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�We work hard at this� Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Eagle Point High School equestrian Lindsey Beashore negotiates the first of three barrels Sunday afternoon during one of 23 different events held during the Southern Oregon High School Equestrian Team�s district competition. High school equestrian program also requires parents to be involved By Shari Downhill Amid the aroma of damp earth, manure and horse sweat, 16-year-old Brooke Williams watched her teammates pound their way through one of 23 sporting events Sunday, the final day of the Southern Oregon High School Equestrian Teams district competition. Shivering in her blanket, Brooke waited her turn to compete in the "Two Man Birangle" with her partner, Rachel Phillips. Both are students at Hidden Valley High School. Other events included showmanship, dressage, pole bending, breakaway roping, team penning, and � a crowd pleaser � drill team. Riding since she was a year old, Brooke said being a part of Hidden Valley�s equestrian team has allowed her to take part in, and be recognized for, what she loves most. "We work hard at this," she said. "It takes a lot of time. It�s really taught me how to communicate better with my horse." The OHSET program also requires extensive parental participation. Between weekly practices and competitive events, Chris Sandquist logs plenty of road miles hauling his daughter, Christy, of Grants Pass High School, and her steed "Drummer," where they need to go. "Ah, it�s a good thing," Sandquist said. "At least I know what she�s doing. And she really enjoys it. It�s good for her." "And it makes me happy," Christy teases from atop Drummer. Approximately 150 students from 16 SOHSET district schools participated in the weekend�s event, held at the Jackson County Exposition Center. The meet was the first of three district competitions which will determine who will move on to the state meet May 18-20. SOHSET is one of six districts in the statewide Oregon High School Equestrian Team organization. Founded in 1993 by dedicated Southern Oregon supporters, OHSET has grown to include about 700 participants representing 87 Oregon high schools. "They�re finally getting the recognition they deserve as athletes," said Jim Roper, SOHSET district coordinator. That recognition comes in the form of a high school varsity letter, but not, unfortunately, in the form of even partial program financing. The funding, Roper said, comes from team member sponsorships and fund-raising events. Big R Stores is the major sponsor for the state meet, which will cost about $10,000 to orchestrate. Other corporate sponsorships are being sought. Like the other 700 high school equestrians involved in the OHSET program, Brooke and Christy take their horsemanship seriously. "It�s not a �horse show,�" Roper said. "These are conditioned athletes, both the riders and their horses. And I can say, it�s probably harder than most other high school sports." But, he adds, it is probably the only sport that demands such a high amount of parental participation, which translates to valuable family time. Results from the weekend�s events include: Overall large school high score: Crater High School Overall small school high score: South Medford High School. For more information about SOHSET�s program, call district coordinator Jim Roper at 541-476-8177, or district event coordinator Linda Crawford at 541-597-2099. OHSET information is available online at www.ohset.com . Reach reporter Shari Downhill at 776-4463, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.