"The Chore Horse competition is a test of skill for driver and horses. There is a prescribed course of different tasks that must be attempted in the correct sequence. The tasks are all things that a working team would have to do in the course of their work. Teams are judged on disposition, power, versatility, precision and agility."- The Cochrane Eagle
The Northern Colorado Back Country horsemen distributed this email to all their members, suggesting ways we can help our equine flood victims:
The way we went from severe drought to record level rains and flooding is really something. Please continue to pray for balance for our Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants.
It just doesn't feel right to do a normal newsletter right now so I thought we'd just send out a list of resources where you may be able volunteer your time or send donations or whatever feels right to you.
The website: Help Colorado Now is a wealth of resources for the many cities, towns, rural areas, animals, people and more ......
They have a wide range of organizations who are providing assistance in many ways. They keep the site updated with new organizations and new needs too.
To help with the lost animals who need to be reunited with their families the Facebook page, Colorado Disaster Wildfire / Flood Lost & Found Pets & Livestock serves part of that need. https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoWildfireLostFoundPets
And to help provide hay to those who are in need is Colorado Horsecare Food bank:
"Such a classification - the nation's first, if it stands - would make owning horses uninsurable and jeopardize the state's sizable horse industry, farmers and horse owners say."- CBS News
"If you've got a car that gets old you get rid of it. You got a horse that gets old you feed it for the rest of its life." -- Gary O'Dell, dude ranch owner who vows to go where his horses go
Engineers survey the N. Shields Street - Poudre River bridge, which is under attack by a swollen river.
Larimer County engineers survey the Poudre River bridge on our northwest corner as it is battered by debris, most likely washed down from the High Park Fire area. The bridge is scheduled for replacement, and its center pylon is already damaged by previous water scoring. Engineers have monitors wired to the bridge, which keep them informed as to the bridge's health. So far, so good, they say.
The river, which runs along our north border, is at about twice its spring melt levels, and has broken through to the gravel pond natural areas to the north. It has also flooded the Poudre River bike trail to our east, along the north border of the proposed Pateros Creek housing development.
Cayla Stone and her horse, Cooper, watch the swollen Poudre River from the safety of our east pasture.
From our stable's north property line: The Poudre River has breached the bike trail underpass at N. Shields Street. Trees and other debris continue to whack away at the center pylon, but the bridge is holding. Road workers stand by, and tourists flock. All the horses are safe and happy on higher ground. In fact, from a rain standpoint, this is much better than the 1997 Spring Creek flood. What is hurting us now is the runoff from the mountains, which has nowhere to go but the river.
The North Shields Street - Poudre River bridge becomes a tourist attraction as people pose with small children above turbulent flood waters.
The Poudre River is lapping at its banks after heavy rain. "The Beach", a popular recreation spot, is now completely under water, and the river has breached the natural area ponds to the north. The Shields Street - Poudre River bridge on our northwest corner has become a tourist attraction, with cars stopping on the bridge for photos, and people posing with small children for that special shot. Little do they know that the bridge is slated for replacement, and is damaged by water scoring. If some of the flood debris, a big tree for instance, hit the bridge, would it hold?
