Sisters riders medal at state

Central District OHSET took away top honors at the state meet last weekend, with two Sisters riders bringing home medals.

Olivia Chandler took gold in Hunt Seat Over Fences, and Jenna Jacobsen garnered silver in the Driving competition.

There was a drop in numbers of participants, due to concerns about the recent outbreak of EHV1 virus, but according to coach Beth Jacobsen, those who did attend were upbeat and extremely careful to follow protocols for keeping their horses safe (see related story, page 1).

More than 400 riders and their horses made the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center their home for the weekend. The venue is popular for its central location and well-designed facilities. Jacobsen congratulated the Central District organizers, parents, and athletes for a stellar job in pulling off a huge event.

At the state meet, the athletes drop their school affiliations and become a district team. Sisters experienced that team spirit first-hand in the Drill competition. Two Sisters horses were unable to compete, which would have meant a scratch for Sisters. The Redmond team stepped up with the loan of two horses.

"Then our two athletes rode one practice on Saturday morning and competed on Saturday night. I was just amazed at Redmond's generosity and impressed by the athletes riding unfamiliar horses," said Jacobsen.

Jacobsen also said there were several instances where a last-minute scratch meant Sisters riders were able to compete as alternates. It was a scramble to get them there, but using borrowed horses gave them the opportunity to compete.

"I'm looking forward to next year, excited to see what new athletes we get," said Jacobsen. "Some of our returning athletes will be riding new horses and trying different disciplines."