FERNDALE — Sandy Sutherland would love to see local competition for her Ferndale High School equestrian team, even if it means qualifying for the state meet will become tougher.

As proud as she is to see her team headed for state, Sutherland wishes her horse-loving athletes were not the only equestrian team in the fivecounty Northwest Washington area.

The second-year program qualified as a unit for the state drill team competition May 15- 18 in Wenatchee. The team also qualified several riders in individual events, as well.

“We are unique, that’s for sure. The closest meet we had was in Tumwater,” she said. “The other meets were in Elma and Ridgefield.

“But we don’t want to be unique. Our dream is to see other schools in Whatcom and Skagit counties start equestrian teams. And we’re definitely hoping to begin what we call a co-op program next year. That means riders from other schools could compete with us.”

Sutherland’s team formed about 14 months ago and often competes against more experienced riders. The group is the equivalent of a college club team, since equestrian is not a WIAA-sanctioned sport. Ferndale’s equestrians, however, do qualify for varsity letters.

“I really think there are plenty of potential equestrian competitors in our area,” said Sutherland, a 1990 Ferndale graduate who now owns a seven-acre spread with 20 horses.

Six of her eight competitors plan to be back next year, including junior Brooke Crawford and sophomores Ashley Sutherland, Kaylee Stuit, Tuesday Hanson, Delaynee Bice and Kitana Kilborne. The seniors are Jessica Martin and Jon Tremblay.

“We won the gold medal in our district for drill team,” Sandy Sutherland said.

Drill team is an event that requires 12 set maneuvers over a pattern done to techno-pop music.

“It’s a form of horse choreography,” she said.

Crawford, the team captain, is the only interscholastic athlete on the team. She is playing No. 1 doubles on the tennis team and she also plays cello in the orchestra while maintaining a 3.5 grade-point average.

“I really love the connection with horses,” said Crawford, who rides 11-year-old quarterhorse Levi. “When you’re riding, there’s a real connection.”

Several of the Ferndale riders qualified for state last year. Stuit and Ashley Sutherland finished fourth in team sorting (an event involving 10 cows) and Sutherland was seventh in driving.

This year’s individual state qualifiers include Crawford (dressage, showmanship, stock seat), Sutherland (driving), Martin (dressage, hunt seat over fences), Stuit (trail working pairs) and Kilborne (working pairs).

“Everyone is better in different things,” Tremblay said.

That includes Tremblay, who is the only boy competing in equestrian in five counties. He got his start when Stuit encouraged him to join the team.

“I remember making Jon ride once and he said it was the first time he had ever ridden without being thrown off,” said Stuit, who competes on Stretch, a 6-year-old quarterhorse. “He just started going to our practices and now we’re glad to have him on the team.”

Sandy Sutherland says there is one major difference between equestrian and other high school sports.

“In our sport, parents play a major role, and they get very actively involved,” she said.