Equestrian team wraps up season

In a COVID-challenged year, the Oregon High School Equestrian Team (OHSET) season came to a close with a number of Sisters High School competitors placing in the top tier based on cumulative results from the three meets held this season.

There will be no state meet this season because many of other districts around the state opted to not compete this season due to COVID-19 restrictions, according to Coach Annie Winter.

The Central Oregon league did, however, decide to acknowledge those competitors that would have advanced on to the state meet were it to be held. In a normal year, athletes named as gold, silver, and bronze award winners would have competed at state.

The Outlaws earned gold-level awards in four events.

Shea Robertson earned gold in dressage; Hailee Kennedy in poles; Josie Berg and Madi Larabee in birangle; and Madi Larabee, Brooklyn Lugo, Ava Siler, and Lucy Siler in drill.

Robertson was actually allowed by the league to compete individually after missing the final meet due to being quarantined.

“Making allowances to let Shea complete her high school career was very heartwarming and illustrated what all the coaches in the Central league wanted to do this season, which was to give these kids, especially the seniors, a chance to finish up on a positive note despite COVID,” said Winter.

Silver-level honors went to Robertson for hunt seat; to Larabee in both keyhole and figure eight; and Larabee, Chloe Winter, Sidney Sillers, Josie Berg, and Hailee Kennedy in team flags.

Lucy Siler earned bronze honors for in-hand trail, along with Kennedy, Robertson, Winter, Berg, and Sillers in versatility.

Shea Robertson (western horsemanship) and Madi Larabee (barrels) were named as state qualifiers based on finishing in the top 10 percent of all competitors during the season in those events.

Robertson placed third overall in the league points in performance events, Larabee placed second in timed events, and Lucy Siler was named “Rookie of the Year.”

“It was a very long season, which began in December, but the effort was worth it for our seniors Shea, Madi, Hailee, as well as for all the other girls, to at least have the three meets to do something healthy and some that they love,” said Winter.