Have you ever noticed the sprawling white building with the green roof on Iron Mountain Road? It’s Lake Oswego Hunt (LOH), a place I had never visited or knew much about until a year and a half ago. My impression was that it was a place only for people who owned horses, but I learned that EVERYONE is welcome there. So I signed up for adult beginner riding lessons.
While learning to ride, I also learned about the history of LOH. The barn and arena were built in the 1930s and it has been continuously serving equestrians and horses ever since. LOH is part of the National Historic Registry and partners with a nonprofit organization, LOEC. It financially supports itself through Riding Academy camps and lessons, equestrian events — both competitive and noncompetitive — boarding horses, and its generous donors and volunteers. LOH receives NO taxpayer support, so the volunteers help make the facility and community what it is today. Grants and the generous support of the community are key to the historic preservation of the beautiful facilities. This place is special for everyone, but especially for young girls. LOH is a community of strong role models, trainers, teachers and staff who show up every day to care for the horses and barn.
Everyone who rides at LOH must first learn how to groom and tack — put on a bridle and saddle. It was beautiful to be supported by the interns as I learned many new skills. LOH has a culture of girls who love horses and understand the responsibility that comes with caring for them. Being around horses can be risky, so doing things the right way is important. The interns come from middle and high schools around the area and carefully teach and monitor new riders. Through the active intern program riders can work to help reduce some of the costs and increase their riding time. The interns are held capable — they not only teach new riders how to care for the horses but also help out with lessons and clean and take care of the tack. With over 40 horses on site, they have a very important and big job. They also help the younger riders become the next interns so the cycle continues. It’s special to be at the barn when riders are getting horses ready for lessons. Over and over I have watched as the horses lower their heads so the tiny 7-year-old riders can put on their bridles. I have also watched those littlest riders clean up after their horses ... everyone does!
At the center of everything, of course, are the horses. Each is an individual with its own personality. As you walk down the aisles along the stalls, many of them will stick their heads out to say hi and happily accept your pets. They are a social group and seem especially gentle and responsive to the younger riders. There is a reason they are often referred to as “schoolmasters.” They are truly the teachers!
If you are at all curious about LOH, please know that you are welcome to come by and take a look at the barn, say hi to the horses and get a feel for the community. Sign your kids up for lessons or an equestrian summer camp. There are a number of events where you can see the results of the hard work the LOH riders put into their sports. After watching them jump, excel at dressage and enthusiastically support each other, like me, you too may want to become part of the LOH community,
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