saved us driving for 4 days.

Ok, long story to explain how tired I was on Saturday when I saw 2 young girls come thru the yard. They had been told that they couldn’t go to the horses without asking first. When I opened the door, they asked if I could teach them how to pet a horse. The last thing I wanted to do right then was go out into the field but how could I turn down a request like that. So out we went. The horses were wonderful and came up to visit for just a bit. We talked about how to watch the ears and to see how they communicate without talking. Also did the safety talk. They enjoyed themselves and I was happy that I had gone out to say hello to my boys.

Later that day, I heard a knock on the door and there were the two girls again. This time they each had a bouquet of daffodils. They wanted to go pet the horses again. I declined this time but gladly accepted the flowers.

What a nice ‘welcome home’ gift and one of the unexpected joys of owning horses.

I just love it!

Help find stolen truck

I just received this email.

Hi this is Jacob Anderson. I am just shooting out a blanket e-mail to ask people to keep there eyes open for this truck that was stolen from my yard on 29th Ave. in Ridgefield. The truck was stolen Sunday night 1-17-2010 while I was at the Winter Woolies Show.

If you have any Info please call Jenna cell 360-953-0957 or Jacob cell 360-953-0956

Budweiser Clydes

I just watched my DVR of the Jan 17th The Horse Show with Rick Lamb on RFDTV. He tours Anheuser-Busch’s 350-acre Clydesdale breeding farm outside Columbia, Missouri. It is Episode 268.

Rick has a link to this program but I found that it took a long time to load so I've included that link here.

He does his usual good interview with some interesting information. There is also some incredible footage of those magnificent animals running. They also show one of their stallions that weighs over 2000 lbs.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Jody

Flying Horseman

I received a link to a video of Lorenzo, the Flying Horseman in my email this week. I have seen it before but it is still breathtaking.

I wanted to find a link that you all could see so I did a search and found several more videos. Each one has something a bit different but still incredable pictures so I'm sending these along also. There are several more so if your interested, just Google Lorenzo and have fun.

In the water in the south of France

Flying Horseman

Free horse

Equitanna 2007


This one is an interview with Lorenzo. If you don't speak Frence, just turn the sound down and watch some amazing video.

If you know of someone who does speak French, ask them to traslate this interview and pass along the script. I'd love to hear it.

Jody