Sisters equestrians ride hard and well

The Sisters High School Equestrian Team turned in a successful first performance for the season during the last weekend of February at a regional competition at Deschutes County Fairgrounds.

The scoring started with a second place in Dressage for Jennifer Friend. Amanda Wimer placed 10th and Danielle Elder was in 13th to add points to the team’s total

Hunt Seat Equitation’s large field of riders gathered several points with an eighth-place finish by Jennifer Ashley and a 13th slot secured by Jennifer Friend.

Amanda Wimer, Danielle Elder, Mac Gould and Carli Redfield also represented the Sisters High School team.

Things really started to tally up with a big win for the Sisters team in the In Hand Obstacle Relay, which tests a horse’s ground manners.

A flawless, correct and timely finish marked this first-time competition for Mac Gould, Rachael Pilliod, Annie Hancock and Jennifer Ashley.

Shayna Forbes and Rachael Pilliod drew loud cheers from the crowd for a second place win in Working Pairs for the Sisters team.

Showmanship competition found several Sisters Outlaws in the top 20 among a very large class. A seventh place by Annie Hancock, followed by Mac Gould, Danielle Elder, and Jennifer Ashley earned more team points for the school.

Rachael Pilliod placed second in her first attempt in the Driving class.

Shayna Forbes tied for first in the Reining event. Her mount “Tommy” performed outstanding slides and spins, drawing loud hoots and whistles from the crowd. Annie Hancock placed seventh with Rachael Pilliod and Leslee Zenich following.

Trail is a very traditional class and several Outlaw riders showed well: Shayna Forbes secured a second-place tie, Jennifer Ashley was seventh, Jennifer Friend ninth and Mac Gould, Annie Hancock, and Rachael Pilliodfollowed.

Drill Working 4s provided a first-place for Outlaws riders Christina Holler, Leslee Zenich, Rachael Pilliod and Shayna Forbes. Speed and perfect timing earned them the top spot.

Stock Seat gathered more Outlaws points with a sixth-place finish by Jennifer Friend.

An eighth place for Rachael Pilliod followed by Annie Hancock and Mac Gould added to the total.

Team Penning ended the evening with a hard-earned second place by the team of Annie Hancock, Christina Holler and Angelina Cunetto.

The cattle were fresh, fast and hard to control.

Rachael Pilliod, Shayna Forbes and Jennifer Friend still placed fifth after a stampede took them out in the first go.

Sunday — known as “speed day” — took off with a blast and a second-place finish in the Bi-Rangle, by Shayna Forbes and Rachael Pilliod. Sixth place went to Jennifer Friend and Christina Holler followed by Leslee Zenich and Annie Hancock.

Barrel Racing had several Sisters girls riding hard with a little unplanned trick riding from Shayna Forbes and fast turns from Christinia Holler, Angelina Cunetto and Leslee Zenich.

Individual Flags best Outlaw performance went to rider Christina Holler with a ninth and Angelina Cunetto placing 14th.

In the Keyhole Race the only point-earner was Angelina Cunetto with a seventh place finish.

Figure 8 featured a second place win by Shayna Forbes and she was followed closely by Christina Holler and Angelina Cunetto.

Leslee Zenich also placed in the top of this event.