Sisters equestrian team off to strong start

Sisters High School equestrian team got off to a strong start at the first Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET) district meet, held February 11-13 at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center. The Sisters riders earned wins and high placings in several individual performance events.

Olivia Chandler brought home first-places in Hunt Seat over Fences and Dressage, while Sisters riders Katie Yozamp and Bobbi Jo Rosauer gave Sisters a trifecta in Hunt Seat over Fences with their second- and third-placings. Samantha Novotny and Cassidy Kinnaman garnered third and fourth in Dressage.

First-year OHSET athlete Rio Kindsfather won the Steer Daubing, Mackenzie Gellings came second in Reining, and Jenna Jacobsen and Bobbi Jo Rosauer were second and fourth in Driving.

Rosauer also claimed third in Saddle Seat Equitation.

In the team events, the Drill Team, with seven riders aboard, came second. The next-best team placing was a fourth-place finish in Canadian Flags, for Team A - Mackenzie Gellings, Jenna Jacobsen, Cassidy Kinnaman and Bobbi Jo Rosauer.

Head Coach Beth Jacobsen said, "The first meet is always challenging. But there was lots of parent support and it's a good group."

The team is made up of 15 athletes, evenly distributed among all four grade levels. Three seniors anchor the team and there are four riders new to OHSET. The team is strongest in the English disciplines, though Kindsfather showed her ability with cattle in the steer daubing.

"She did peewee rodeo and comes from a roping family," said Jacobsen.

The team is coached by several dedicated volunteers. Jacobsen oversees the gaming and cow work and is assisted by SHS graduate Rachel Eady, who also coaches reining. Dar Rosauer coaches Western performance events, ground work and driving. Ann Gates takes on the drill team and shares co-advisor duties with Jacobsen. They act as liaison with the umbrella organization of OHSET and take care of the paperwork.

Several of the athletes work with their individual trainers as well, which is allowed and encouraged.

OHSET is a club sport, meaning athletes do all their own fundraising and depend heavily on parental and community involvement. The meets, which run for three days, take a chunk of time and effort, which the athletes and their parents give cheerfully. The athletes may qualify for varsity letters.

One of the hallmarks of OHSET is the dizzying array of events available for athletes and their horses. Riders are encouraged to go out of their comfort zones, which generally means the performance riders can be seen trying to beat their previous best times in the gaming events, and gamers will have a go at the cattle events.

"It's a unique opportunity to try something new," said Jacobsen.

Sisters is one of the schools in the Central District, which extends from John Day to Lakeview and includes all Central Oregon high schools plus some schools to the east. The meets will all be held at the Deschutes Country Fair and Expo Center, as will the state meet in May.

The next Central District meet will be March 25-27.