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Ride the winds
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Posted by editor Mon Dec 4, 2006 18:39:28 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Several riders from the Tehachapi area recently competed in the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) Sage Hill ride in the Lake Cachuma area near Santa Ynez. Liz Komin, Deb and Kayla Burken, Terri Stern, Ashley Powell, Pam Miller and Sylvia Mabee enjoyed the scenic trails and placed well among some 80 other competitors.

Komin rode in the two-day Competitive Pleasure division and finished third. Deb and Kayla Burken both rode the one-day Novice Division. Deb placed second in Horsemanship and her horse took a first place out of 11 competitors in her class. Kayla Burken placed second in the junior class. Riding in the Novice division, Sylvia Mabee took third and fourth place ribbons. In the Open division, Pam Miller finished third while her horse took fifth. Terri Sturn and Ashleigh Powell, both new to competitive trail, rode Novice division. Powell placed fifth and sixth in junior class.

NATRC is an organization offering sanctioned competitive trail rides throughout the United States. Competition is based on the condition and soundness of the horse and the rider's performance, not speed. Riders travel a pre-timed course over a variety of terrain and are judged by experienced veterinary and horsemanship judges. Various classes allow for competition at different experience levels of both horse and rider. One and two day rides offer the opportunity to learn the skills of camping with your horse.

NATRC ride has been held each August in Bear Valley Springs. It's an opportunity for interested locals to come watch the ride, volunteer to help, ride or participate in a NATRC clinic. For more information about the sport, NATRC organization, and future rides visit www.NATRC.org or call Deb Burken at 822-8960.

The High Spirits Therapeutic Riders recently received a $5,000 grant from the John C. Hench Foundation. The High Spirits use horses to work with individuals with handicaps.

“One of their representatives came to our BBQ which showcased just what we do,” said coordinator Alice Coghlan. “She liked what she saw and brought the information before the Board of Trustees and we got the grant.”

Sandy Huskins was at that BBQ. She worked as an assistant for Hench, who was one of the original artists for Disney. Hench worked on “Fantasia” and was still working as a Senior Vice-President until his death at 95. He set up a foundation to give to the arts and it was later amended to include those working with special needs groups. Huskins is one of the Trustees of the foundation.

“When I saw all the good work they were doing, I brought it before the board and they agreed,” Huskins said. “John would have loved to see his money go to such a good cause.”

The High Spirits Riders charges no fee to participate in the program.

“We're strictly donations,” said Coghlan, who recently was named Coach of the Year by the Tri-County Special Olympics. “We work with both the individuals and their families. It's so rewarding to see improvements by just riding horses. It will be nice to have extra money to feed our horses this winter.”

For more information on High Spirits, contact Coghlan at 822-7272.

ETI Corral 83 has a few upcoming trail rides, all weather permitting. The group has its usual First Thursday ride on Dec. 7 in Stallion Springs. It also has an End of the Year Ride on Dec. 29 in California City with lunch afterward at Ramon's Restaurant. Then coming up in January is a ride to Nightmare Gulch in Red Rock Canyon. For more information, contact Susan Wellington 822-8131.

The Tehachapi Western Events Association has no regular meeting in December but has a Christmas Party planned for Dec. 16 at the home of a member. It will be potluck style with a gift exchange.

TWEA also is hoping to have a Spaghetti Western Dinner & Dance in January or February. For more information contact Al Anders 823-7046.

For horse owners who have a limited amount of space, there is a proposed change by the Kern County Planning Department in the number of animals that will be allowed on your property. The new law would require a half-acre instead of a quarter acre for each horse or animal. Bonnie Crawford of Bakersfield said some 200 other horse enthusiasts recently went before the Board of Supervisors to present their case against the change. “The planning board got so many calls that they had to postpone any decision for now,” Crawford said.

“We're trying to get everyone who is willing to help to form a committee and help with printing, mailing and passing our flyers,” she said. “We want no change to the current law.” For more information contact Crawford at 589-4137 or e-mail bluemt98@earthlink.net.

A fun site to visit if you like unusual horses is www.worldssmallesthorse.com. It shows a really mini horse, Thumbelina, who recently was featured on Fox News and Good Morning America. She's just 17 1/2 inches tall and weighs only 60 pounds. There are pictures comparing her to regular sized horses as well other family pets.

Don't forget, if you have any information to report on the horse community such as upcoming events, clinics, raffles or you've won an award, please contact Jill at 823-1114 or 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, which will make videos, DVDs of your horse or set up a website.

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