FINALLY, A WEE bit of freedom! We’ve all been going through some serious restrictions, losses and problems as we’ve muddled through this COVID-19 pandemic together. And now with the numbers of those infected going down, along with the new vaccines and people being vaccinated going up, Gov. Jay Inslee has opened all regions in the state to Phase 2.
Phase 2 means more businesses and activities are able to resume, with restaurants now able to operate at 25 percent capacity, and outdoor recreational and sports facilities are allowed to reopen for competitions with a limit of 200 spectators.
Which means Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds was given the green light to host the first Washington State High School Equestrian Team (WAHSET) District 4 meet of the 2021 season on Feb. 26-28. Wahoo! Hopefully, one of many new starts and openings the world over.
“We’re very appreciative of all the work the state, district and local WAHSET volunteers have done to enable our season to proceed,” said Sequim coach Katie Newton.
She said the team worked hard to comply with many COVID regulations so the athletes could begin the season, including wearing masks during competition.
“The team had a really good time and did really well both in competing and encouraging each other,” Newton said. “We also had four other team members, who were not able to be at the meet, but who were encouraging their teammates from afar.”
PA team
Port Angeles High School’s equestrian team attended the meet with members Amelia Kinney, Sara Holland, Katherine Marchant, Sydney Hutton and Haley Bishop.
They, too, are grateful the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds was allowed to hold the District 4 regional meet.
The team is well aware they weren’t given the go-ahead until a few days leading up to it and that the remaining two meets as well as state finals could be canceled, as they were last year, if pandemic restrictions tighten up again.
I was so relieved to hear Nancy McCaleb agreed to step up to coach the team after the previous coach moved away. For a long time, it looked as if Port Angeles wouldn’t have a team this year, largely because it appeared there was no one qualified who was willing to coach. No coach, no team.
Being a WAHSET coach is a huge commitment for an unpaid volunteer to take on, not only for the time it takes during the year, but for the money they spend out of their own pocket for travel and accommodations.
McCaleb was happy to take it on the first time around because her son was competing. That factor was also a driving force in her helping the original equestrian team.
Her children grown and graduated, she stepped away to focus on other family matters. Over the years, she’s also built up her training facility, Living Well Farm in Port Angeles, and some of her students were hoping to compete on the team, so she swooped in to the rescue. And I know her students — and their parents — are thankful.
“Our team had a great time and did an amazing job,” McCaleb said. “Now that we have a better idea about what some of the different events entail, we are looking forward to adding more team events to meet two.
“We also had a great time getting to know each other better. It is going to be a fun year.”
Live-steaming of the event was a new perk offered this year as the number of spectators who could attended was limited. Each athlete was only allowed to have one parent attend.
On the team’s Facebook page, I read an excited post from Katharyn Autrey, who wrote she cheered the team through the entire weekend while live-streaming the meet. Now that is exciting.
I think this year is the first time both coaches have their own arena to hold team practices in. McCaleb at her Living Well Farm, and Newton — with her every supportive husband Rob — on her parents’ farm in Sequim.
While both coaches’ arenas have nice sand footing — great for year-round riding — Freedom Farm’s co-owner Mary Gallagher generously continues to offer each team its own practice time in the farm’s spacious and beautiful indoor area. Thank you, Mary!
Sequim has nine members: Libby Swanberg, Keri Tucker, Susannah Sharp, Rainey Bronsink, Abby Garcia, Felicity Brown, Sierra Steffen, Ruby Coulson and Haddie Henry along with head; they are coached by Newton and Bettina Hoesel. They’re helped by three assistant coaches: Katie Adolphsen, Haylie Newton and Miranda Williams, all Sequim graduates who also competed on the Sequim Equestrian Team.
Regrettably, only Swanberg, Tucker, Sharp and Bronsink were able to attend the first meet.
Local results
Jumping: Hutton, first; Swanberg, second.
Hunt seat: Holland, second; Hutton, sixth; Marchant, 11th.
Dressage: Holland, second; Tucker, fourth; Marchant, fifth; Hutton, eighth.
Saddle seat: Marchant, third.
Reining: Sharp, fourth.
In-hand obstacle relay: Tucker, Swanberg, Bronsink and Sharp, sixth.
Team versatility: Tucker, Swanberg, Bronsink and Sharp, fifth.
Showmanship: Tucker, fourth; Sharp, 13th.
Working rancher: Tucker, first.
Working pairs: Tucker and Sharp, third.
Freestyle fours drill: Tucker, Swanberg and Sharp, second.
Individual flags: Bronsink, 11th.
Pole bending: Hutton, eighth; Kinney, 10th; Swanberg, 11th; Hutton, 12th; Bishop, 13th.
Figure-eight: Swanberg, third; Kinney, eighth; Sharp, 13th; Bishop, 15th.
Keyhole: Bronsink, sixth.
Barrels: Bronsink, third; Kinney, ninth; Hutton, 14th; Bishop, 15th; Marchant, 17th.
Two-man birangle: Tucker and Bronsink, second; Holland and Hutton, fourth; Swanberg and Sharp, sixth; Kinney and Bishop, ninth.
Breakaway roping: Kinney, first; Swanberg, second.
Steer daubing: Swanberg, first; Kinney, second; Tucker fourth.
Team sorting: Tucker and Swanberg, third.
For more information, contact Sequim coach Newton at sequimequestrian@gmail.com or Port Angeles coach McCaleb at mccalebfamily@gmail.com.
________
Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Sunday of each month.
If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also call her at 360-460-6299.
From left to right. Amelia Kinney with Gus and Cupcake, Sara Holland with Diesel, Katherine Marchant with Smokey, Coach Nancy McCaleb, Sydney Hutton with Ginger, Haley Bishop with Speckles and Flash. (Photo by Shannon Bishop)
