Fair fun: miniature horses make big impact
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
The Klickitat County Fair starts Thursday, and at it a very big deal is going to be made of some very small animals.
Miniature horses will participate in more than seven different categories at the fair, bringing much public attention to the often-misunderstood equines.
"A lot of people don't understand what miniature horses are," says Lisa Shupe of the Columbia Cascade Miniature Horse Club (CCMHC). "They think they're ponies or they're Shetlands or something. But they're actually a nationally recognized separate breed of horses. They're a height breed, but they are a breed of horses." An American Miniature Horse is one that measures 34 inches or less at its withers, the highest part of the back at the base of the neck.
"You can do lots of things with miniature horses," says Patty West of the CCMHC. "And they're not like a dog. People say, 'Oh, that looks like a dog,' or 'I want to get one to play with my dog.' But no, that's not what they are. They are an equine; they are a horse. And you can do everything with them that you can do with a big horse, and sometimes more, except ride them."
Among the startling variety of uses for the horses is-speaking of dogs-replacements for seeing-eye dogs. Remarkably, the horses take very well to the task, and some are small enough to fit under restaurant tables. Perhaps more remarkably, until the notion of a seeing-eye horse becomes more ubiquitous, more and more restaurants are letting the horses in.
The CCMHC, the only organization of its kind along the Columbia River Gorge, considers that there is substantial need for public awareness of what miniature horses are, what they can do, and how to properly care for them.
"They're wonderful for kids," says Shupe, "because they're the right size. Kids are not going to get hurt with them the way they can with the big horses."
"They're good for grandmas who can't climb up on a horse any more," says club member Candy Magnuson, "or somebody who's crippled, to drive a horse in a cart."
But in the same way that some people think of tiny horses as interchangeable with dogs, there can be significant misperceptions about how to take care of miniatures horses.
"It's important for people to know that they have to take care of them the same way you would a larger horse," says Shupe. "These aren't as expensive, but it's a big job taking care of a horse. There are all the same veterinary costs. You don't have to shoe them, but you do have to keep them trimmed. They're a little harder to take care of, over a big horse, because a big horse you can just them out into a pasture and they're good. You have to worry about over-feeding the miniature horses. You can't just throw hay to them, the way you can with a big horse. You've got to monitor what you feed them."
The club's miniature horses will get good work-outs at the fair. Among the categories they're entered into are:
• Showmanship, which is on the person handling the horse, how well they can show the animal;
• Halter, how the horse is judged on its overall conformation (appearance and shape) and how well it keeps to breed standards;
• Versatility, which the horse can do in-hand or in drives (either led by a handler or pulling a cart);
• In-hand obstacle, in which the horses go through different maneuvers around obstructions with their handler;
• Hunter and jumper, where the horses jump over various obstacles with their handler (the handler, in case you're wondering, does not jump);
• Several different driving categories, including pleasure and obstacle driving;
• Costume class, kind of an early Halloween for both horse and handler in which both dress up in any creative way they can think of.
The CCMHC is not only for miniature horse owners but for anyone just interested in more information about the equines or would like to be involved with them. For more information on the CCMHC, contact newly elected Vice President Heidi McCarty at The Sentinel, or Lisa Shupe at 250-2805, or Candy Magnuson at 250-3651.
Proposed water rate changes seek to fix usage differences
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Goldendale city council water committee has recommended increases in water rates that will raise funds to cover future maintenance and improvements of the system. A public hearing on the proposed changes in the city's water rates will be held Sept. 8.
The city plans to eventually replace all remaining steel and asbestos concrete distribution water lines and mountain spring transmission line, plus the decaying water reservoir. The proposed fee schedule also seeks to be more equitable for all in the area whose water usage can vary widely.
One feature of the plan would be to assess a monthly fee to all meters and the units they serve, whether they are using water or not. The rationale, as explained by public works director, Keith Grundei, is to address the cost of maintaining a system. If a house is empty, as, for instance, when someone leaves for a few months every year and their water is turned off, they pay nothing towards the support of the system, says Grundei.
For multiple housing units, under the inital proposal, a basic rate would be applied to each unit.
Under the initial proposal still being reviewed and evaluated, the base rate per unit would be $25 per month. (Examples of this are shown in the table below.)
Large volume users would see substantial annual increases in their bill, though their cost per cubic foot (cf) of water would remain a fraction of medium and low user rates.
The city wants public input on the proposal during its Sept. 8 hearing. According to Grundei, this is just at a proposal stage, particularly true of the multiple unit housing, motels, and RV parks. "Nothing is set in stone," he said.
A revision of the proposal made Aug. 3 will be presented to the public at the Sept. 8 hearing. Input can be directed to council members and Grundei.
City council deliberates speed limits, water, submits proposal for company
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
Mountain View cemetery will move ahead on plans to drill a new well, a representative for the cemetery told the Goldendale city council at Monday's meeting.
"We'd like to ask for an exception on the city moratorium on drilling new wells within the city limits," Mike Hay told the council. The current well at the cemetery has gone almost totally dry, and final investigation of whether or not a new well is needed or the current can be retrofitted is awaiting removal of obstructing equipment by Klickitat PUD. But in subsequent discussion, the council informed Hay that its ordinance covers only domestic wells, which are residential. The council advised that the cemetery was free to drill a new well if needed.
In other matters, proposals were made to change the speed limits on selected city thoroughfares, including Bickleton Highway between Broadway and the state overpass. That speed limit would change from the current 50 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour on that stretch. Another change would occur on West Brooks Street from Klickitat Avenue east, from its current 15 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour.
Police Chief Rick Johnson reported on National Night Out, held on Aug. 4 at the city pool. He said the event worked well for kids, but greater participation by older people would be good as well; to that end, he considered that it might work better to change the location next time to a more centrally located area, where drive-by traffic could find it more readily. He then focused on the Klickitat County Fair opening Thursday, saying that the police and fire departments would have booths and four radio spots there. Volunteers were needed, he said, to help out at the fire hall. Johnson also reported that grant applications have been put in for the fire department but no word on them has been heard yet. The fire department is conducting a comprehensive inventory presently, he said.
A report on the city's water repair project followed, indicating that 45 percent of the work on pipes has been completed. Water issues have arisen as well at World War II Park, where, it was reported, vandals methodically destroyed every sprinkler in the park. Repairs to the sprinkler system were estimated at between $500 and $700. Water rates were also briefly mentioned, as the council received new written proposals for water rate increases for area motels. No discussion of the rates occurred at the meeting.
A school zone warning sign that was blown down on Simcoe near the Grace Brethren Church is to be replaced before school starts, it was reported.
City Administrator Larry Bellamy reported that a proposal by the city has been presented to a major company considering relocation. "We've put our best foot forward," he said. He also said that documents from the Economic Development Council have been received. Its findings will be reviewed in committee, with recommendations on them to be presented to the council at its meeting on Sept. 8. |
