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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 22, 2018)
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 9 Cloverdale Carriage horses and ponies tackle Crazy Cones firefighters douse transfer station blaze By Katy Yoder Correspondent Firefighters in Cloverdale fire district are having a very busy summer. After major fires earlier this month, they tackled a blaze at the Fryrear Transfer Station last Friday. Fire Chief Thad Olsen was responding to station 601 for a task force activa- tion to Warm Springs, when he witnessed a black column of smoke at the NW Transfer Station. Chief Olsen investi- gated to find one of the three tractor-trailer dumpsters ablaze. Responding volunteers were able to keep the fire from spreading to the adja- cent two containers on either side and got the fire out. Oregon Department of Forestry was on scene to patrol for spot fires. Chief Olsen thanked the volunteer members of Cloverdale Fire for all of their responses dur- ing what has turned out to be an intensely busy summer. And, he offered “a safety reminder to make sure oily rags are contained cor- rectly, and no ashes are to be dumped into the containers.” Driving Enthusiasts of Central Oregon (DECO) offered an unusual equestrian event on August 18, just out- side of Sisters. Every shape and size of equine from regal black Friesians to miniature spotted mules pulled vehicles using old-fashioned “horse power.” The past and present came together for a fun event that tested the training and skills of the participants. The various carriages and carts, pulled by both novice and seasoned horses, were designed for maneuverabil- ity and safety. Spectators saw firsthand what it takes to safely maneuver a horse and vehicle through challenging circumstances. There were eight obsta- cles. The first assignment might seem easy to the unini- tiated: Enter the arena, stop at the first set of cones and put on a pair of gloves. Getting an excited team or single horse or pony to stand still patiently while their driver puts the reins and whip in one hand and pulls on a glove was a good first test for the competitors. “The reason it’s a chal- lenge,” said expert and orga- nizer Muffy Seaton, “is that combined driving horses compete in shows where they’re used to going fast. They wonder why they have to stop and wait for their driver to put on a pair of gloves. It teaches patience and shows how obedient the horse can be.” DECO president, Maggie McLaughlin, is serious about the main focus for the driving organization. “Driving a horse or pony is fun, but it also has to be as safe as possible.” Driving a carriage or cart pulled by a 500- to 1,500- pound horse requires skill and practice. That’s where Seaton’s expertise comes in. A world-renowned competi- tor in the sport of combined driving, Seaton judged par- ticipants and provided them with written commentary that was instructive and encouraging. Seaton had fun putting together the Crazy Cones obstacle course. Horses had to do a figure-8 and then stand between a set of fly- ing flags. Other obstacles included a small white circle that required drivers to do a quarter-pivot while keeping one wheel inside the circle. There was a gate made out of colorful pool-noodles that could bend when horses went through it. One challenge required drivers to blow a bubble while their horse stood patiently. Similar to a trail class, the course was designed to test the drivers’ ability to be accurate, think ahead and be in control with the least amount of effort. The event was held at Crooked Pine Ranch, the home of Kanoe and Dyrk Godby. Kanoe is passionate about driving and competes PHOTO BY KATY YODER Rene Hopkins drives her minimmule team. at combined driving competi- tions on the West Coast. The Godby’s ranch was purchased by her parents in 1958. “We’ve been here ever since,” she said. Kanoe’s mother, Lei Durdan, was an avid driver. Once her M&J CARPET CLEANING daughter was introduced to the sport she fell in love with it, too. “I’ve been hooked ever since!” For more information about the event or DECO, contact Maggie McLaughlin 541-350-6498. CARPET CLEANING 3 ROOMS & HALL Up to 400 sq. ft. Only $139.95 SOFA CLEANING STANDARD SIZE Custom fabric extra Only $99.95 Deep cleans, sanitizes, removes bacteria, pet dander & much more! 541-549-9090 Locally Owned & Operated Since 1986 AREA RUGS (WOOL) • UPHOLSTERY • AUTOS/RVS TILE & GROUT • DRYER VENT CLEANING www.mjcarpetcleaning.com Come See Shelly… Our in-house window shade and blind expert! Shelly brings a rich background in customer relations, reliability and service, and has a strong sense of style and design. No matter the size of the project, Shelly will always give you 110%! A division of Lakeview Millworks Visit our Sisters showroom: 141 E. Cascade Ave., #202 BestVueBlinds.com 541-588-6201
