Chandler sisters are a winning pair

Equestrian sport is a family affair for many Sisters Country families, and the Chandler sisters recently made it a winning one.

Olivia, 15, and Ellie, 13, emerged as year-end champions in the United States Eventing Association Region VII (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska.)

The girls, who work with Sisters trainer Karen O'Neal, compete in the junior divisions of their sport. Olivia, on her mother's horse, TGI Friday, rode Jr. Training Level, where the jumps are a maximum of three-feet-three-inches. Ellie, in her first year of competition, rode her horse, Lucas, at Jr. Beginner Novice, jumping a maximum of two-feet-11-inches.

The sport of eventing encompasses three days of competition. Day one is dressage, day two is cross-country jumping and day three is stadium or show jumping. Each requires a different level of concentration and specific training.

Olivia finds dressage the most challenging but loves the cross-country day.

"I love the feeling of galloping on such a huge horse but still knowing I have control," she said.

Ellie also finds dressage difficult. Her horse would rather be out jumping and so would Ellie, but the discipline and control learned in dressage is part of what keeps riders safe when doing the speed work. She was pleased and surprised to learn of her success. "It is such an honor to earn such a big award in my first year of three-day eventing," she said.

Eventing builds a special bond between horse and rider. Tackling the cross-country jumps requires an element of trust and technique which is built through hours of careful instruction and saddle time. The girls are committed, and so are their parents.

Olivia's horse, Friday, belongs to her mother, Yvette. When Olivia began to show her talent in eventing, her mother stepped aside to let her compete regularly on him. Making time for both to ride him is another challenge for Olivia.

"Because he really is my mom's horse, it was hard for me to take him away from her during the show season," she said.

Yvette is her daughters' number-one fan.

"We are very proud and excited," she said of their year-end result.

Both girls plan to move up a division in the coming year. Olivia will be competing at Preliminary, and Ellie is aiming for Novice.