The Clackamas print., February 16, 2000, Page 6, Image 6

WedNEsdAy, F e B ruary 16, 2000
A Wild Ride: :
TIMOTHY A. BELL
Design Editor
Class: Horseback Riding:
Beginning/lntermediate/
Advanced ;
When considering a P.E. class,
Cost: Tuition+Gen.Fee: $40,
most people envision endless hours
Fee to Horsemaster Farms:
of running, sweaty locker rooms and
barking coaches. Few would imag­
Instructor: Janet Adler
ine that an invigorating ride on a
horse would count as a P.E. credit.
Location: Horsemaster Farms,
Yet just a few short miles away lies
24780 S Beavercreek Rd,
Beavercreek
Horsemaster Farms, a unique alter­
native to the traditional gymnasium-
orientated classes.
Horsemaster Farms began at a lo­ and either I keep going in that direc­
cation near the Portland Airport in tion or I make it into a living. So I
1966. They moved to their present turned pro at 19.”
location in Beavercreek in 1981,
Janet still intends to be involved
where over 125 candidates com­ in competitions, but the farm keeps
peted as a part of screening trials her occupied most of the time.
for the Olympics. The farm has been
“Most of my adventures [these
working with the college for the past days] will be as a professional
five years in teaching students En- teacher and coach,” said Adler. “It’s
glish-style horseback riding.
just as rewarding to have your stu­
The farm offers a beginning, in­ dents do well.”
termediate and an advanced course
Safety for her students is also a
that are each worth one P.E. credit. priority of Janet’s. At Horsemaster
The beginners' course focuses on Farms, students are required to sign
teaching students to control the a waiver and wear protective helmets
horse at a walking pace and at a trot. while riding. When students ride
“Most of the time by the end of outside, they are also required to
the first ten weeks, a student can wear protective vests that pad the
get into the canter and even start upper torso including the collar­
jumping,” said Janet Adler, co­ bone, shoulders and tailbone.
owner of Horsemaster Farms.
“The most important thing that we
The intermediate and advanced start out with on a beginner is get­
courses teach stu­
ting them to be re­
..........................II....... .... .............11.... i..... IIIII.II.IIII.II.IIIH ?
m L
dents more refine­
laxed and familiar
ment of position
around a horse,
The most impor­
and control of the
teaching them the
tant thing that we
horse. Students
safety factors on
start out with on a
also learn how to
the ground as well
position the horse
as being on top,”
beginner is getting
in order to get a
said Adler.
them to be relaxed
more accurate take
Horsemaster
off on the jumps.
Farms
also offers
and
familiar
Dressage, an indi­
daily riding les­
around a horse...
vidual test that de­
sons, horse shows
Janet Adler
termines a rider’s
and
summer
co-owner of Horsemaster Farms.
compatibility with
camps.
a horse in terms of
“We have begin­
doing maneuvers
ners up to ad­
and circles, is also included in the vanced riders as well as profession­
classes.
als who come in and take it [summer
“I could compare it [dressage] to camps],” said Adler. “It’s a con­
figure skating,” said Adler.
densed course designed after the
Adler is a Certified Horsemaster courses that I took in England for
and a Certified Al instructor from my Horsemaster degree that can
Porlock Vale Riding School in En­ progress a rider up to six months in
gland.
one week.”
“They used to have the English
In addition to the horses and
Olympic team there,” said Adler. teaching, the Adlers are one of the
“It’s very hard because you have to largest breeders of Poly Jack
pass all kinds of examinations.”
Russels (dogs) on the West Coast.
Adler also has a degree in Educa­
“We saw our first Jack Russel in
tion from Portland State University England in 1966,” said Adler. “It was
with a minor in Psychology and going after rats in hay, and I just
Music. Her husband and co-owner couldn’t believe it. It pulled this
of the farm, Mike, also has a degree huge rat right out from practically
from PSU, but their love of horse­ underneath my feet.”
back riding led them in a different
Horsemaster Farms is about 80
direction.
acres, including a facility for up to
“We put those degrees in the about 32 horses, and a large kennel
drawer and started doing this,” said with 20 dogs for breeding and sev­
Adler.
eral puppies.
Both Mike and Janet rode for
“With animals you have to be here
years professionally, winning nu­ for them,” said Adler. “Often times
merous Divisional and State Cham­ when we go we have to have sev­
pionships.
eral people stay here to watch ev­
“I came back from England and erything because they are depen­
my big dream was to go on to the dent on you.”
Olympics,” said Adler. “But it got
“It’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle,”
to. the point that I finished school Adler said.
Ayesha AH, student, jumps Katrin over a fence. AH, like all other students, brushes Katrin before taM