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Ride the winds
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Posted by editor Fri Apr 28, 2006 13:58:41 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments The Dust ‘N’ Diamonds Equestrian Drill Team has a full schedule planned for this year. The group practices twice a week (Sundays and Wednesdays) at the rodeo grounds and will perform at a number of functions.

DND kicks off its season by riding at the Kern County Reserve Sheriff Stampede Rodeo on May 5-6 at the Kern County Fair Grounds in Bakersfield.
The group also plans to perform in Reno in June, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in July and compete in the state championship in Santa Rosa in September.
DND will host a car wash/fund raiser on May 20 at the Auto Zone in Tehachapi from 9-3:00. The drill team is always looking for new members. For more information on that and upcoming events, call Marilyn Morphis, 822-3219 or 549-1289.
 
Melissa Ulrich of the Horse Sense Riding Club offers a day camp program this summer. The dates are June 19-23, July 10-14, July 24-28 and Aug. 7-11. The camp is geared for beginner to intermediate riders, but advanced students are welcome. Her goal is to teach kids the basics, using natural horsemanship and focusing on safety. The kids will learn to lead, groom, tack, mount and ride at the walk and trot as well as learning horse anatomy, proper care for the horse and parts of the tack. Ulrich adds that everyone gets first hand experience at cleaning manure, too. She is a certified instructor, credentialed with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. For more information, call Ulrich at 823-1501.   

The Tehachapi Western Events Association finally had its first event of the year, a Trail Trial. Bad weather had postponed or cancelled its first three events. The winners of the Trail Trial included Joi-Ashli Gibbs in the Open Division and Haley Dearing in Youth. TWEA’s next event is Ranch Sorting on May 13, which is part of a three-event buckle series. Other dates include June 3 and July 29. Two-rider teams will have two-goes at each sorting. Daily team winners will be awarded prizes at each event and a grand prize will be presented to the best team over all three events.

TWEA also has a Play Day on May 20 and plans a Barrel Race on June 17. All these events are held at the Bowe Arena off Rt. 202 and Tameron Rd.  For more information, call Al Anders at 823-7046 or click on www.tehachapiwesternevents.com.

The JB Cattle Ranch will have a Cattle Clinic at the Broken Arrow Ranch on May 20. For those interested in learning how to brand, the ranch also will do some branding on May 21. For more information, contact Brandi Dunn, 332-7249 or visit www.JBCattleCo.com.

The Tehachapi Dressage Society has a Schooling Show and Clinic on May 20-21. The club meets on the first Wednesday of the month and also has a Rated Show on June 25 and plans a saddle-fitting clinic in June. For more information call Sally Barton, 821-2037.

Corral 83 has a few upcoming trail rides. The Goler Gulch ride, near Randsburg, takes place on May 6. The Corral also has its lunch ride on June 1, general meeting on June 6 and a Wildflower Ride in Bear Valley Springs on June 17. For more information on the rides, call Mike at 821-0321. 

It’s never too late to begin riding. Just ask Donna Sullivan, who retired to a 60-acre ranch in California City a few years ago. She had always wanted a horse, so for Christmas on her 73rd birthday, her husband bought her one.

“It was a big quarter horse, and he was a little bulky for me, so, I traded him in on a Paso Fino,” she said. Sullivan, now 76, learned to ride by just getting on and traveling around her ranch with a friend. “Our ranch is called the 4D Ranch,” she said. “It stands for Donna, Dick (her husband), dogs and dirt. We also have a few pigs, cows and other assorted animals.”

Additionally, Sullivan owns a few other Pasos and Peruvians and boards a few other horses at the ranch. She has branched out to riding in the Tortoise Days Parade in California City.

“It’s so much fun. We would love to have more people ride with us from Cal City, Tehachapi or where ever,” she said. “We won best Equestrian Unit last year. Just give me a call.”

So, for the young at heart, give her a call at 760-373-3968. 

Don’t forget, to report any information on the horse community, such as upcoming events, clinics, raffles or awards won. Call Jill at 823-1114, FAX 823-1115, e-mail jillbn@yahoo.com, or drop material off at the Tehachapi News.

Jill and her husband John operate the Bar Double J Ranch on Cameron Canyon Road, raising performance quarter horses (barjjranch.com). They also run a production company, providing customers with horse videos, DVDs or Web site set up.

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