Marshfield drill team member Anne Greendale, 18, gets some help from coach Teresa Clemens with the bridle on her horse during a practice. World Photo by Madeline Steege.
In the world of equestrian sports, the word "team" takes on a whole new meaning.
Usually, a sports team gathers several times a week and works together to hone skills.
It's the same for equestrian riders, but these athletes take care of their working partners by feeding them, taking care of their injuries, keeping shoes on their tender feet and putting a roof over their heads.
"These kids are athletes," said Marshfield equestrian team coach Amber Willis. "These kids ride 1,200- to 1,500-pound athletes to these things."
Each rider feeds and cares for his or her own horse, providing it with a stall.
Without a great horse, riders likely aren't going to score highly in their event.
Several South Coast athletes have been carried to glory by their steeds, as the region boasts 23 state qualifiers representing four different schools.
The competition began today and will continue through the weekend in Salem.
Teams aren't funded by the schools they represent, and clubs allow riders from schools that don't offer equestrian sports a chance to participate.
Myrtle Point High School sophomore Shayleen Schaffer rides with the Coquille team, and is one of the Red Devils' six state qualifiers. She earned first in barrels, fourth in Figure 8, seventh in polebending and teamed up with Misty May to finish fifth in the birangle.
To qualify for the state competition, riders had to place well in the South Valley district competition in April. Some events had more state spots than others, but the competition for each was stiff.
About 150 riders representing 16 schools attended district.
Besides Schaffer, Coquille had several riders qualify for the state competition, led by Deidra Faith, who was second in steer daubing and tied for second in breakaway roping. She also teamed with Andrew Koreiva, Alyssa Fortune, Ashley Noel and May in the in-hand obstacle relay event, taking fifth place. Koreiva won breakaway roping, while May took fifth in showmanship as both riders also earned state tickets.
May said she enjoys showmanship, because more emphasis is put on the rider.
"You have to have more presence," she said. "It's on you. You pressure yourself."
The teams don't practice together much. The sport requires a deep personal commitment from riders and their horses.
"I go out and rope like once a week," Faith said. "Our team doesn't."
For some teams, it's difficult to wrangle club practice time, especially for conglomerates like the Coquille team, which still managed to win the small schools division.
Gold Beach also has riders from two different schools.
"Our school and administration has been very supportive and this year Brookings officially approved the co-op between the two schools," Gold Beach coach Kristina Welsh said. "Since there were only two girls from Brookings this year, it was easier to combine. ... These are all hard-working girls who are academic achievers, as well."
Song Yee LeBaron, Shannon Hawkins, Kendra Stone, Krista Meeks and Ciara Meeks all attend Gold Beach High School. Sarah Whaley and Lindsay Larsson both go to Brookings-Harbor.
"We pretty much have to practice on our own before the meet," Whaley said. "We're on our own for the rest because they're all personal events."
Four of those athletes will be representing the Panthers at state.
Senior Krista Meeks took eighth in barrels and teamed up with Ciara Meeks to tie for second in the birangle. LeBaron took fifth in trail and teamed with Sarah Whaley for third place in working pairs.
Whaley went on to finish fourth in working rancher.
"Working rancher, it's the stuff you need to know on a ranch," Whaley explained, adding that people perform better in events in which their horses excel. "My horse, he's more of a ranch horse than an English horse. That's probably why we made it in working rancher."
Of all the high schools on the South Coast, Marshfield has the most riders participating at state, with junior Brittney Gulseth leading the way. She tied for second in Figure 8, earned first in polebending and took fifth in barrels. The Pirates also had senior Anne Greendale take silver medals in dressage and trail riding.
But most of Marshfield's state trips were earned in the short program, where the Pirate drill team of Sailee Clemens, Jennifer Jackson, Katelyn Johnson, Codey Phillips, Greendale, Krystle Harris, Cassie Schmidt and Nichole Johnson combined to tie for second.
"We work real well as a team; it just seems to come together nicely," Schmidt said. "You really have to work together. It's not just something you do on your own."
Whitney Mortensen, Ryan Eberlein and Mayona Woodlief also competed at district and placed well for Marshfield, but didn't qualify for state.
As a team, the Pirates finished seventh in the large-school division at district.
"These kids, I'm really proud of this year," Willis said of Marshfield's team. "They have improved 100 percent."
The Pirates have a strong support system. Willis is a first-year head coach, with Toni Eberlein and Cathy Mortensen serving as advisors. Teresa Clemens is the drill team coach.
"Several community leaders step forward to give lessons," Willis said. "They've stepped forward to give lessons on their own time and money."
Marshfield practices every week, with the drill team meeting on Sunday and the equestrian group riding on Thursdays.
North Bend also holds regular practices, with its five team members - Kelsey Swanson, Alicia Ames, Stephanie Jensen, Catherine Seyler and Rachelle Crockett.
All five advanced to state, with Crockett gaining a trip in three events. She tied for second in working rancher, then teamed up with Jensen to claim sixth in the birangle. North Bend's foursome of Crockett, Ames, Seyler and Swanson combined to finish second in working fours.
At state, the riders will face the top 10 percent of riders in each event from eight districts in Oregon and southern Washington.
"If you get awarded to state it's quite an accomplishment," North Bend coach Barbara Bates said. "It takes devotion, not only for the kids, but the parents, too."
No rider gallops an easy road to equestrian success. Most successful riders have been on horses as long as they can remember.
"Everybody's the same way, everybody's been riding since they were little," Ames said. "It's tough, but that makes it fun, too."
The season is long and grueling, beginning in December. The schedule includes two regular meets, district, then state for riders who qualify. And once the season's over, riders don't hang up their reigns until next year. They still ride, most with 4-H groups and various local clubs.
And they always have to maintain their rides.
"They work year round," Willis said. "Our athletes don't put their things up at the end of the season. They keep working."
South Valley district competition
April 17
Listed are the champions for each event, followed by local participants, complete with scores and the school each rider represented. The number of participants who qualified for state in each event are listed in parentheses.
Barrels (Top nine) - tie-1. Rachel Wood, Junction City; Shayleen Schaffer, Coquille, 52; 5. Brittney Gulseth, Marshfield, 33; 8. Krista Meeks, Gold Beach, 24; 13. Misty May, Coquille, 16; 15. Ciara Meeks, Gold Beach, 12; 17. Deidra Faith, Coquille, 10; 20. Stephanie Jensen, North Bend, 6; tie-22. Andrew Koreiva, Coquille; Alicia Ames, North Bend; Rachelle Crockett, North Bend; Sailee Clemens, Marshfield; Ryan Eberlein, Marshfield; Mayona Woodlief, Marshfield; Jennifer Jackson, Marshfield; Anne Greendale, Marshfield; Cassie Schmidt, Marshfield; Nicole Johnson, Marshfield, 3; tie-70. Kendra Stone, Gold Beach; Whitney Mortensen, Marshfield; Katelyn Johnson, Marshfield, 2.
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It was the basketball coach from CMR that told her she couldn't play basketball due to one hand. Volleyball her senior year the The female coach had a daughter as a freshman moving up and Shay got cut.
Shay you are the greatest and the most inspirational person anyone could meet.
You go girl and win, win , win
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