Rainier Equestrian Events held its 2024 Rainier Show Series Feb. 3-4 at the Kitsap County Fairground Events Center.

The annual event presented “schooling, shows and clinics” in both “hunter” and “jumper” equitation, the group’s website says. Both categories challenge horses and riders to navigate a course of obstacles, and to hurdle them using proper form and technique. The major difference is that in hunter the focus is on proper form, as explained by Danielle Vance, the event’s organizer, and jumper is a timed event.

Vance said participants take the competition seriously, and results do count in their yearlong standing, competing in the Summer Olympics might be a dream for some, but aren’t much of a reality. It’s more of a teaching and learning opportunity, as evidenced by the interaction between Sabine Hartenstine, riding Torrent, and instructor Teri Aguirre, who rode Cashmere. The pair was deep in mental preparation prior to Hartenstine’s run, and congratulations were given on her return.

Sabine Hartenstine guides horse Torrent around the arena.

A horse keeps warm and is led away from the course after competing.

Participants and onlookers gather around the venue.