Not all high school sports are on the shelf this fall.
The Sequim Equestrian Team and other teams with WAHSET (Washington State High School Equestrian Teams) are gearing up for the 2020-2021 season, with practices beginning in October and activities — including district meets and the state finals — running through May.
Coached by Katie Newton, Sequim’s team practices from 6-8 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays at Freedom Farm, 493 Spring Road, between Carlsborg and Agnew.
The team, which is not an official school team overseen by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, competes in District 4 with eight other teams including: Port Angeles, Evergreen United, Montesano, North River, Prairie, Ridgefield, Rochester and South Kitsap.
District competitions are set in February, March and April.
Salmon said team members still have to follow state and county health directives.
“If the safety guidelines clamp down the kids will have to practice at home to prepare for competition later in the season,” she said.
Making up the roster each year are two types of athletes: competing and non-competing team members. Competing members are required to participate in at least 80 percent of all weekly practices from October-May and are required to compete at all three district meets (as long as they do not violate rules that would prohibit competition).
Non-competing members are those who are new to the sport or who have not experienced competition before. Sometimes athletes choose to be non-competing, Salmon said, to eliminate conflict with other sports or commitments even if they are experienced with equines. Non-competing members come to as many practices possible during the season but do not compete at any meets during the season.
Those interesting in joining the team need to complete a registration form, a goals and evaluation form, sign a code of conduct form and pay a fee — which varies, depending on date registered and competing/non-competing status.
For more information, contact Salmon at Sequimequestrian@gmail.com.
