Outlaws ride in equestrian competition

The warm sunny weekend made for perfect conditions for the second meet of the Central District Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET). The Sisters Outlaws were in fine form as they rode their trusty steeds for three days at the Redmond fairgrounds.

On Friday, the English events are held first. Team co-captain Ellie Chandler started the meet off with a first-place in Equitation Over Fences. Chandler then followed it up with another first-place in Saddle Seat Equitation, with freshman Liberty Harig placing third. Dressage was next, and Chandler placed second, securing her place at state in three performance events. Harig had an outstanding run, placing 17th in one of the most competitive classes. Junior Cammi Benson then took the stage, winning another first-place for the Outlaws in Hunt Seat Equitation, with Harig placing 13th.

"We are always strong in the English events," said head Coach Yvette Chandler. "Ellie and Cammi are very competitive for the top placings in their classes. They have already qualified to compete at state in all their English classes. And as a freshman, Liberty has qualified for state in Saddle Seat in only two meets."

The team events began with the In-Hand Obstacle Relay. Competitors lead their horses through an intricate course of obstacles including serpentine poles, trot-over poles, backing around barrels, and a teeter-totter bridge. Sisters entered two teams of four. The team of Ellie Chandler, Emma Nicklous, Rebecca Rubbert and Rylee Hurtley placed 9th, and the team of Cammi Benson, Liberty Harig, Betsy Ausman and Chawndra Craig placed 10th.

The next team event was Working Pairs, where Sisters again had two teams competing. Working Pairs is an event for two horses and riders, where the athletes are judged on their precision and correct execution of the given pattern. Freshmen Liberty Harig and Rebecca Rubbert placed 15th, and Betsy Ausman and Chawndra Craig placed 16th.

Saturday's competition started off with Working Rancher, where athletes must maneuver a series of ranch-like obstacles including roping, dallying, dragging a log, picking up objects and carrying them, and working a cow along a fence. "Working Rancher is very difficult because it involves many different types of skills, it's actually a western versatility event," explains Coach Chandler. Cammi Benson added another first-place in Working Rancher to the Outlaws' collection of wins.

The Western events continued with In-Hand Trail. Freshman Rebecca Rubbert had an outstanding pattern, and placed fifth.

"Our freshmen have done an amazing job this year. It is unusual for underclassmen to bring in so many top placings. They are a real asset for the team," Coach Chandler commented after Rubbert's pattern.

The next event was Showmanship, where Sisters had three competitors. This event is judged on the ability of the handler to complete a pattern by leading their horse on foot. Cammi Benson brought home 3rd, Rebecca Rubbert tied for 18th, and Betsy Ausman was 32nd.

The next event on Saturday was Western Horsemanship, a class judged on the accuracy of a pattern performed in traditional Western style. As the sole Sisters competitor for this class, Cammi Benson took fourth-place in the largest performance event at the meet.

The final Western performance event was Reining, where the rider performs a pattern that includes high speed and precision maneuvers which would be used to work a cow. Cammi Benson had a stellar ride, taking home second-place, and Emma Nicklous placed 17th.

The timed events began with Steer Daubing, where Sisters senior and team co-captain Chawndra Craig placed ninth.

Team Penning was the final event for Saturday, with two Sisters teams competing. Betsy Ausman, Rylee Hurtley, and Chawndra Craig placed 7th. The team of Ellie Chandler, Emma Nicklous, and Tessa Georges placed 24th.

More timed events were held on Sunday. Barrels had the most competitors of the meet, with seven placings for the Outlaws. Rylee Hurtley placed ninth, Chawndra Craig placed 20th, Tessa Georges placed 34th, Emma Nicklous placed 35th, Betsy Ausman placed 41st, Rebecca Rubbert placed 54th and Liberty Harig placed 56th.

Pole Bending was the next event on the schedule, and Sisters had five athletes who placed. Emma Nicklous came in 16th, Betsy Ausman was 37th, Libery Harig came in 43rd, Rebecca Rubbert was 46th and Chawndra Craig placed 50th.

The Figure 8 event had six Outlaws contributing points to the team. Rylee Hurtley placed seventh, Tessa Georges was 10th, Chawndra Craig came in 17th, Emma Nicklous placed 20th, Betsy Ausman was 30th and Rebecca Rubbert was 49th.

Individual Flags had three Outlaws who placed. Ellie Chandler was seventh, Tessa Georges placed 10th, and Rylee Hurtley came in 20th.

There were three Sisters riders who placed in Keyhole. Rylee Hurtley placed 11th, Emma Nicklous was 13th, and Chawndra Craig came in 17th.

In the team timed events, Sisters had one team competing in Canadian Flags. Ellie Chandler, Rylee Hurtley, Chawndra Craig and Tessa Georges placed 6th.

There were four Birangle teams representing Sisters. Ellie Chandler and Emma Nicklous came in 12th, Rylee Hurtley and Tessa Georges were 20th, Betsy Ausman and Chawndra Craig came in 23rd and Liberty and Rebecca Rubbery placed 35th.

In the overall team placings, the Sisters team placed second in the medium-sized category.