Lucinda Mackie, of Winthrop, riding her Haflinger Willy. Mackie earned a special award for her performance in the Western Dressage division.
Members of the Methow Valley Riding Unlimited equestrian team traveled to Wenatchee recently to compete at the Appleatchee Riders Dressage Show.
Competitors included head coach Annie Budiselich (Twisp), Allison Wolfe (Winthrop), Bob Levy (Twisp), Lucinda Mackie (Winthrop), Pippa Smith (Tonasket) and Hana Werntz (Twisp).
Junior team members Kierra Reichert (Winthrop), Sydney Schuler (Winthrop), Macey Crum (Winthrop) and Layla Buzzard (Twisp) attended to the horses and helped manage the stables.
Hana Werntz, 5, of Twisp, on Little Black, a pony owned by Methow Valley Riding Unlimited.
The youngest rider was Werntz, age 5, who rode Little Black, a Welsh-Quarter Horse cross owned by Methow Valley Riding Unlimited in a costume freestyle set to music.
Mackie earned blue ribbons and a special award riding in the Western Dressage division on her horse Willy, a Haflinger gelding.
Allison Wolfe impressed the judge and the audience with her bridleless performance on Whatnot, a Quarter Horse owned by Methow Valley Riding Unlimited.
Wolfe and Mackie also teamed up for a “Pas De Deux” riding patterns side by side to music. Budiselich, Smith and Levy also all came home with ribbons.
Often referred to as “horse ballet,” dressage is a French word meaning “training.” The purpose of the sport is to develop the horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to work, making the horse calm, supple and attentive to his rider.
Methow Valley Riding Unlimited’s equestrian team is open to riders of all ages and disciplines who are seeking to advance their horsemanship to the next level.
