By George Ehmer
ETS Northwest Director
32 / Sport and Trail Magazine
ETS NORTHWEST
Ending the riding season in the Northwest with the Regional Championships held at Silver Ridge Ranch, located Easton, WA. capped a long season with more than 50 events. Riders and their trusted mounts from Washington, Oregonand Idaho were riding for top honors. To qualify for the championship top awards the riders had to finish in the top 6 in their division in the preliminary, east and west tournaments. At the Championship events with great awards for the daily events it was the top scores for the two days that decided the placements with a difference of .4 of a point deciding the championship in one division.
"I OWE EVERYTHING TO MY HORSE, JOKER "P.S. NO JOKE".
I do not compete in ETS since I am the Regional Ride Manager for the North West which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. I am responsible for all the judge's training, helping new ride managers get started and I help them with their rides.
Joke gets to participate sometimes when a problem comes up. This happened at the Regional Championships; Maral Eckenrod lost the lights on her truck and trailer and had to turn back. She called me and told me she could not haul her horse so I invited her to come in her car and she could ride Joke.
It is so great to be a part of the start of an organization and help make it work. I have worked with so many fantastic riders and equines. There is no greater reward than helping riders and their equines attain a true partnership."
George Ehmer
www.equinetrailsports.com
Though George and Joke spend most of their time in their home territory of the great Northwest, they also take time now and then to travel to other parts of the country and ride with friends they've come to know over the years.
Monument Valley, Arizona