Outlaws compete on horseback

The Rimrock Riders Event Center at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte is an equestrian venue with two arenas, grandstands, a café and ample space for trailers and spectator vehicles. And when it's full of cheering teenagers, their parents and friends, the happy noise echoes to the big metal spans that hold the roof.

Such was the scene at the second Central District OHSET meet last weekend, when teams from Sisters and 13 other schools on the east side of the Cascades congregated to compete in events ranging from saddle seat equitation to steer daubing and barrel racing. The cheers were for whoever was in the limelight at the moment.

The meets, usually held at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond, were relocated due to the High Desert Stampede rodeo that occupied the main arena at the fairgrounds. The Rimrock Riders Event Center covers a much smaller area than the fairgrounds, which lends itself to a sense of intimacy while also challenging the athletes to rethink some of their strategy in a smaller space.

Sisters athletes and their mounts competed in nearly all of the 25 events on offer. Talent is evenly spread between the performance events and gaming, with particular strengths in driving, dressage, hunt seat equitation and Canadian flags (a gaming event). Athletes may compete in up to five individual events and as many team events as they choose.

Team Coach Annie Winter said, "The kids have all improved from the last meet. They took on the lessons learned there and have had good successes."

She liked the smaller venue and said that with the entire team staying on the grounds for the weekend that it became a good team-building time.

Jackson Robinson, the sole male on the team, is one of the success stories of OHSET. A non-rider last year, he competed in the in-hand classes with an experienced gelding borrowed from Hayden Wester. Now with a year of riding lessons, daily work with the horse, and support of his teammates, Robinson competes in several gaming events. His father, Rob, quipped that he definitely is the most improved on the team.

"It's a great program for him. He started with no experience and now gets to work with great people," he said.

OHSET will be back at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond for the third meet of the season, April 14-16.