Learning Opportunities Overflow at the Washington State Horse Park
LearnBy Kim Roe
One of the best ways to develop a good riding horse is to spend time cross–training your horse in multiple disciplines. Just like people, horses benefit mentally from a change of scenery, and their physical soundness improves when ridden on varying terrain and by training different muscle groups. Riders can also benefit by watching and auditing events held by other disciplines and learning training techniques explained and taught in a new way.
The Washington State Horse Park hosts a variety of learning opportunities and unique equestrian events throughout the season. The park welcomes multiple disciplines and gives riders the opportunity to try something new with their horses.
Some of the events being held at the park this year are Cowboy Dressage, Mustang Madness and Trail Challenge, reined cow horse practice, hunter-jumper and reining shows, horse trials, and a Craig Cameron Clinic. All of these are open to the public to participate in or watch; the only one with an auditing fee is the Craig Cameron clinic.
The park has beautiful trails, arenas, and other amenities like safe stalls, wash racks, showers for people, camping and much more. Find out more at www.wahorsepark.org, or call 877-635-4111.
Kim Roe grew up riding on the family ranch and competed in Western rail classes, trail horse, reining, working cow, and hunter/jumper. She trained her first horse for money at 12 years old, starting a pony for a neighbor.
Kim has been a professional dressage instructor in Washington state for over 30 years, training hundreds of horses and students through the levels. In recent years Kim has become involved in Working Equitation and is a small ‘r’ Working Equitation judge with WE United.
Kim is the editor of the Northwest Horse Source Magazine, and also a writer, photographer, and poet. She owns and manages Blue Gate Farm in Deming, Washington where she continues to be passionate about helping horses and riders in many disciplines.
