Nelson Mittuch of Port Orchard, Wash. came to Lostine last week (March 27-30) to run his annual clinic for horse riders.

Participants – broken up into beginner, beginner-novice and novice grades – practiced jumping inside Riverquest’s arena. They included locals, like Emma Survis of Wallowa and Megan Kozowski of Joseph. Linda Hammann came from Boise to take lessons Saturday morning with her thoroughbed, Henry. Marissa Velasco-Adania drove over from Portland with her paint, Billy Bonet.

“She loves jumping,” Kristen Kozowski said of her daughter, Megan. “I think its kinda thrilling for her. She doesn’t like competitions like dressage. That’s a little too disciplined. They’re memorizing steps and patterns, and have to do everything a certain way.”

Contact reporter Hector del Castillo at 426-4567, or by e-mail at hdelcastillo@wallowa.com.