Equestrian Sports: Sequim rides strong at second meet

Sequim High equestrians earned a pair of first-place finishes and 20 top-10 marks at their second district meet of the season, Feb. 20-22 in Tacoma.

Sequim Gazette staff

Sequim High equestrians earned a pair of first-place finishes and 20 top-10 marks at their second district meet of the season, Feb. 20-22 in Tacoma.

Abi Payseno took top honors in pole bending with a 22.34-second run while Sydney Balkan and Kaytee Gibeau teamed up to take the team sorting event. Gibeau was third in saddle seat equitation (61 points) and fourth in working rancher (63 points), and Haylie Newton’s 9.46 second for two runs earned her third place in steer daubing.

Sequim’s next action is at District 4’s third and final meet of the season, set for March 19-22 in Tacoma. The state meet is slated for May 14-17 in Moses Lake.

Individual events

Barrels — 6. Sydney Balkan

Hunt Seat Equitation — 5. Kaytee Gibeau

Pole Bending — 1. Abi Payseno

Reining — 7. Kelly Anders

Saddle Seat Equitation — 3. Gibeau, 4. Haylie Newton, 7. Amanda Murphy

Steer Daubing — 3. Newton, 10. Heidi Schleiger

Trail Equitation — 5. Gibeau

Working Rancher — 4. Gibeau, 6. Anders, 7. Newton, 8. Murphy

Team events

 

Canadian Flags — 5.

Sequim A (Balkan, Murphy, Newton, Schleiger)

 

Freestyle Fours — 5. Sequim A (Balkan, Gibeau, Newton, Schleiger)

In-Hand Obstacle Relay — 9. Sequim A (Balkan, Gibeau, Murphy, Newton)

Team Sorting — 1. Balkan/Gibeau, 8. Anders/Payseno

Working Pairs — 7. Anders/Payseno.