Stable caters to trail riders

Riders hit the trail at Crooked Horseshoe Stables near Sisters. The stable offers boarding and a series of clinics with renowned trainer Clint Surplus. Photo by Kathryn Godsiff

Crooked Horseshoe Stables offers a casual, laid back host of activities.

Owned and operated by Laura Shepard, the stable caters to trail and pleasure riders.

"We really want to emphasize that this is a small, friendly barn with big barn amenities," Shepard said.

These include a 60-by-120-foot covered arena, a round pen, six barn stalls with runs, six outside paddocks with shelters, and a summer turnout pasture.

A bonus is the close proximity to Sisters and miles of trails in the Deschutes National Forest, just a short ride down the road.

One of the features of Crooked Horseshoe Stables is Shepard's willingness to care for horses on a short-term basis.

"I'll always try to have some spaces for vacationers, either those coming into Central Oregon or those leaving to vacation elsewhere," she said.

Incoming horses need proof of current vaccinations and a negative Coggins test.

What started as a desire to be able to ride in the winter has developed into a business which enabled Shepard to quit her job in the insurance industry in order to care for the stables full time.

"We started researching the building of a covered arena," said Shepard, "then thought about adding the stalls, and boarders and the thing took on a life of it's own," she said.

Shepard recognized that a need existed in Sisters for a boarding stable for trail riders.

Hosting a natural horsemanship clinic for trainer and clinician Clint Surplus led to a working relationship with him. The stable currently has several of Surplus clinics on the books. Basic horsemanship is scheduled June 6-7; a colt starting clinic will be June 10-13; a series of progressive horsemanship group lessons is in progress, with an intermediate level group lesson series due to start in July.

"Several boarders are taking part in the group lessons," said Shepard. This enables them to help each other out and adds to the friendly atmosphere at the stable.

There are some spaces available for both short- and long-term boarders. For more information on the stables or Clint Surplus clinics, phone Laura at 549-8897.