Redmond and Ridgeview high schools may be rivals in most sports, but equestrian is a bit different.

While the two teams are competitive with each other, they also work together. They have joint practices and work out of the same tent at meets.

“We pretty much act like we’re one team,” said Hannah Mills, a junior who now competes for Ridgeview but formerly was on Redmond’s team.

Serron Larsen, a senior at Ridgeview, agrees.

“It’s different because we cheer each other on and we support each other,” she said. “We’re not really rivals.”

Ridgeview will have 15 of its 16 team members competing May 12 through 15 at the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams state meet, at the Bank of the Cascades Center at the Deschutes County fairgrounds. Redmond will bring three of its six team members. Boys and girls compete against each other in equestrian.

The relationship between the two teams brings Redmond and Ridgeview students together, as well as other Redmond-area students. Mills is one of several competitors who attends Redmond Proficiency Academy. Others go to private and online schools.

“Riding horses is a part of me and always has been,” said Madison Holsey, a sophomore at Central Christian who competes for Redmond High. “To be able to do that has been a growing experience for me.”

Besides, horse people like being around one other, regardless of where they attend school, said Garan Buller, a sophomore at RPA, who is on Ridgeview’s team.

“You get to meet people like you,” he said. “To be honest, horse people are kind of weird.”

Then there is the “team within a team” — each rider and their horse.

“Your teammates are really there to give you advice,” Buller said. “Everyone’s kind of a coach, and they try to help you. Every horse has different cues. They’re built differently and they train differently, even if they’re the same breed.”

Ridgeview finished first among three teams in the large team division at the Central District meet April 15 through 17 in Redmond. Redmond High was first in the four-team small team division.

Emily Geist, a Baker Charter Schools junior who rides for Ridgeview, will be busy at state after qualifying in eight events. She finished first in individual flags at district, as well as second in barrels and third in pole bending. She also was on the team that finished second in Canadian flag race.

She will be working with a new horse since her regular horse came up lame.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how I compete with different horses,” she said.

Riders can build quite a bond with the horses. Especially those who own their horse.

“I’ve had her since she was a baby,” Redmond High’s Hailey McMichael said of her horse, Jazz. “It’s kind of special to watch her grow up and see her succeed. It’s kind of a treat for both of us that we can both get better together.”

If the competitors place high enough at the state championship, they will earn a spot at the regional meet in June at Moses Lake, Washington.

“I want to do some personal bests,” Buller said. “It would be great to go to Washington to compete with all the best people.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com