Sweet Home High School’s equestrian team asked the District 55 School Board for recognition as a school sport Monday night.
The sport was accepted as a club sport last year by the school board, but participants cannot receive a letter for sport. The team, with its coach and a representative of Oregon High School Equestrian Teams, Inc., (OHSET) said the main reasons they were asking to be recognized as a sport was for the recognition it could give the program, letters for its participants and to help the sport receive recognition from the Oregon School Activities Association.
“Most kids that ride horses have little connection with their schools because they’re so busy with their horses,” LuAnne Boettiger of OHSET said. Where equestrian programs have been recognized by school districts, OHSET has seen students begin to connect with schools and take leadership roles. OHSET promotes leadership, team and community.
Across the state, 640 students in 84 districts are competing in equestrian events, up 26 percent over last year. To receive recognition, 112 districts need to recognize the sport.
Most of the districts participating are on the west side of the Cascades. Seven of the districts are in Central Oregon.
The Sweet Home team practices in a covered arena in Brownsville. Transportation for events and practice is provided by parents. That would not change if the district recognized the sport.
Insurance is provided by participants, Boettiger said, and there is little risk to the district. An Oregon law helps protect districts from liability related to equestrian teams.
Promoting safety with horses is a major part of what OHSET is about, Boettiger said.
Most of the team’s seven members have their own horses. One girl on the team borrows a horse from a teammate.
Sweet Home competes against 15 Willamette Valley schools, with four to 14 riders.
“We’re all growing,” Coach Chris Ross said. Kids in the ninth grade next year are already interested in the program and asking about it.
The teams learns strength, patience, courage, self-esteem, discipline and responsibility.
“I’ve learned responsibility to be prepared, to be patient with others just through interacting with my horse and others,” sophomore Elizabeth Fitzsimons said. “We don’t get a lot of recognition. If we were recognized as a sport, the word would get out.”
Athletic Director Larry Johnson said that club sports can have letters. Participants must document what they feel they have done to begin earning letters, then the coaching staff votes on it. Last year, the coaches were asked, but the club was not approved for letters.
The board asked Supt. Bill Hampton to look into information presented by the team with the possibility of further consideration later by the board.