Woodbrook Hunt Club
Location: Woodbrook Hunt Club, 6206 150th St SW, Lakewood, WA 98439
Facilities: Clubhouse with bathroom, shower and electricity Camp Site Amenities: outdoor water spigot and hose Site Type: flexible parking Water: Water Spigot Footing: Rocky, hoof boots recommended Cell Signal: ATT 1 bar, clubhouse has wifi Dogs: Dogs allowed Other: Weed-free hay required Website: http://www.woodbrookhuntclub.com/ Reservations: [email protected] |
Getting There
Driving from Portland I had a nice and easy drive up I-5 N. It was the last mile that was confusing. Google maps will take you the wrong way. You do not want to take the turn crossed out in red below, that property is a separate facility owned by Woodbrook Stables. Follow the directions highlighted by the green arrow. The property is gated so make sure you get the code from the person hosting you. Parking areas are shown in blue.
Must Brings
1) Alcohol and an extrovert - Apparently fox hunters are the partiers of the horse world. I visited during a hunt pace and fox hunt. Even though the crowd was older, they stayed up late and drank, talked loud and had a good time!
2) A black equestrian show coat - I didn't have one and it wasn't required. Everyone looked good and the club members seemed to enjoy dressing up.
2) A black equestrian show coat - I didn't have one and it wasn't required. Everyone looked good and the club members seemed to enjoy dressing up.
Horse Campsites
Here are overnight horse options from the hunt club's website.
Stall option #1 – Horseland Farm may have overnight stabling, contact Jenn at [email protected].
Stall option #2 – Woodbrook Stables may have overnight stabling, contact Kerry at [email protected].
Stall option #3 – Your horses can stay at your trailer, a limited number of day stalls are available.
You are welcome to park your camper/living quarters in the hunt club’s parking lot. A parking fee of $10. includes use of the facilities. But you must be pre-cleared by Jenn Hansen our huntsman first, email her at [email protected].
We parked in the grass across the road. There are flexible parking areas with no set boundaries. The purple boxes were outdoor horse paddocks that you could rent for the night from the neighboring stable. The blue areas are parking possibilities. Some people backed in in front of the horse paddocks and were close to their horse and the clubhouse. I hi-tied Sam and parked across the road in the grass. The red circle is the outdoor water spigot.
Stall option #1 – Horseland Farm may have overnight stabling, contact Jenn at [email protected].
Stall option #2 – Woodbrook Stables may have overnight stabling, contact Kerry at [email protected].
Stall option #3 – Your horses can stay at your trailer, a limited number of day stalls are available.
You are welcome to park your camper/living quarters in the hunt club’s parking lot. A parking fee of $10. includes use of the facilities. But you must be pre-cleared by Jenn Hansen our huntsman first, email her at [email protected].
We parked in the grass across the road. There are flexible parking areas with no set boundaries. The purple boxes were outdoor horse paddocks that you could rent for the night from the neighboring stable. The blue areas are parking possibilities. Some people backed in in front of the horse paddocks and were close to their horse and the clubhouse. I hi-tied Sam and parked across the road in the grass. The red circle is the outdoor water spigot.
The paddocks beside the clubhouse were nice and spacious. If you back into a parking space just in front of the paddocks both you and your horse could be very comfortable. You would also be close to the water spigot and the restroom inside.
The red building is the clubhouse. It looked like a very old house and smelled like your grandma. They call it "historic".
Below you can see the kennels from the last paddock and then a close of up the dogs.
Across the gravel road from the clubhouse was a large field to park in.
We parked on the grass horizontally so we did not block the other trailers in.
The day of the hunt, more day riders parked behind us.
Riding
The majority of our riding took place on the JBLM's area 7 North. There are no trail markers but the whole area is fenced. I started Gaia before I rode and could clearly see where I was and how to get home. There are a good 6 miles of trails with some scattered cross-country jumps. This was enough riding for 2 days but we rode much of the same area repeatedly. It was beautiful and the perfect setting for a controlled trail event. To ride on jBLM you need to sign up for an Isportsman account and buy a permit. You then need to check in and out on the day you ride. For my fox hunt the hunt club took care of the checking in and out but I still needed to have a permit.
Hunt Pace 4.5 mile Loop
I would describe this as a team poker ride with optional jumps. It was competitive, although your team was judged on the time it took for you to complete the ride. You are not supposed to race or go too slow just ride just at the "right speed". Nebulous enough? It was super vague but also really relaxed and fun. The trail was marked with flags like a poker ride or endurance ride. We rode about 5 miles through the jblm trails and had cross-country jumps we could chose to jump or go around. I really liked riding with 1-2 other riders. I loved getting to follow another fast horse and talking while we galloped or jumped. It was a great way to get to know people on a one at a time basis. This was much more comfortable for my introvert heart than the large group fox hunt. The event organizer teamed me up with an experienced club member which was a wonderful way for me to feel comfortable right away.
Total Miles: 4.44 miles
Time Taken: 47 minutes Ascent: 81 feet Average Speed: 5.3 mph Max Speed: 12.9 mph GPS Track Link We did a lot of walking on the hunt pace course. The footing was rocky and there was one steeper section that had lots of big round rocks. It was just enough rocks that we needed to slow down. I was riding with a barefoot horse and Sam had 3 boots on. I preemptively took off his right rear boot since we continue to lose that boot and I didn't want to worry about losing it and finding it again on the trail. The trail was flagged but pretty confusing. The trail had a few intersecting paths and it was easy to get lost. Having a Ride with GPS track and signs at every trail fork would have really helped me feel more confident.
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The sections of mowed grass between the brush was extremely inviting for a good long trot or canter.
We jumped this line multiple times during our visit. They were pretty wide jumps and Sam had to put in a decent effort. I would have liked them a little better if the logs didn't look like they were decaying and falling apart.
The bottom left picture shows a small sign with an arrow. There were signs that showed where the trail branched. One branch had a jump and one branch did not. Even if you wanted to jump but then found the jump to be scarier than you anticipated you could turn around or find a way around the jump.
Most of the footing had some gravel or rocks mixed in. Sam was fine long-trotting with his three hoof boots.
Five miles was not enough to get Sam tired so we did the course twice! After we finished, we wandered down to the open field where a separate horse show event was being held. Sam and I got to try some of the bigger cross-country jumps! This experience confirmed for me that while Sam and I love jumping single jumps, we are not jumpers. We had a lot of fun trying the fancy jumps and Sam gave me a big effort even though I was not carrying my usual apple treats.
Fox Hunt
Total Miles: 6.2 miles
Time Taken: 2 hours! Very slow for us! Ascent: 39 feet Average Speed: 3.1 mph Max Speed: 15.8 mph, Sam's long-trot GPS Track Link The Hunt Club also hosts fox hunts and we were able to ride the hunt pace on Saturday and join the hunt on Sunday! I would describe the fox hunt as an organized trail ride with 50-100 horses that ride in a single-file line at different speeds. Add lively dogs, beautiful red equestrian coats in front and black coats behind and you have a parade of horses and riders riding through the forest.
No animals are harmed during the "hunt". A scent is dragged on a predetermined trail. The hounds and hound-master or as I would call it, the dogs and the dog-trainer go first with the advanced riders. These riders gallop after the hounds. |
Slower riders follow and beginners go even slower in the rear. Sam and I were in the 2nd group of riders in front of our group behind our group leader. We could see the hounds and could watch as the first group of riders galloped by. If the line rode past jumps riders jumped or went around the jumps also in single-file. Each group of riders had a leader with a walkie-talkie and riders were kept together. If an issue arose someone would volunteer to escort the rider in need back to camp.
Being a group leader seemed similar to being a camp counselor leading a rowdy group of teenagers. There were rules on the trail. We had to stay behind the leader and in single-file and we were only allowed to talk at certain times. The hardest thing was the stop and go. We could be stopped waiting for the hounds or for slower groups to catch up then suddenly take off galloping. It was difficult to take pictures or adjust girths or stirrups. Lots of horses were milling about in the parking lot before the official start. There were people handing out alcohol or apple juice to take shots while you were warming up your horse. The atmosphere was high energy with excited horses.
Being a group leader seemed similar to being a camp counselor leading a rowdy group of teenagers. There were rules on the trail. We had to stay behind the leader and in single-file and we were only allowed to talk at certain times. The hardest thing was the stop and go. We could be stopped waiting for the hounds or for slower groups to catch up then suddenly take off galloping. It was difficult to take pictures or adjust girths or stirrups. Lots of horses were milling about in the parking lot before the official start. There were people handing out alcohol or apple juice to take shots while you were warming up your horse. The atmosphere was high energy with excited horses.
It was really neat seeing the fancy red and black hunt coats. I was able to see the hounds run and look for the scent.
Hunting vs Endurance
This was a new experience for me and Sam. It was fun and social and different but a few things stuck out. First, it was a social experience. When we were going fast it was not for long. We spent a lot of time standing and waiting for the hounds to pick up the scent. This is where the drinking comes in. Many riders carried flasks of water or maybe not water? There were some riders that I was 100% sure did not have water in their flask. Second, it was a lot of stop and go. Sam and I got a little frustrated with not getting to go as fast as we would have liked for as long as we would have liked. Maybe I should have been with the crazy first group or flight of riders, hard to say. Third, it was expensive for a short ride time. It was $100 for me a non-member to ride for 2 hrs of which 40 minutes of that time was not moving. We covered 6 miles total. Sam and I normally do 10 miles in less than 2 hours. Forth, you didn't know the trail. We followed the horse in front of us but there was no set trail that I knew of. I think the dog trainer did know the course and the group leaders may have also known the course. I would call it a very expensive organized trail ride. That being said, it was new, different, exciting and a fun experience.
There are many reasons I love endurance riding and here are some of them and then you can see how different this experience was for me and Sam.
First, endurance riding is number one about your time with your horse, it is not about being social. You ride with people or you don't. You ride with someone for a while, then you pass and go faster or slower. Yes, you socialize as you ride but the emphasis is on your relationship with your horse. Your horse always comes first. I have found that I am a better rider for Sam if I ride alone and I could feel this struggle on our foxhunt. Sam had more mental angst than usual although he handled the new situation extremely well. He took longer to calm down after we finished and he was more herd-bound than is typical for him.
Second, your horse has to be physically and emotionally fit. You ride with and pass horses. Horses pass you at a walk or a gallop. Either way you are with your horse and you have to make sure you can get your horse through the next 15-30 miles. Vet checks are the great equalizer. You can't gallop the whole time if your horse's pulse doesn't come down to below 60 bpm within 30 minutes of your forced rest vet check and hold. There is a mental calm that comes with long-trotting for 20 miles. It is a very different mental feat than galloping then standing and galloping again. Your horse has to find rest in motion and their mind and yours stays calm at a 14 mph long-trot. You keep your horse's heart rate < 160 bpm and your goal is to stay in the aerobic exercise zone. There are water tanks on the trail and the route is flagged and organized in a way to make sure you can keep your horse hydrated and healthy mid-race. After you finish it is still all about making sure your horse recovers. You don't rest until your horse is hydrated and eating and calm. The horses we hunted with had MUCH higher energy than endurance Arabians and many of the horses seemed to stay in an adrenaline-filled mental and physical state that appeared to be a prolonged stress-response. My veterinarian brain would not turn off and I could see the signs of dehydration and anxiety around me. Many horses could not mentally calm down between gallops. They were hot and spicey and this behavior was reinforced by the way we galloped then waited then galloped some more. There was water provided for the dogs, but not the horses, and it was a hot day.
Third, looks don't matter. I endurance ride in a t-shirt. We wake up dirty and stinky from camping and we ride until our face is covered in mud. The hunt club members seemed to enjoy dressing up. I could see liking it, but that is not my style. If there was a way to wear jeans to a prom I would do it. I am more of the smelly kid that didn't shower for a week at horse camp. This seems to be a personality difference. Endurance riders are the gun-slingers, the get r doners that don't take shit from anyone. They fall, break their wrist, and get back on and ride another 50 miles. They color coordinate with their horse's tack or ride with costumes or decorations. They are the introverted nerds with the heart-rate monitors and the mph stats and the riders with anxiety that have air vests and are flag followers and GPS mappers. They constantly wonder what they could do better to help their horse and keep them going mile after mile. They worry and fuss about every scrape or wound and know every expression or step of their horse. They are totally in tune with what their horse needs and always search for how they can better serve their horse the next time around.
There are many reasons I love endurance riding and here are some of them and then you can see how different this experience was for me and Sam.
First, endurance riding is number one about your time with your horse, it is not about being social. You ride with people or you don't. You ride with someone for a while, then you pass and go faster or slower. Yes, you socialize as you ride but the emphasis is on your relationship with your horse. Your horse always comes first. I have found that I am a better rider for Sam if I ride alone and I could feel this struggle on our foxhunt. Sam had more mental angst than usual although he handled the new situation extremely well. He took longer to calm down after we finished and he was more herd-bound than is typical for him.
Second, your horse has to be physically and emotionally fit. You ride with and pass horses. Horses pass you at a walk or a gallop. Either way you are with your horse and you have to make sure you can get your horse through the next 15-30 miles. Vet checks are the great equalizer. You can't gallop the whole time if your horse's pulse doesn't come down to below 60 bpm within 30 minutes of your forced rest vet check and hold. There is a mental calm that comes with long-trotting for 20 miles. It is a very different mental feat than galloping then standing and galloping again. Your horse has to find rest in motion and their mind and yours stays calm at a 14 mph long-trot. You keep your horse's heart rate < 160 bpm and your goal is to stay in the aerobic exercise zone. There are water tanks on the trail and the route is flagged and organized in a way to make sure you can keep your horse hydrated and healthy mid-race. After you finish it is still all about making sure your horse recovers. You don't rest until your horse is hydrated and eating and calm. The horses we hunted with had MUCH higher energy than endurance Arabians and many of the horses seemed to stay in an adrenaline-filled mental and physical state that appeared to be a prolonged stress-response. My veterinarian brain would not turn off and I could see the signs of dehydration and anxiety around me. Many horses could not mentally calm down between gallops. They were hot and spicey and this behavior was reinforced by the way we galloped then waited then galloped some more. There was water provided for the dogs, but not the horses, and it was a hot day.
Third, looks don't matter. I endurance ride in a t-shirt. We wake up dirty and stinky from camping and we ride until our face is covered in mud. The hunt club members seemed to enjoy dressing up. I could see liking it, but that is not my style. If there was a way to wear jeans to a prom I would do it. I am more of the smelly kid that didn't shower for a week at horse camp. This seems to be a personality difference. Endurance riders are the gun-slingers, the get r doners that don't take shit from anyone. They fall, break their wrist, and get back on and ride another 50 miles. They color coordinate with their horse's tack or ride with costumes or decorations. They are the introverted nerds with the heart-rate monitors and the mph stats and the riders with anxiety that have air vests and are flag followers and GPS mappers. They constantly wonder what they could do better to help their horse and keep them going mile after mile. They worry and fuss about every scrape or wound and know every expression or step of their horse. They are totally in tune with what their horse needs and always search for how they can better serve their horse the next time around.
Rating
Overall I loved my visit to the Woodbook Hunt Club. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. I really enjoyed camping on the grounds and having access to electricity and a bathroom. I loved the "breakfast" the afternoon after the foxhunt. I loved seeing the pretty red equestrian coats and hearing the sound of the horn calling the hounds! The members were fun and social and inclusive. I loved it because it was new and different. However, I enjoyed the hunt pace so much more than the actual fox hunt. I would have loved it even more if the hunt pace was 15 miles instead of 5. We did do the course twice, so I got close to what I needed. I guess I really do love endurance, I just need to add some jumps to my next endurance ride!