L & R RANCH is the fulfilled dream of Lou Fitch. Lou was born Lou Boblet, a daughter of Jay & Wilma Boblet, pioneers of horsemanship here on the Olympic Peninsula.
Jay & Wilma Boblet migrated to Kitsap County while Jay was enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After World War II, Jay & Wilma Boblet settled in with their horses, on a beautiful piece of property, outside of the small community of Silverdale, WA. Having grown up with horses, they realized a need for "horse owners" to gather together. From this realization, the first Horse Club ws recognized in Central Kitsap County. Jay Boblet was unanimously elected as the first President of the Silver Spur Saddle Club in 1947.
The Silver Spur Saddle Club is still an active hub for horses here on the Olympic Peninsula. Residing next to the Kitsap County Fair & Rodeo Grounds, the Silver Spur Saddle Club has played an active role in the horse community of Kitsap County for over 60 years!
While pioneering the beginnings of recognized "Horsemanship" here in the Olympic Peninsula, Jay & Wilma Boblet were also raising a family of three children, Karen, Lou and Bruce. "Family time" mndated a break from the horse business and Jay decided to build a boat in the barn. This "boat" ended up so big, half the barn had to be dismantled to get it out!! So much for the Navy!!
This "boat" was christened the "KABRALOU" at the Seabeck Marina. Karen was selling Pizza's at the first "Seabeck Pizza Stand" and the Boblet family relished in fishing, digging clams and shelling oysters prior to the advent of active boating on Puget Sound as we know it today.
What does this have to do with horses? Remember the barn that was dismantled? Ha!! Mom (Wilma) said, "Lets get back to horses." So, what did Jay Boblet do?
Jay Boblet built a new barn and the first covered riding arena in Kitsap County. With this facility in place, Jay & Wilma proceeded to build the first Professional Horse Boarding Facility in Kitsap County, appropriately named Boblet's Boarding Facility. This all took place back in the 1960's.
Middle Years:
Though horses were an integral part of the Boblet Family, the oldest daughter Karen, married and left the horse world. Bruce, the youngest, graduated from CKHS and purchased a fishing boat and became a Commercial Fisherman for 30 some years. It appeared that only Lou had caught the "horse bug" from their parents Jay & Wilma Boblet.
Lou participated in 4-H, training her own horses and participated in Horse Shows and County, Regional and State Fairs. An active participant in Junior Rodeo, Lou competed and was chosen to become a Princess on the 1965 Little Britches Rodeo Royalty Court. As a representative of the Junior Rodeo, the Royalty Court traveled throughout Washington State participating in several Rodeos including the Omak Stampede and the exciting Rodeo at Roy, WA. As another highlight, the Royalty Court met with the Governer of the State of Washington to help promote all equestrian sports.
A Professional Horse Boarding facility takes a lot of dedication and hard work. Boblet's Boarding Facility was always growing with new horses and new people. Lou helped her parents manage the ever increasing horse population at the facility. There were always new fences to build or maintain, a new barn in need of painting and more and more stalls that needed cleaning!
Jay & Wilma Boblet, with their daughter Lou's help, were definitely fore runners of the "Horse Boarding World" in Kitsap County. Wilma especially loved organizing clinics that were given by Nationally recognized trainers. She was especially interested in training her own horse to drive and was successful in obtaining the World renown Doris Ganton to come and give several Driving Clinics. These were very well attended and prompted other clinics to be held. These included subjects like Horse Behavior, Preparing to Show your Horse and a Hunter Jumper expo. Also held, were annual events like the Costume Halloween Horse Show. This was lots of fun with everyone turning out in crazy costumes?
Over the years, Lou continued showing, moving up to the Class A circuit where she often brought home Blues and Championships in Halter, Performance and Driving Classes. As the years rolled by and her parents grew older, health problems began to plague Jay Boblet. The decision was made to cut back on the horse boarding facility. Jay & Wilma purchased a new boat and once again enjoyed being on the waters of Puget Sound.
After the passing of Jay Boblet, Wilma was left with only Lou and her new husband to help. By then, Lou was actively breeding and racing her own horses and eventually all but one or two horses left Boblet's Boarding Facility.
Lou's breeding program was successful and one horse in particular took Lou to International recognition. Born in 1986, PACIFICA+ went on to become on of the TOP RACING MARES in the U.S. and, in fact, won more money that any other Arabian Race Mare in the U.S., if not the World! PACIFICA+ won numerous Stakes Races for Lou and found a slot in the History Book as the very FIRST Arabian to win a Grade 1 Stakes Race, the prestigious Gladys Brown Edwards $50,000 Stakes held at Los Alamitos, CA. In 1992, Lou made the decision to sell PACIFICA+ at the first Arabian Race Horse auction held by Southebys. PACIFICA+ was the Top Selling Mare. She sold to a Sheikh from the U.A.E.
The sale of PACIFICA+ promped others from the U.A.E., England and France to take a serious look at the foals Lou had available. Within 4 months, Lou sold and exported 9 additional foals to people in several countries in Europe and the U.A.E.
In 1989, Lou was considering buying property near Panther Lake for her future horse facility. She discussed the location with her mom, Wilma, who was at that time 80 years old and still feeding horses!! Wilma's reply was "If I was 20 years younger, I'd move there myself!" This statement was good enough for Lou. She bought the undeveloped property which was adjacent to thousands of miles of riding trails. (Perfect for legging up future race horses!)
The years have since rolled by. Jay & Wilma Boblet are both riding their favorite horses up in "Horse Heaven" and keeping an eye on things down here. Lou's brother Bruce Boblet, eventually quit Commercial Fishing and returned to the original farm. After some necessary repairs, he 'started up" boarding horses again, changing the name to Boblet's Lone Egal Ranch. Sister Karen (Boblet) Jones is in Port Orchard enjoying several grandchildren, some who are taking riding lessons. And, Lou (Boblet) Fitch, with her husband Rod, are busy with the continuous development of L & R RANCH.
