Sisters second in equestrian meet

Sisters High School equestrian team wound up a busy season of competition at the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET) state meet, held May 17-20 in Redmond. The team placed second in the large school (16 or more members) category.

Twenty riders from Sisters represented the school at the meet.

Competition is tough at the state level. To get an idea of the scope of the OHSET competition, the state is divided into eight districts. Each district holds three meets prior to state. There are approximately 1,200 athletes from 125 schools competing in 23 events over the course of the season. Of those, the top 10 percent in each event qualifies for state.

But athletes can qualify for up to five events, with the result being lots of horses and riders - around 700 in all - converging on the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center for the state meet.

SHS athletes who captured medals at the meet were JJ Ashley - Bronze, Showmanship; Aubyn Geser - Silver, Hunt Seat over Fences; Silver, Steer Daubing; Danielle Elder - Bronze, Hunt Seat over Fences.

Geser also won the High Point Versatility award, given to a competitor who participates in both timed and performance events.

Senior Jen Friend was awarded two scholarships - one from the central district and one from the state OHSET organization.

Team advisor Karen Friend said that overall the team had a disappointing weekend, especially after their top placing in the district meet. However, one thing OHSET instills in its participants is the philosophy that some days are on-days, some are off-days. The riders will come home, rest themselves and their horses and look to the next challenge.