State equestrian championships draw 70 schools to Grant County Fairgrounds

MOSES LAKE - About 70 schools sent teams to compete in 27 events at the Washington High School Equestrian Team championships at the Grant County Fairgrounds during the weekend.

Teams came from near and far, from Othello and Ephrata to Port Angeles and Sequim. "We have schools everywhere," said Bev Matney, the state chair "and the developer, technically."

Matney said she discovered high school equestrian competition through her daughter, who found an already-established program in Oregon. The Washington program was affiliated with Oregon for a few years before going on its own in 2005.

Competition ranges from traditional equestrian events like dressage and show jumping to western events like cow cutting and barrel racing.

Event results weren't ready by press time Sunday. They are expected later this week.

Breann Simmons, of Enumclaw, graduated in 2012, but competed as a junior and senior. She would've started sooner, she said, but the Enumclaw club didn't draw much attention at first.

"It just got bigger at our school. Everyone was talking about it," she said. She competed in saddle seat drill, which is similar to dressage but "fancier," she said.

Samantha Ayotte, of Cheney, competes in dressage, show jumping and drill team. A longtime equestrienne, the high school program gave her a chance to letter at her school, she said.

The state is divided into six districts, with district winners in each event advancing to state. The state meet alternates between the east and west sides of the Cascades, Matney said.

The Grant County Fairgrounds works well because there's almost enough room for everyone and every horse, Matney said. They did require a few portable shelters, she said.

Matney said she thinks equestrian teams are the equivalent of any other team at school. There's a little more to it than most sports, because it's not just the student athlete. "You don't put a horse in the garage and walk away from it," she said. The horse needs training and care, and that's the responsibility of the student and their families.

"We're very proud of our event. And our athletes," she said.