Colorado Horse Source Attends Fun Annual Event at Bear Creek Regional Park, Colorado Springs
It was a cold, dark and somewhat foggy day. Several rigs, covered with snow, pulled into the parking lot. It didn’t deter the committed volunteers of “Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course”, near Penrose Event Center or the many riders, hikers, and people with horses in hand, from coming out in support. The Spring Fling 5K Poker Ride/Run is the annual fundraiser to keep this beautiful outdoor trail course available to the public. This year’s event was held April 20th from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Cost to enter was $25/each.
The park was created as an educational resource to help horse owners learn to navigate obstacles they may encounter on the trail. From rock obstacles, step up obstacles to navigate, bridges, water obstacles, and the recently built switchback trail, this course offers many great learning opportunities for riders wanting to increase their skills with their horses. Some obstacles will require a level of fitness for the horse but there are many obstacle challenges from beginners to advanced. It’s also a great place for people and horses alike to learn about the importance of sharing the trails with hikers, bikers and dogs in our beautiful state.
This year’s event had everything from runners, hikers, people leading horses, many riders and many different breeds, including donkeys, gaited horses, Quarter Horses even goats that packed! The El Paso County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse participated as well. Despite the cold the number of participants was impressive. What a great resource for horse owners to school their horses in Southern Colorado. Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course claim this is the only course of its kind that’s open free to the public in the United States.
The course is open to the everyday from dawn to dusk, and is free to the public, however donations are appreciated.
To learn more about Friends of The Equestrian Skills Course visit: https://www.equestrianskillscourse.org
Many thanks to Linda Kunzweiler of Colorado Safe Horse for letting us know about this event.
Please enjoy the photo slide show below…..
Some highlights from April 20th fundraiser for Friends of The Equestrian Skills Course
Owner/Publisher Karen’s lifelong love of horses began at a very early age when she wore out a couple of rocking horses before convincing her parents to get her the real thing. That ill-tempered bay gelding, Brandy, was a challenge for the young horsewoman, but it drove her ambition to become a horse trainer. After attending Canyonview Equestrian College’s Horsemanship Program, Karen realized she needed work that was a little more lucrative than training, so she took a job with Customs Brokerage to pay the bills. There, she discovered an affinity for computers and a talent for creating informative, entertaining newsletters. The Northwest Horse Source began as such a letter in December 1995, with a distribution of 1000 copies for its 12 black and white pages. Now 25 years later, it’s an online magazine and website with a reach of over 10,000 per month and growing! Not bad for the results of one woman’s dream to work with horses!
Today, Karen remains involved with every aspect of the magazine and treasures the community of thousands who share a common passion. Now excited to start a version of her original magazine in Colorado!