Friday, June 06, 2025
41.0°F

Back in the saddle ... and headed to school

Brian Walker | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 14 years, 12 months AGO
by Brian Walker
| June 9, 2010 9:00 PM

RATHDRUM - When Katie Russell went to school at Lakeland High on Tuesday - the last day of her senior year - something just didn't feel normal.

But that was all right. It wasn't supposed to.

Russell fulfilled a childhood dream by riding her Morgan horse Skipper to and from school.

"I always wanted to do it," Russell said. "I figured I'd go out with a bang with something fun and different."

Russell reminded Principal Conrad Underdahl of an old law that if a student rode a horse to school, it was the principal's job to tend to the horse during classes.

So Underdahl kept Russell's saddle in his office while Skipper was tied up on a grassy area near the football field.

"This is Lakeland, so I'm sure it's happened before, but it was a funny way to go out," Russell said. "A lot of students and staff chuckled and commented on it."

Russell has mixed her love for riding horses with a variety of activities, including church, National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America, choir and the senior mentor program. She showed horses in 4-H and worked the previous two summers on a ranch near Salmon, Idaho, for some friends.

"She's an outdoor kid who loves to move cows and ride horses," said Katie's mother Debbie. "It's always been good clean fun with Katie."

Russell admitted that she slept in on Tuesday, so she rode Skipper along Highway 53 from a friend's house closer to the school than her Garwood home. But she rode the horse all the way home after school.

"It didn't feel like I was going to school," she said of the ride. "The semi trucks made (Skipper) a little scared at times, but it was still a fun ride."

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Duo reigns on last day with a little horsepower
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 2 years ago
Duo reigns on last day with a little horsepower
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 2 years ago
Winning the big dance: Local riders earn national honors at O-Mok-See
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 15 years, 10 months ago

ARTICLES BY BRIAN WALKER

Two arrests made in heroin trafficking case
November 27, 2018 5:56 p.m.

Two arrests made in heroin trafficking case

POST FALLS — Two Shoshone County men were arrested in a heroin trafficking case during a traffic stop on Interstate 90 at Post Falls last week.

Ingraham charged with first-degree murder
January 15, 2016 2 a.m.

Ingraham charged with first-degree murder

The 20-year-old nephew of a Post Falls man found dead in Boundary County in September has been charged with first-degree murder of his uncle.

January 20, 2013 6 a.m.

Is arming teachers a good idea or over-reaction?

No movement in region to go that route to enhance school safety

While the idea of arming teachers, as a means to increase school safety, is catching on in some areas, there’s no such momentum in Kootenai County.