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Vol. 90 Issue 28 • Wednesday, July 10, 2013 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 •
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Hit the trail this summer with Charlie Horse Claire paradis Arrow Lakes News
Coming the other way (the not from town way) to Charlie Horse Shoeing and Equine Adventures where we would find Charlotte Ruse was a bit of an adventure, one that took a turnaround and a little backing up. But once we were on the driveway (is this the way? do we turn left or right?) it was obvious that we’d arrived in horse heaven. Turning the truck down the gentle slope off Crescent Bay Road that opened up into a farmyard with hay stacked in a giant hill of white plastic marshmallows next to a barn and paddock of horses, Charlotte Ruse and three horses greeted us, as did the two dogs Luna and Dakota. And Spud the pig came out too and obliged us with his trick to “sit” for a treat. Unlike many businesses in town, Charlie Horse’s trail ride was unaffected by the morning’s power outage, and up on the farm you couldn’t tell the difference between having the grid switched on or off. Ruse and her son Hunter waved as we climbed out of the truck and walked over, ready for our adventure. Neither my riding companion nor myself had seen or been on the back of a horse for years, although my pal’s most recent equine
experience had been during a trek in Mongolia only half a dozen years ago. We really were both virtual newbies, but both eager to get back in the saddle again. Chico, Brian and Chester were already geared up and ready for our newbie new butts, and after a quick assessment of who felt comfortable with what (I took Brian and my companion chose Chester, who had a reputation as a lazy walker, but more on that later), we clambered up. Goal-oriented Brian was soon walking over to the paddock to visit with his buddies, with me seated in his saddle like a sentient sack of potatoes. Fortunately, Ruse caught up with us and herded us back like spastic cats to where my fellow equi-naïve adventurer was sedately seated on Chester. “’Whoa’ is the first thing I teach,” said Ruse, although Brian had reacted to my pronunciation of the word as though it were some foreign phrase he didn’t understand. Ruse gracefully pulled herself up onto Chico and we were off, like a shot of meandering horses. Chester immediately tried the paddock-visiting manoeuvre too, but with a little prompting we were on the road. For those of you who know, riding a horse isn’t about holding on for dear life. In fact, horses are very sensitive and can suss a stressed-out rider in a moment. Good rider and horse combos are like centaurs, a smooth
Charlotte Ruse decided not to wait until she had some spare time to do what she loved, work with horses, and jumped straight into an equestrian career. Claire Paradis/Arrow Lakes News fusion of human and mount that move as a single entity. Balance, grace, and wordless communication: these are qualities my friend and I were generally lacking, and Ruse kindly let us know when we were lurching over to one side, or hauling up on the reins rather than straight back.
Experienced riders can move their mounts with subtle pressure and movements, and both horse and human tune into the alignment of the other. People can experience a
See Horseplay page 2
Power outage decision irks local business owners Claire paradis Arrow Lakes News
The recent power outage in Nakusp scheduled for Friday, July 5 to was not without controversy. The BC Hydro-planned outage was held between 7 and 11 a.m. so that markers could be placed on the line across the highway between the substation and the Arrow Lakes Hospital to increase visibility of the line for helicopters traveling to and from the hospital. Many locals were caught by surprise by the announcement, including Nakusp mayor Karen Hamling. When BC Hydro representative Mary Anne Coules was queried about the process leading up to the decision for the outage to take place on a Friday morn-
ing during the summer’s peak visitor season, she told the Arrow Lakes News that the date had been decided upon with consultation of local politicians. Coules said that New Denver mayor Ann Bunka and Hamling had both been approached in May about holding the outage in June 8. Because the named date was the day for grad celebrations in Nakusp, Hamling had told Coules it wouldn’t work. Coules then asked about July 5 or 6 as possible dates. Hamling told her that July was tourist season, and asked if there was a reason the outage would be scheduled for a Saturday. The BC Hydro representative responded that she was aware July was peak season in town,
and asked if there were any specific events scheduled for either day. Word was forwarded on from the tourist information centre that there were none known about, other than Parkour on Friday afternoons and that an evening outage wouldn’t be good for business at the local pubs. Mayor Hamling received an email on June 25 that the upcoming outage was planned for the morning of July 5. The notice surprised Hamling, who would have preferred a time not during the height of tourist traffic through town. “If I had to choose a date, it would not have been in the summer during the hot weather and the busy time of year,” said Hamling in an email to Coules disput-
ing that the date for the power outage had been chosen or approved by the mayors in any way. In response to queries about how the decision was made, Coules replied that she “did receive confirmation from all of the Mayors that there were no significant community events planned for Friday, July 5. In addition, the outage was originally planned from 8 a.m. to noon and we later rescheduled the outage from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. to help minimize any impacts.” The BC Hydro representative also said that for public safety reasons it was critical that the work be completed as soon as possible, and that Hydro did our best to accommodate the three affected communities of Nakusp, New Denver and Silverton.
Local merchant Marie Wrede, co-owner of Little Mountain Outdoor Gear, was not impressed. “This is not acceptable,” said Wrede. “I think a lot of people feel the same way.” The business owner said the loss of sales due to the power outage was “pretty substantial” and said that when she called Hydro, she found they were “not helpful.” Wrede became aware of the planned outage three days before it took place when she heard it on the radio, and subsequently saw a poster at the post office. That’s not good enough, she told the Arrow Lakes News, particularly when the lion’s share of a year’s earnings takes place during a few short weeks in summer.
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