The show goes on: Ephrata horse club holds qualifying event

The Washington State Horsemen North Central Club had its first qualifying event of the year Saturday in Ephrata, where around 20 riders – from toddlers to grandmas – came together to compete and hone their skills.

Riders practice seven individual events, called Western games, and eight team events, either four-person or two-person, said Scott Howe, club president.

The riders split into skill divisions Saturday and practiced flag racing, riding in a pattern around barrels, depositing a flag in a bucket and picking up a flag from another; pole bending, snaking the horses around a line of six poles; keyhole racing, entering the horse into a narrow keyhole design made of powder, turning and exiting without touching the powder; figure eight racing, barrel racing, and more, Maria Howe, show chair, said.

This is all to prepare for state finals the last week of August, Scott said. The state organization often gives prizes, such as saddles and cash.

In addition, the local club gives prizes, he said. Depending on the year, the club’s given out saddle bags, backpacks, buckets, belt buckles and more.

While the state finals are normally at varying fairgrounds, last year it was on private property to limit those in attendance, Scott said. Many of the events last year were “nip and tuck” he said, keeping in line with the waning restrictions.

This year, he’s thankful for a bit of an easier process, he said.

“People on horseback, we’re all pretty much socially distanced anyway, but we have to put up the warnings, the signs, the hand sanitizer,” he said.

Before state finals this year, the club will have six to eight show days, or qualifying events. The next one will be the first weekend of June in Coulee City, he said.

Sam Fletcher can be reached via email at sfletcher@columbiabasinherald.com.