Video "From My Saddle"

Renewal for 2009

Karen Pickering looks ahead to the coming year with her horses and suggests you do the same.

Community

by Karen Pickering

NWHS Owner/Publisher discusses her recent visit to the Washington State Horsemen's convention and looks back over the past year.

If you're on a dialup connection, we recommend downloading the video to watch offline. Just click the "Download this Video" tab when it pops up at the top of the screen.

Wealth of Community

by Karen Pickering


Check out the new format! This month Karen does her column in audiovisual format, offering photos of NWHS staff at community events while discussing the importance of knowing what's available locally. Click the video twice to activate.

"Wealth of Community"

Clinic Junkie

by Karen Pickering

Wow, I can’t believe it’s still summer and I’m writing for the October issue already! I’ve really had a great season of riding, attending events and being with my horses.

I have to admit that I've become a clinic junkie. I like to experience the techniques of different trainers and clinicians. This past weekend I had the privilege of participating in the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fundraiser and Expo in Bow, Washington, hosted by Tom Pasma and Sue Sultze.

We enjoyed clinics ranging from working cows, reining and showmanship to horseshoeing, equine chiropractic, freeze branding and much more. Lunch was fantastic, not to mention the live auction and vendors for shopping. The event raised over $4,000 for this fund that helps professional horsemen in times of crisis. It was a truly enjoyable day and I’m hoping that these mini-expos keep happening. It’s a learning experience, and great fun too!

Speaking of places to learn, my team has worked very hard on updating our website, and we are continually working to improve our product overall. I think you’ll enjoy the changes taking place. I really want to encourage you to visit www.nwhorsesource.com and try out some of the functions such as commenting on articles or even using the suggestion boxes on each new page to let us know what you think of the changes! There is a "help" link on every page, and if that doesn't get you what you're looking for, you can always email or call and we will do our best to help you find what you need.

The Equine Marketplace and events calendar remain the same for now, but we are looking to upgrade those experiences for you, too, in the not-too-distant future.

Have a great month and remember to ride!

Quote of the Month:
"Smile, it's free therapy."
Doug Horton

Sharing Knowledge

by Karen Pickering

A crackling fire, a starlit sky and good friends made it difficult to pull myself away from my recent adventure, but the tools I took from Raye Lochert's weekend clinic will last long after the campfire is cold. Raye coached us on proper trail etiquette, how to pack items necessary for the ride, and techniques for working through issues with your horse while in a group setting. He did an excellent job of leaving all of us with tools to improve our experiences out on the trail. We hope to have him back up here again, but in the meantime you can ask Raye questions through our “Ask the Expert” section of www.nwhorsesource.com. He will personally answer your question, plus we'll post it on the site so everyone can learn from your input.

I encourage you to spend some time reviewing the great ideas all of our writers share every month. Also, don't forget to check out the ads as you look through the magazine. We have many great products and services available here in the Northwest, and you may find the exact item you've been looking for. Whether you keep your horse on your own property or board with a stable or a friend, it’s time to start thinking about your horse's winter home...and this issue brings you the tools you need to do just that.

Thank you for choosing NWHS as a resource for your horse care needs. Please let us know if there is anything else we can bring you. I consider it a privilege to publish this magazine every month, and to meet many of you on the trails or at shows and clinics. I had the chance to do that this past weekend, and for that I'm grateful.

Have a great September and remember to ride!

Quote of the month:
"Only by seeking challenges can we hope to find the best in ourselves."
~Robert Rodriguez

Living the Life

by Karen Pickering (photo by NWHS)

As I write this column I’m sitting at a hotel in Albany, New York, waiting for the weather to clear up. Severe thunderstorms, lightning, and tornado warnings have plagued the last day of our American Horse Publications convention trip. It makes me aware of just how powerless we are against the weather.

Even so, it was a very rewarding weekend and an opportunity to network with my peers. Once a year I get this chance to see the latest trends in promoting the horse industry and listen to some very respected speakers. It's such a treat to see those familiar faces every year.

Saratoga Springs is a place loaded with history and alive with anything horse; I immediately fell in love with this town (especially the Starbucks right downtown—check out the horse statue in front). The entire city is built around a racetrack that entices some of the best horses in the country. The Racing Museum was quite an experience as well. If you ever get the opportunity to travel to New York, this little town is a must-see. Every downtown street corner hosts a beautiful statue of a life-size horse decorated with a different artistic theme.

This industry has truly enriched my life, allowing me to see and do things I never thought possible. As we bring you this Equine Lifestyle issue, just be encouraged that you can do anything you put your mind to. Don’t ever think it’s impossible.

Enjoy your horse, and remember to ride!

Quote of the Month:
"Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries."
~Corita Kent

Crisis or Opportunity?

by Karen Pickering

Whew, those fuel prices are unbelievable! I’m going to have to start riding my horse to work....I just have to figure out where to tie her up once I’m there.

I believe that the horse business is not recession-proof, but it is recession-resistant. I’m going to still consume hay, products, veterinary services and anything else I need to keep my horse healthy and safe. But, like most businesses, I'm feeling the cut in spending. People tend to stop advertising when things get tight. Sometimes it's the first thing to go, but it should be the last. The worst thing to do is stop the pipeline of revenue that keeps your business healthy.

According to a recent study, businesses that continued or increased advertising during a recession increased their income by nearly 300%. It’s a great opportunity to take over market share and become a leader in your field. It is imperative to watch spending during these times, but I believe making wise buys makes all the difference in the world.

I’m excited to experience growth during an economic downturn. It means we are doing something right. It has always been my dream to provide a resource for the horse community, and I’m beginning to feel we’re getting there.

We can take this recession as an opportunity to learn how to save, conserve and use what we have and to make well-considered purchases that stimulate our local economy. Take a look at supporting your local businesses instead of driving across the country to buy that horse or vehicle. Perhaps there is a treasure right in your backyard you didn’t realize you had. You might even find that treasure in our newly redesigned Equine Marketplace (see page ??).

Have an incredible month! I hope to see you at a reining show or out on the trail! Remember to ride instead of drive!

Quote of the month:
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today."
--Franklin D. Roosevelt

Welcome to Summer

by Karen Pickering

Welcome to summer--I think. Last week we had some snow flurries and the horses are still shedding out, but the activities have begun. Summer will be in full swing when this reaches the stands, and I’m happy to report I’m riding!

April was packed with trail riding, chasing cows and getting ready for reining competition. Kind of a hodgepodge of stuff, but really quite fun. I think one of the best events I attended this month was the Whatcom County Backcountry Horsemen’s Confidence Builder Ride.

The BCHW folks did a fabulous job of helping everyone over and through a series of obstacles designed to prepare riders to hit the trails, with people at every challenge to help horses and riders who were unsure. Llamas, sheep, water crossings, plastic tarps and a multitude of other exciting obstacles proved to be great fun for all. To see for yourself, just visit www.nwhorsesource.com, click on the photo gallery link at left, then click on My Gallery. I would encourage everyone who needs a little extra practice to give this activity a try. Not only will you be more confident out on the trail, but the skills you gain will help lessen the chance of injury for you and your horse.

Even without injury, we have to face the fact that as we get older sometimes riding just isn't as comfortable as it used to be. If you haven't already, take a look at this month's cover story—you'll learn a lot about Cashel, a Northwest company dedicated to helping us all (horses too!) prevent those little aches and pains and other challenges of riding. Since 1986, they've brought some of the most innovative products in the industry to the everyday horse person.

In addition to the story on Cashel, keep reading through the magazine for great deals. We have several new advertisers bringing you an even wider variety of products, as well as plenty of old friends offering resources for all of those purchases you've put off until the warmer weather came around. Please help support our advertisers who bring you each issue of the Northwest Horse Source. Make sure to tell them you saw the ad in NWHS!

Finally, I must say this past couple of months have been unbelievably awesome. I’m so fortunate to have such a great staff and supportive horse community. Sometimes I feel like I’m hanging onto the reins of a stagecoach with more lines than I know what to do with--I guess I’ll just hang on and enjoy the journey!

Have a great June, and as always, remember to ride!

Quote of the month:

"The spider looks for a merchant who doesn't advertise so he can spin a web across his door and lead a life of undisturbed peace."--Mark Twain

Refreshment of Spirit

by Karen Pickering

This is my favorite time of the year...busy yet stimulating, with plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the things I love most. Yes, that's right--I’ve managed to ride. I’m averaging three times per week, which is huge for me!

It’s been an exciting month. It started off with a phone call from Fast Time Productions regarding a Hallmark movie being filmed nearby in BC. Northwest Horse Source Magazine was used on the set of this new movie, which will air on the Hallmark Channel this summer! We were able to get some of our advertisers in the movie as well--their banners are displayed in the arena scenes as the film's star works her way toward the Team Penning championships. We interviewed Stephen Collins (from “7th Heaven”) and Jerri Phillips, an accomplished trick rider and trainer who acted as the main character's stunt double. Stephen Collins has always been one of my favorite character actors, so it was an absolute honor to meet him.

As you can see, it's been quite a busy month. The weekend after our movie set visit was the Lower Mainland Quarter Horse Show and Horseman's Bazaar. Next came the NW Reined Cow Horse event in Lynden, and now I'm about to head down to the Northwest Horse Fair & Expo in Albany, Oregon. So far, it's been a blast! I’ve even managed to make time to chase cows on Friday nights at Double S Quarter Horses! Tom Pasma and Sue Sultze really put on a great clinic/lesson that has me hooked.

Make sure to visit the photo gallery at www.nwhorsesource.com (the link is on the menu at left). We’ve got some pictures of all the fun we’ve been having!

Have a great month. One definition of the word recreation is "refreshment of strength and spirits after work." Let’s take some time to renew ourselves! After all, tax season is over and it's time to have some fun.

Remember to ride! I’ll see you on the trail...

Quote: "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have."
~Author Unknown

Lessons from Youth

by Karen Pickering

It must be spring. Flowers are peeking their heads out through the dirt, adding some color to our bland winter landscape. It’s time for renewal, birth, warmth from the sunshine, and the promise of warm days ahead. Perfectly appropriate for our focus this month: youth.

I believe we have a responsibility to help young people on their journey to adulthood. In return, we get inexhaustible ideas, energy to try something new, and a license to dream big. What can we learn from the young people around us? What is a young person’s perception of the way things are?

Please let me know your thoughts on how we can preserve our heritage and support organizations such as 4-H that develop our youth into responsible, caring adults. Who is going to take our places? What are your kids telling you they want to contribute? Perhaps our young readers can write in and let me know what they would like to read in the magazine. Should we bring back our youth column, along with advice from Shaboom and Clyde?

This issue is dedicated to our future horsepeople. Please celebrate with us the rediscovery of a young girl's love for horses as Tara Cunningham shares her journey into the world of clinicians and showmanship, then back to the simple love of the horse (see this month's cover story). Read the winning essays from four young people whose horses have taken them to places of imagination, fear, and wisdom beyond their years (see Youth Essay Contest feature). Follow the inspirational story of Jennifer Stout, a young rodeo queen with cystic fibrosis who has the courage to face every challenge head on and never forget those around her.

As for my own challenges, I’m still working on getting a good ride in on a regular basis. I need a nudge from time to time, but I’m making it happen.

Until next month….remember to ride!

Quote of the Month:

"Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change in attitude."
~Katherine Mansfield

Wellness

by Karen Pickering


As I write this column, it’s mid-January. Like every year, I struggle with the darkness and rain. I’m always looking for ways to get motivated and stay uplifted. I find Starbucks, a good ride, a warm fire, and a heartwarming movie always seems to do the trick. I often wonder if it isn’t the same for our equine friends. My horses spend most of the winter months in the barn and sacrifice areas since our pastures get pretty waterlogged. The coffee and movie might not be what they need, but I’m sure they like some activity as much as I do.

I’ve actually been riding this winter. Between lessons, working cows at Double S Quarter Horses, and test riding a Rocky Mountain Horse at Stride Right Farms, it’s been a stimulating month. One of the most rewarding parts was the opportunity to reacquaint myself with my senior horse, Dawn. Neither one of us had ever worked cows before, and Dawn is having as much fun as I am with the experience. Just goes to show…you’re never too old!

Another way to get past the winter "blahs" is to look ahead. I'm already getting excited about the three shows NWHS will be going to in March: The Lower Mainland Quarter Horse Bazaar in Langley, BC; the Northwest Reined Cowhorse Show in Lynden, WA; and the NW Horse Fair and Expo in Albany, OR. I’d love the opportunity to meet you at one of these events. We’re having a reader appreciation day at the Northwest Reined Cowhorse Show on Saturday, March 22. You can meet "On the Plus Side" columnist Allison Trimble and watch her compete, plus we will have some specials just for show attendees and spectators!

As for last month's challenge, I was somewhat disappointed that I only got one email about someone's “perfect day.” My hope is that the lack of messages means you were all out there living that day for yourselves. Still, what better way to keep the perfection alive than to share it with someone else? We really do want interaction from our readers. If you’ve had an awesome day and would like to share it with us, send me an email at karern@nwhorsesource.com. I’ll be waiting!

Have a super March...and remember to ride!

"Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul." -Charles Buxton, 1823-1871, British Author

A Perfect Day

by Karen Pickering

Recently, I committed in this editorial to face up to a challenge in my life each month and keep you posted on my progress. One such challenge is the ongoing struggle to find time for the very reason I began publishing this magazine: to be involved in the world of horses, and to follow my own words that close this article each month--"Remember to ride."

Have you ever tried to describe your perfect day? I've decided this is the first step toward actually getting in the saddle. Put it on the calendar. Make the time, then get out and follow through. My own perfect day would include exercise, quiet time, riding, and of course getting all the things on my “to-do” list done.

I would like to invite you to send me your perfect day, and let me know if you’ve ever had the day you describe. We’ll publish some of the best ones on our blog (the NWHS online journal). Check in through the link on our home page at http://www.nwhorsesource.com/ to see how other readers' days turn out.

Recently, I attended an event that came darn close to giving me that “perfect day.” As you are likely aware, Lewis County and the surrounding areas were devastated by floods in December. People lost homes, livestock, and feed, and many are still in need of support. On December 15, local realtor Robert McFadden organized a benefit horse show at the Flying M Arena in Olympia, WA. People turned out with horses of all shapes and sizes and several generous companies donated products for an auction, all to raise money to bring hay to the flood victims. All told, the event raised approximately $11,000. McFadden said he had hoped to raise $5,000 and was totally blown away by the local generosity. See this month's cover story for more on the storms and supporting those in need.

I'm unbelievably excited about having a Fred Stone painting on our front cover. Stone has been my absolute favorite equine artist since the late 80s when I started collecting plates. I have most of his horse racing series and a couple of his smaller plates featuring the mare and foal. The cover photo is from a plate I purchased early in 1991. (See our cover gallery if you missed the February cover.)

Have a great Valentine’s Day, and remember to ride! I have it on my calendar.

Quote for the month:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” ~ Anne Frank

A Fresh Start

by Karen Pickering

Welcome to 2008! Lately, I've been thinking about how blessed we are here in our country. Even in the midst of what appears to be an economic downturn, we have much to be thankful for!

The truly wise people in these times are the ones who keep themselves out there in the world. It shows strength and longevity, and that's just as true for businesses as it is for individuals. I hear the concern in some of your voices...for our economy, for soaring fuel prices, and for the difficult decisions on where to cut back.

Here’s my plan: keep purchasing from our local horse community first. In times like this we need to take care of each other, so my customers always get first crack at my money. Maybe I’ll have to cut back on a latte or two, or make fewer trips to save gas. This is what I try to practice when I feel the dollars pinch. Remember, when the economy is struggling you can find some of the best deals out there on everything from horses to real estate.

To start off the year, I’d like to welcome some great new members to our team: “KC” Karyn Cowdrey in customer service and Tom Brennan, Lisa Emory, and Diane Kimker in sales. There are many others in the background who help make this team successful through the good times and the difficult times--thank you! I am getting my “dream team.”

Finally, I’m going to quit being so wordy and turn over some space to my editor, Deb Taber. She’s done an incredible job for us, truly capturing the essence of our magazine. Please read her comments in her new column, The Lunge Line. So if you call the office and I’m not there, it’s because my team is very capable...they let me get out and enjoy life!

Have a great January, and remember to ride!

"You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen as long as you keep yourself centered."
~Dr. Wayne W. Dyer