Make Time to Reflect, Plan and Dream
by Karen Pickering, NWHS Publisher
This has been the best summer I’ve had in a long time. Why? I’ve spent more time with my horse. It centers me and gives purpose to the entire reason I started the magazine. Just being around horses is relaxing and satisfies the soul. One of my greatest pleasures is taking care of my horse, whether it is cleaning stalls, corrals, grooming or riding. That said, I love the fall season when leaves are turning and harvest time is upon us. Summer exits gracefully in September with warm days that turn to cool evenings and the horses are beginning to grow a heavier coat in preparation for the wet winter ahead. For horse owners, thoughts turn to things like shelter, feed and training programs to keep our horses fit for the next season of shows and events.
What I love best about fall is slowing down. It’s a season to reflect on the past year and begin to plan for the next. Should you put a horse in training for the upcoming season, or start plans for that new building project in the spring? Is it time to look for a new horse? Dream big! What do you want to do well this coming year? It’s important to visualize those goals, even if it’s simply a commitment to spend more time with your horse.
Our cover story this month is about a new event at the Washington Tractor Arena in Lynden, WA: The Superhorse Showdown. This promises to be a great combination of speed events combining barrel racing, cowboy racing and ranch sorting. Craig Cameron and Brent Rollins will be back in Lynden this October to MC the cowboy race and give clinics. Read all about it on page 6. We are fortunate in Whatcom County to have such a nice facility. The Washington Tractor Arena offers great footing, larger riding/show area, good lighting and a covered warm-up arena for shows and other equine activities. Keep watching for more fun events at this outstanding venue.
Enjoy the beautiful fall weather in the Pacific Northwest as you reflect, plan and dream for next summer. I hope to see you out riding and enjoying your horse.
Quote: “Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do the best.” ~ Marva Collins
Originally Published September 2014 Issue
Owner/Publisher Karen’s lifelong love of horses began at a very early age when she wore out a couple of rocking horses before convincing her parents to get her the real thing. That ill-tempered bay gelding, Brandy, was a challenge for the young horsewoman, but it drove her ambition to become a horse trainer. After attending Canyonview Equestrian College’s Horsemanship Program, Karen realized she needed work that was a little more lucrative than training, so she took a job with Customs Brokerage to pay the bills. There, she discovered an affinity for computers and a talent for creating informative, entertaining newsletters. The Northwest Horse Source began as such a letter in December 1995, with a distribution of 1000 copies for its 12 black and white pages. Now 29 years later, it’s an online magazine and website with a reach of over 10,000 per month and growing! Not bad for the results of one woman’s dream to work with horses!
Today, Karen remains involved with every aspect of the magazine and treasures the community of thousands who share a common passion.
