Sisters riders jump into Classic

The High Desert Classic horse show concluded its second week on July 30 at the J Bar J Youth Ranch in Bend.

Sisters is well represented at athletic events in Central Oregon, and the High Desert Classic is no exception. Sisters riders showed in several rings from pony jumpers to level three jumpers, and in equitation and medal classes.

Emily Christen and Megan Foster, both nine years old, competed in the pony jumpers and the low and beginner jumpers. In the latter classes, the girls shared competition space with adults and trainers. According to their trainer, Karen O'Neal, the girls held their own in those classes.

"This is the highest level that these two have shown in," she said.

Kelly Christen, Emily's mother, isn't a rider herself, though she finds that the more she watches and sees her daughter's confidence grow, the more relaxed and confident she is. Her role during a show such as this is to make sure there is adequate water and sunblock for the O'Neal Farms riders and to keep everyone calm during long waits at the in-gate.

Carli Redfield, Danielle Elder and Casey Dyer rode for Mountain View Stables, under trainers Nicole and Greg Cobb.

Jennifer Friend also competed.

Redfield, 16, was all set to show her gelding, Antone, when she was offered a ride on a Holstein gelding named Kilamanjarro. The 18hh horse arrived at the stable on Sunday and Redfield took him in their first level three classes on Wednesday. Level three jumps are 3-feet 6-inches to 3-feet 9-inches high, which put Redfield a long way up: Kilimanjarro's back is six feet off the ground at a standstill.

The pair also competed in children's jumpers, for riders up to age 18. Redfield was happy with the show, bringing home several second place ribbons.

Shows like the High Desert Classic keep riders on their toes. The Sisters competitors rode in two or three classes daily, with two or more rounds in each class. Sometimes, they agreed, it seemed like the show creed was "hurry up and wait." Turning up at the in-gate on time didn't always guarantee a timely round; those with multiple horses to ride often put the show behind schedule as they hurried to change tack and horses and return to the ring. The wait was character building, Karen O'Neal said, when competitors and their horses waited in the hot sun for their turn to go.

Everyone was grateful for the bottles of cold water regularly offered and the horses appreciated a cooling wash after their rounds.