Riverside State Park to dedicate new equestrian area

PARKS —On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Riverside State Park Foundation , in conjunction with many equestrian groups and supporters, will introduce the new equestrian area with an open house from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 is a FREE day at Washington State Parks: the Discover Pass is not required.

The event will kick off with a 10 a.m. Grand Entry by the Tough Enough Drill Team, followed by prize drawings and a spaghetti feed by foundation volunteers.

Groups and individuals will perform in the 140- by 240-foot arena and the 60-foot round pen. Groups and vendors will have booths.

Some of the scheduled events include:

• Jousting on horseback by the Jousting Alliance of Washington State
• Mounted shooting by the Northwest Mounted Shooters
• Drill team by Mt. Spokane High School Equestrian Team
• Drill team by Tough Enough
• Drill team by 4-H
• Veterinary seminar by McKinlay & Peters Equine Veterinary Hospital
• Pattern riding by the Northwest Pattern Riding Association
• Trainer Ann Kirk
• Trainer Jason Hicks
• Trainer Craig Volosing
• Dressage riding by the Inland Northwest Dressage Association
• Equestrian massage therapy by Kahla Noel
• Compass & map reading by Trail Meister Robert Eversole
• Packing & knot tying demonstration and hands on practice by Back Country Horsemen
• Therapeutic riding by Free Rein
• Shoeing information by farrier Nolan Tobler
• Orienteering course by Selkirk Competitive Mounted Orienteering
• Renaissance period dress and equestrian games by Spokane Entertainers Guild
• Roping with the 4-H Ranch Ropers
• Covered wagon rides by Pacific Northwest Fjord Promotional Group
• Music by T Scot Wiburn and the Shut-Up-N-Playboys
• Cowboy poetry by Dick Warwick

The event will help visitor learn the attractions the park has for equestrians, including more than 80 miles of trails and six equestrian trailheads.

LOCATION: The equestrian area is off Government Way between Old Trails Rd and Fort George Wright.  From Government Way turn north on Equestrian Lane (NEW NAME for the old Aubrey White Parkway), go about 0.2  mile and turn right into the equestrian area.

Contact Ken Carmichael 509-466-2225 or kcarmichael2225@gmail.com .