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
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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
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