|

Home on the Range
Local Horse
Lovers Find a Slice of Heaven
Story by SONDRA HOLTZMAN
Photography by MARE
About 50 million years ago, small animals the size of
a cocker spaniel roamed the primeval forests. Centuries progressed
and cavemen who grew tired of walking found a way to train and ride
this creature who, as it evolved over time, carried soldiers into
war, pulled chariots in Egypt and was held in high esteem by the
first Americans. The love affair with horses continues on in the
high desert of Central Oregon as lifestyle and inspiration for home
décor.
Sweeping panoramic views of the Cascades from Bachelor to Hood provide
an astounding backdrop for Dita and Jonathon Keith’s ten-acre farm
on Bend’s east side. The couple created a 4,000 square foot, one-story
home with radiant heat tile floors throughout to accommodate an
ever-expanding array of pets. An existing structure was then transformed
into a cozy guesthouse, perfect for company.
“We wanted an informal atmosphere and planned the house with our
future in mind - no stairs,” says Jonathon. “And the filtered irrigation
pond is perfect for swimming in summer.” The dream of an equestrian
lifestyle began sixteen years ago when the couple sought a recreational
activity they could enjoy with daughters Allegra and Morgan. “While
searching the classifieds for a boat, I spotted an ad for a pony,
so the path diverged from the lake to the horse world,” says Dita.
“Riding occupies a huge chunk of our life. We do a lot of family
horse camping and tons of trail riding. Caring for the horses requires
rising early and retiring late – not a responsibility to be taken
lightly. They’re part of the family.” As if five riding horses,
a mule and two miniature horses weren’t enough, six chickens, two
goats and a menagerie of dogs and cats share the ranch. Allegra
Keith, a junior at Bend High School, is on the varsity riding team
and joins her mother as a member of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s
Posse, an organization that provides community service on horseback.
Dita’s love of horses carries over to her job as volunteer coordinator
for Healing Reins, a therapeutic riding center in Bend. “My avocation
is part of my vocation,” she says.
Realizing a dream of designing and building their own home, the
Keiths combined ranch and Santa Fe styles to accommodate an easy,
informal way of life. Generously oversized windows welcome the light
while capturing views from every angle. Distressed beams, a neutral
color palette and an eclectic mix of furnishings collected from
a life of travel merge to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
For the Keith family, it’s all about being out in nature, caring
for the animals they love and enjoying a chosen way of life.
Nicole and Brian Murphy share a similar love for horses. The move
from Tigard to Bend in 1995 was a natural fit – both visited Black
Butte and Sunriver while growing up and knew it was a lifestyle
they desired. “After arriving in Central Oregon, we purchased five
acres of property, enabling me to realize my dream of owning my
own horse,” Nicole says. Twelve years later, the couple has three
children, four horses, four goats, a dog, cat and a hamster. Daughter
Jesslyn’s involvement with 4-H has proven to be a worthy experience
as she learns to care for her quarter horse. Younger sister Brooke
enjoys riding her Islandic pony around the family farm and both
are learning that along with a love of horses comes a profound responsibility.
The family spends an average of an hour a day cleaning stalls and
repairing fences and at least one day on the weekend devoted to
working around the property. Linda Larsen, an interior designer
and Nicole’s mother-in-law, describes the home which she helped
design as traditional, infused with western accents. Originally
built in 1970 when the region was known as Codyville, the Murphys
spent the last 12 years renovating the interior space. “We like
the openness of the house and the rough sawn pine beams because
you can’t find them anymore,” says Nicole. “Lava rock frames the
fireplace and the view from the kitchen looks out on a natural high
desert landscape, always alive with deer and other wildlife.”
The master bedroom boasts a décor that is distinctively western
with eclectic art and accents throughout. Brian collects bronzes
of elk and other wildlife and a stunning metal sculpture of horses
in full gallop graces the area over the bed. An intriguing pair
of equestrian lamps illuminates the entryway to the spacious great
room. Nicole points to a painting of three horses in the dining
room saying, “We wanted our home to blend in with the natural landscape,
utilizing natural colors and designing the flow of the interior
with the rock wall out back. I love being around horses, and have
found a way of incorporating them into our personal living space.”
Shelly Hummel describes her stunning log home as ‘an eclectic mix
of my most favorite things – mountain lifestyle, Africa and horses.’
A self-described animal lover, she has been involved in raising
funds for The Humane Society for the last eight years. “The western
part of the house is centered around Northwest animals with elk
and buffalo from the central plains,” she explains. “My hardwood
floors have been trashed by the dogs but if they were beautiful
I’d be tiptoeing around and that’s not what this house was built
for.”
A tour of the property revealed a barn and arena, built by a former
owner along with a five-acre pasture and trails Hummel, her family
and friends ride throughout the year. Three horses share Shelly’s
lifestyle, along with four dogs and five cats that were either rescued
or were animals in need of relocation. Close friend Kim McDonald
boards her three horses on the property while overseeing its daily
operation. Hanging from the railing high in the loft, two antique
parade saddles from the 1950s flank an interesting camel blanket
with maroon, yellow ochre and turquoise accents from North Africa,
purchased on a recent trip.
“It’s a saddle blanket for camels,” Hummel says. “The saddle itself
is carved out of a single piece of wood and placed on top.” The
Western room was once a dining area until it was transformed into
a cozy den, the warmest room in the house. A handsome lithograph
of three horses is prominently displayed, along with a Remington
bronze of a cowboy. Perfect for settling in on frosty winter evenings,
an oversized Timberline Lodge chair provides a welcome retreat.
One cannot help but notice massive 24-inch logs that comprise the
upper beams of the great room in the house. Estimated to be a century
old, they were formed from a split piece of wood called a wedding
tree, where the tree grows and splits at the top half.
“The river rock around the hearth comes from the Deschutes River,”
says Hummel. “Everyone loves the front door, crafted by a local
artist. It’s composed of 450 pounds of etched glass and iron, depicting
a scene of the Three Sisters.” Ah, the Central Oregon equestrian
lifestyle…Suffice to say, a horse is an angel without wings.
|