Sisters equestrians saddle up

Sisters High School equestrian team members will soon see if months of practice in freezing weather has a payoff. The first Central District meet is taking place February 22-24, at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond.

The 19 members of the Sisters team are competing in the large team category. There are 14 schools in the Central District which covers a large geographic area from The Dalles/Wahtonka in the north, Pendleton to the east and Lakeview to the south. All Central Oregon high schools except Madras are represented.

For the past two years Sisters has had a competitor in each of the 22 events that make up an equestrian team meet. This year the trend continues.

Senior Michael Hopp, in his fourth year on the team, is enthusiastic about the season.

"This year we have a really diverse team," he said. He added that all of the drill team members are returning, so the drill routine is fast and furious and very entertaining.

Equestrian team is a club sport and covers the gamut of riding disciplines from dressage to roping. Some of the riders spend their away-from-equestrian-team saddle time at hunter-jumper shows; some do eventing, while others attend team penning events, dressage shows and breed shows.

Trail riders and gamers find a place to shine, too. By all accounts, the most enjoyable aspect of equestrian team is being able to do something completely different with your horse. A trail rider might have a go at team penning, and a dressage champion might take a turn around the trail course.

The competition is free and begins each day at 8:30 a.m. Friday includes English events, In-Hand Obstacle Relay, Working Pairs and Drill Team. Saturday events are Working Rancher, Showmanship, Reining, Stock Seat, Driving, Trail and Team Penning. Sunday carries Breakaway Roping, Steer Daubing and Gaming events.