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Coaches required students volunteer, pay dues to equestrian club revoked by IRS they were tied to

Justin Alderman
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Coaches required students volunteer, pay dues to equestrian club revoked by IRS they were tied to
New allegations are raising questions of potential ethics violations under Oregon law by OHSET coaches at Ridgeview High School in Redmond, Oregon. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

Correction: Updated at 9:24am on 3/28 to include a statement from the past accountants for Rim Rock Riders. It also included a correction on a misspelling for Talburt. Updated again on 9/29 at 4:38pm to include details confirming a false report and allegation made by a subject of this story against this publication, which is believed to have been done to prevent publication of this story.

Redmond, Ore. – Amid ongoing allegations embroiling the Redmond School District, Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET), and three recently suspended teen girls, new questions have surfaced concerning potential ethics violations involving a team advisor and coaches over required payments to a non-profit equestrian club to practice and maintain team membership.

While some questions are related to ties and potential conflicts of interest between the club and at least one of the coaches, the shocking discovery was that the non-profit Rim Rock Riders is facing severe financial reporting issues and the discovery of its 501(c)(7) tax-exempt status being revoked two years ago by the IRS.

Roy Kaufmann, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Justice, told Equestrian Media Group that the “DOJ determined that Rim Rock Riders was exempt from their registration…”

While Rim Rock Riders was a tax-exempt non-profit, it was not considered a charitable organization for the purposes of the Oregon DOJ’s registration requirements. Kaufmann pointed out that the IRS had revoked Rim Rock Riders’ 501(c)(7) tax-exempt status.

“The IRS website indicates it was classified as a 501(c)(7) social/recreational organization prior to its IRS revocation for failing to file annual 990 returns with that agency. Generally, IRS 501(c)(7) organizations are not considered charitable,” said Kaufmann.

According to the IRS, Rim Rock Riders had its 501(c)(7) non-profit status revoked nearly two years ago on May 15th, 2022. The IRS stated that the non-profit’s tax exemption status was revoked after it failed to file Form 990 (its tax return) for several years.

As of now, the organization appears to be nearly five years delinquent, having last submitted its Form 990 return in 2018. This raises serious questions of public transparency and accountability for a non-profit organization and its staff.

According to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Corporation Division, the non-profit was also dissolved in August 2020 after being reinstated following a 2019 dissolution by Kerri Jo Talburt, who listed herself as the organization’s “Admin”.

Talburt has handled the organization’s filings with the Oregon Corporation Division since 2014. In their most recent 990 filing with the IRS in 2018, she was listed as the individual who maintains all the organization’s records and books.

Surprisingly, Talburt was not listed as an officer, director, or top-paid employee despite her alleged role at Rim Rock Riders and authority to file critical documents with the State of Oregon for the organization since 2014, along with the number of sources who have pointed to the level of authority Talburt allegedly carries within Rim Rock Riders.

Multiple sources, including a senior staffer with Brasada Ranch who only spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Talburt currently runs the day-to-day operations of Rim Rock Riders. The staffer also said Talburt is the primary person handling business affairs.

Faith Kuhn, the mother of one of the three girls who were suspended by OHSET over questionable allegations that have been rebutted through the negative drug tests, also spoke to the level of Talburt’s involvement at Rim Rock Riders.

Kuhn also explained that Talburt owned the RRR Catering & Cafe, a separate and dissolved limited liability company operating within Rim Rock Riders. She also alleged that one of the coaches for OHSET at Ridgeview High School, McKenzie Hughes, is not only good friends with Talburt but has also worked for Talburt’s business.

Hughes also serves as the Chair of OHSET’s Central District.

Additional records were recently obtained by Equestrian Media Group showing alleged financial transactions, including unspecified payments regularly made between Talburt to Hughes.

While Rim Rock Riders currently maintains a workers’ compensation insurance policy as required by Oregon law, Equestrian Media Group confirmed that Talburt’s RRR Catering & Cafe does not appear to, which Talburt herself has admitted to.

The allegations raise questions concerning Hughes’s decision to require practices at Rim Rock Riders’ facility due to Oregon government ethics rules which the state says apply to OHSET coaches. They also raise questions about potential conflicts of interest for Talburt, including operating a for-profit business that undoubtedly involves renting facilities from Rim Rock Riders.

OHSET itself outlines that school officials should handle decisions in situations where there may be such a conflict, including where a coach may be employed by a party that financially benefits, which in this case could be Talburt and Rim Rock Riders.

Rim Rock Riders do not have any non-profit conflict of interest typically required for non-profits available. It also does not disclose any of its officers or current board of directors online.

The main question remains, especially for Talburt and the listed board members:

Where is the money going over the years of missing financial disclosures?

The organization’s 2018 Form 990 also claimed the group had assets of $1.2M, with an average annual revenue of just over $100K. Of that in 2018, it claimed approximately $27K in salaries and $45K in “Contractors & Temporary”.

Rim Rock Riders’ lack of required public financial disclosures with the IRS, along with the organization’s revocation of its 501(c)(7) status and dissolution by the Oregon Secretary of State, may leave more questions for those who have donated, volunteered, or potentially even paid the non-profit organization for services.

The discovery is likely to be a major problem for Talburt and potentially the organization’s last listed directors in its 2018 filing, which include President Jon Page, Secretary Sharie Forde, and Treasurer Katie Yount.

According to the Oregon DOJ, non-profit officers and directors often face personal liability for improper or negligent management of the organization. Non-profits are never owned by individuals. If a non-profit is dissolved, the organization’s assets are supposed to be dispersed to a non-profit charity.

Andy Damman, an official with Brasada Ranch who spoke on the record, confirmed that Rim Rock Riders maintains a long-term lease for the property and the main equestrian complex. While Brasada Ranch owns the building and property, Damman said Rim Rock Riders maintains “exclusive” use of the leased property and complex.

Damman did confirm that smaller barns and pastures on the north and south ends of the leased complex are maintained directly by Brasada as horse boarding for their residents and are separate from Rim Rock Riders.

While Damman could not comment further, he said Brasada strives to maintain ethical business relationships.

Brasada Ranch was recently awarded the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking as the fourth-best resort in the Pacific Northwest.

Brasada also took its equestrian trail riding business in-house in recent years, a program it previously contracted to a local equestrian busted last year by the Oregon State Police for illegal guiding near Juniper Preserve resort on BLM land.

After researching Rim Rock Riders, we contacted Polzel and Kuhn again to ask questions about their own interactions and knowledge of the operation. The Polzel’s had not been previously aware of Equestrian Media Group’s finding regarding the tax status for Rim Rock Riders.

Kuhn and April Polzel, mother of the other two girls allegedly suspended by OHSET on questionable allegations that were met with swift rebuke, also explained that the Ridgeview High School’s OHSET team advisor, Gayln Snair, would also handle payments for Rim Rock Riders during their events through a personal Venmo account.

They stated that membership fees were still handled directly by Rim Rock Riders, but Snair handled payments for services provided by Rim Rock Riders at specific activities. They were unsure if all the monies paid to Snair were actually paid to Rim Rock Riders or the extent of any relationships Snair had with Rim Rock Riders or Talburt.

Polzel alleged that Talburt previously reported that Rim Rock Riders charged $20 for a bundle of bedding for horses, while she says Snair would charge them $40. Polzel said she was unsure where the alleged difference may have gone.

Earlier today, Executive Director Susan Myers with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission confirmed that the OGEC had received a complaint involving the Redmond School District or OHSET but could not provide any further information at this time, citing “ORS 244.260(4)(c).”

It was unclear if the complaint and likely preliminary investigation by the OGEC involved any of these new allegations.

OHSET’s Oregon City High School program was the center of an investigation by the OGEC in 2021 against its coach, Angie Wacker. She was ultimately found violating Oregon ethics laws and fined $2,500 by the board of the OGEC.

OHSET’s State Board voted to pay Wacker’s fine and ultimately instituted new ethics training after OHSET’s coaches were determined to be public officials.

(Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

We eventually spoke with Talburt, who answered the phone provided by Rim Rock Riders and asked her about the missing fillings.

Talburt admitted to the lapse while not specifically confirming that she knew the organization’s non-profit status was revoked nearly two years ago.

“It’s being taken care of,” Talburt said at least twice.

“We fired an accountant, and they started working on it,” Talburt then stated.

While the Board of Directors and key officers are responsible for non-profit tax filings, the organization’s 2018 Form 990 reports that the non-profit’s accountants at that time as Bend-based Kernutt Stokes, LLP.

Kernutt Stokes told Equestrian Media Group the day after publication they had never been retained to handle any filings for Rim Rock Riders since 2018.

“Rim Rock Riders did not engage our firm to prepare the 2019 Form 990 or any subsequent filings,” said Managing Partner Steve Ritchie.

Talburt then claimed she was ultimately not responsible for the organization’s tax filings or the annual reports she filed between 2014 and 2019 with the Oregon Secretary of State.

She also downplayed her alleged role, saying she was only a part-time employee of Rim Rock Riders, calling her role a “clerical worker” while denying being in any position of authority as an officer or management employee.

“I’m not an officer; I’m not a director,” Talburt said while also stating that she handles the filings with the Oregon Secretary of State.

Talburt also denied that she handles the organization’s interactions with Brasada Ranch, saying an officer handles vital decisions on the organization’s business.

“I have no relationship with Brasada Ranch,” Talburt went on to say.

“We don’t really have a relationship with Brasada… we don’t engage with Brasada in any way, except they rent our arena now and then,”

When we asked who the officers or key employees were, if not the directors themselves, Talburt then claimed they had a single full-time employee who maintained the grounds.

We then asked Talburt if she thought there was any conflict of interest in her operating her for-profit business at Rim Rock Riders, considering her current employment status with the non-profit.

Talburt was asked if the non-profit maintains a conflict of interest policy and if they’d be willing to provide it. Talburt said she didn’t know if that policy existed. She also said the board of directors didn’t think her operating a business within the non-profit was a conflict of interest.

We then asked Talburt if she thought it was a conflict of interest and perhaps why Rim Rock Riders weren’t operating the concessions directly.

“Let me put it this way– I’m here 16 hours a day,” she said.

Talburt had just minutes earlier claimed that her RRR Catering & Cafe business only operates during events and that she was only a part-time employee of Rim Rock Riders.

The organization’s 2018 financial disclosures leave even more questions on how Rim Rock Riders could have maintained Talburt’s part-time employment and the employment of a single full-time maintenance worker on only $27K in salaries paid and only approximately $4K between payroll taxes and workers’ compensation coverage.

When we asked why Talburt about the lack of filling for her own business after she confirmed it was still in operation, she said it was a “simple oversight”.

Talburt also acknowledged that she had not maintained workers’ compensation coverage despite clearly saying she does employ workers, but she felt it wasn’t necessary because the majority of those working for her are family at the RRR Cafe.

Talburt avoided if the business used the workers’ compensation policy maintained by the non-profit.

Talburt then went on to also confirm that Ridgeview High School athletes in OHSET are required to pay either a non-member fee or be members of the facility in order to attend the practices.

When we asked if Talburt employs Hughes, she responded saying, “Well she’s a member here,” prompting a clarification if Hughes does or has ever worked for her RRR Cafe business as well when she again denied.

Talburt also said that Rim Rock Riders has never received any monies from the Redmond School District, which raises the question about the discovery of funds revealed in a previous grant award to Ridgeview’s OHSET program for “Arena Fees”, which Equestrian Media Group reported just yesterday.

Equestrian Media Group is still in the process of obtaining documents of financial records from the Redmond School District showing where that money went, something the district’s spokesperson had denied they handle for the OHSET team.

Talburt again deflected and claimed Hughes was a member of Rim Rock Riders. We then asked her if she had ever engaged in any financial transactions with Hughes, prompting a quick “No.”

When asked again, and Hughes again said “No”, but promptly hung up the call while asking a follow-up question.

Equestrian Media Group did not have an opportunity to ask specifically about the financial records of public transactions made via Venmo to Hughes. It was unclear if Talburt was aware that the transactions between them were set to show publically on Venmo as well.

We did not get to ask Talburt about any payments made to Rim Rock Riders by Snair, the Ridgeview OHSET advisor.

Kuhn, the Polzels, and other sources who would only speak again under the condition of anonymity said that Hughes and Talburt were what most would define as “close friends.”

Hughes was unable to be reached for comment prior to press time.

Equestrian Media Group shockingly received a call from a Sheriff’s deputy in Oregon shortly after a voicemail was left with Hughes and after our conversation with Talburt.

The deputy informed us that an individual alleged that we had called and claimed we were with the Department of Justice.

The deputy refused to identify the individual. The day after the initial publication of this story, Crook County Sheriff Gautney reportedly (according to another deputy) declined our requests to identify the caller despite the information being public records, requiring us to go through a public records request process that further delayed identifying the caller.

Equestrian Media Group received a copy of a dispatch log showing that the caller was Hughes and that the call took place after this publication had spoken with Talburt. The notes from the deputy make reference to Hughes mentioning the voicemail we also left her, also properly identifying ourselves.

During a review of the call with Talburt, twice she was informed that the call was from Equestrian Media Group, including at the start of the approximately 15 minute call.

The dispatch notes confirm a story given by Hughes confirming that Talburt contacted Hughes about the call our this publications questioning.

It is also unlikely that Hughes had not been aware of this reporter and publications ongoing investigation over the last month, as well as our story published a day prior.

Note: This publication and its reporters will not be intimidated by the improper summoning of law enforcement authorities on baseless allegations. It is always our effort to ensure that the parties to our reporting are provided an opportunity to comment on matters in our reporting, keeping with the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, and we always identify our news media affiliation.

This publication categorically finds the actions of Hughes (and the claims by Talburt alleged by Hughes) to be unacceptable and potentially criminal.

You can count on NW Horse Report to update you on this developing story. Join the discussion on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formally Twitter).

High school equestrians suspended by OHSET over alleged alcohol & drug use, but ‘negative’ tests now dispute allegations

Justin Alderman
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High school equestrians suspended by OHSET over alleged alcohol & drug use, but ‘negative’ tests now dispute allegations
Equestrian teens and now former Ridgeview High School athletes Hannah & Hailee Polzel were facing allegations by OHSET despite evidence that they say disputes the allegations hastily levied by their coach. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

Redmond, Ore. – Several high school girls with Ridgeview High School in Redmond, Oregon, were suspended by Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (known as OHSET) last month following allegations the girls were consuming alcohol and marijuana during a competition held at Brasada Ranch in mid-February.

The allegations quickly fell into disrepute with some after the results of certified independent drug and alcohol tests were conducted by a local laboratory company in Bend and subsequently disclosed by a parent for two of the three suspended girls.

The Redmond School District is also facing scrutiny amid distancing itself from the entire ordeal– allegations similar to those alleged against the handling of issues involving OHSET by the Oregon City School District in 2021.

Two of the three girls at the center of the allegations, Hannah and Hailee Polzel, 15 and 17, respectively, are now expressing their heartbreak and embarrassment being felt due to what they say are inaccurate rumors of also being suspended by the school officials in addition to OHSET, as well as over the ongoing OHSET allegations of a criminal nature which they adamantly say are false.

The situation led both girls to leave Ridgeview High School, returning to an online school they had previously attended before being involved in OHSET during the pandemic.

The girls’ mother, April Polzel, has been heavily engaged in communicating with both school and OHSET officials, especially after the results of the drug and alcohol tests came back negative.

“These alligations [sic] have been proven to be completely false by an outside forensic lab urinalysis that tested for any traces of any substances going back five days. This window of testing proved that no substance [sic] were in their system the entire time they were at the meet,” said Polzel in a March 11th email to school officials.

Polzel has also called for the resignations of McKenzie Hughes and Tiffany Quintero, OHSET’s Central District Chair & Co-chair, respectively, both of which serve as coaches for the Ridgeview High School OHSET team.

Faith Kuhn, the parent of the other girl facing OHSET’s allegations, also demanded a public apology from OHSET and advised Ridgeview High School officials of the potential for legal action.

“It is unfortunate that I find myself having to write this letter, and you should be made aware that I have sought legal counsel regarding this matter,” stated Kuhn.

Kuhn went on to say in part of her three-page letter:

“The manner in how these athletes were dismissed from the OHSET team was completely inappropriate. They didn’t need the entire board surrounding them while they were publicly humiliated. That is intimidation, and as an adult I felt the intimidation, I can only imagine how this felt for teenagers. Not only were they set up to be intimidated and given this terrible decision this was done at the main entrance of the arena, which is where all foot traffic enters and exits the arena. There is absolutely no reason that they could not have conducted this meeting in the office upstairs, privately.”

Kuhn also alleged OHSET violated several of its own policies:

“Per the OHSET Code of Conduct, ‘Code of conduct violations will incite discrete investigation and appropriate disciplinary actions.’ (OHSET, 2020) The policy also references the process for an investigation, following the school’s written policy for an infraction, as well as contacting law enforcement if a law is broken. Not one of these policies were followed.”

“These ‘leaders’ never asked to speak to any of the accused regarding the allegations or to hear their recollection of events. They never even gave them an opportunity to defend themselves. We live in a country where you are innocent until proven guilty, however these three athletes were persecuted based on hearsay, rumors, and false allegations.”

OHSET appeared to have started reassessing the severity of the suspension following inquiries from Equestrian Media Group, which it has ignored.

While OHSET maintained the alleged rule violations, the girls were offered the opportunity to return but would be disqualified from the state and regional meets.

The Polzels said accepting that offer would essentially be agreeing to the allegations they say are false and clearly disputed by the evidence OHSET continues to ignore.

Numerous email communications provided to Equestrian Media Group don’t appear to make any acknowledgment by OHSET of the certified drug test results.

OHSET has yet to respond to multiple attempts seeking comment– although OHSET’s former chair had previously declined to speak further with Equestrian Media Group or Pamplin Media Group following our respective reporting in 2021 on an Oregon City High School OHSET coach.

Hailee & Hannah Polzel explained how they felt shamed and embarrassed at the OHSET district competition at Brasada Ranch on February 18th after Hughes and Quintero allegedly brought forth the matter in a very public way.

“Like fifteen adults, adults that I’d recognize that are on the [OHSET Central District] board, which I knew, my coaches, and their husbands who have no part of being on the district board, came down and surrounded us,” said Hailee Polzel.

That’s when they say they were informed of the suspension for the rest of the year.

Hannah and Hailee explained that while they were having to pack up and clean stalls, other coaches were allegedly informing their teams about the allegations, making the situation even more embarrassing, the girls explained.

“My daughters were humiliated– it’s embarrassing,” said Polzel.

“I told Ms. Ditto [RVHS’s vice principal], I said they’re not coming back until their name is cleared… I literally thought that these tests would come back, and my daughters would be vindicated.”

Equestrian Media Group has reviewed the drug tests, which showed the girls were negative for numerous narcotics, as well as a urine test for alcohol. While Butterfield Testing Solutions could not disclose the results themselves, they confirmed their authenticity as signed by the medical review officer and doctor.

The collection was done on February 19th, the day after the final day of OHSET’s Central District competition.

April Polzel provided public testimony on Thursday at the Redmond School District Board Meeting, calling on the Redmond School District board to intervene and questioning why the school district would continue to approve of OHSET’s affiliation with its schools.

Officials with the Redmond School District have been distancing themselves from OHSET’s decision in recent weeks.

“I would like to reiterate that this is not a Redmond School District activity and so we do not have any information to provide about this situation. I recommend you contact OHSET directly,” said Holly Brown, a spokesperson for the Redmond School District, in response to Equestrian Media Group’s request for an interview.

The district avoided answering whether it or Ridgeview High School staff had held meetings with OHSET officials or whether it agreed with the action OHSET had taken. April Polzel claimed there were at least two separate meetings between the school and OHSET officials, claiming school officials even revealed details of their own meeting with Ditto.

Eric Lea, an elected director on the Redmond School District Board, also stated in a March 11th email to April Polzel: “Because the equestrian club is not sponsored by the school or district, it would be inappropriate for me to comment as a School Board member. I do wish you and your daughters the very best. They are fortunate to have such a staunch advocate.”

Ridgeview’s Athletic Director Randi Viggiano took a similar position when the school was reached for comment by Equestrian Media Group in early March after the district office failed to return our calls.

Brown claimed she was unaware of our attempts to seek comment when we attended the March 20th school board meeting, where April Polzel indicated she intended to address the school board. Brown also said she was unaware of our March 12th public records request, which the district had yet to respond to by a deadline the day before.

Within the hour of that interaction, we received a response to the public records request from an executive assistant for Superintendant Dr. Charan Cline.

Attempts to interview Dr. Cline in early March were ignored and ultimately redirected to Brown without a response.

Still, the position of distancing by the district is also being questioned by the families and their supporters due to the degree they say the school district facilitates OHSET activities. It was unclear if Redmond School District officials were aware of the issues and precedent of the 2021 case involving OHSET and Oregon City High School.

“Athletics and Activities Directors have no role in managing these activities. Tier III activities may not refer to their club as the schools name, for example Ridgeview High School Rodeo Team or Redmond High School Nordic Ski Team is not appropriate,” Brown cited.

However, the Polzels and others questioned the maintenance of that standard, telling Equestrian Media Group that the Ridgeview OHSET team consistently called itself the Ridgeview High School Equestrian Team in fundraising advertisements, had a float in the school’s homecoming parade with a “Ridgeview High School” banner, held meetings in the school’s library, among other examples recently and in past years.

The Redmond School District maintains it cannot handle issues raised by student-athletes and their parents involving OHSET, a claim the families question based on a previous case of alleged conduct by OHSET officials and the Oregon City School District in 2021. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

A source who would only speak on the condition of anonymity, citing their fear of OHSET’s retribution against their own child, also alleged that the OHSET team had obtained money through the school district.

A 2021 letter from the Redmond School District and addressed to the team’s reported advisor, Gayln Snair, was identified as being part of the “RVHS Equestrian Team.” The address for Snair was also the school’s address.

The letter reports that a grant made through the district was being provided towards “Arena Fees.”

As a condition, the district required that OHSET “publically thank and promote Hayden Homes” and “Cooperate with Redmond School District to publicize the grant award.”

“Funds will be deposited into a RSD co-curricular account which will be customary for program spending,” the letter stated.

The document’s revelation conflicts with the more recent statements made by the district.

“These activities are generally managed by parents and the activities sanctioning organization. The district does not provide funding for Tier III activities. The finances of Tier III activities are not recorded in the district’s accounting system and are not to be commingled with any district accounts,” Brown claimed.

State officials determined in 2021 that OHSET’s coaches were also considered public officials.

That determination came amid numerous investigations that year, including an Oregon Government Ethics Commission’s case against Angie Wacker, an OHSET coach at Oregon City High School.

In addition to Wacker using her influence on student-athletes for financial improprieties, Wacker faced numerous allegations of bullying and retribution against students. Wacker and district officials also faced problems relating to injury reporting as required under “Max’s law.”

Two other separate investigations were also initiated by the Teacher Standards & Practices Commission and Oregon Department of Education into Oregon City High School’s athletic director, principal, and district superintendent due to the district’s handling (and alleged lack thereof) of issues involving Wacker and OHSET, according to reporting from Pamplin Media Group.

The Oregon City School District board also held an illegal vote and executive session under public meetings law to retain Wacker, which was revealed by Pamplin Media Group Editor Raymond Rendleman after an order from the Clackamas County District Attorney requiring the release of audio of the meeting by the school district.

The school district later apologized for the illegal board vote uncovered by Rendleman’s investigative reporting.

Recently, numerous sources with information regarding the Ridgeview High School OHSET team have continued to emerge, although those sources would only speak on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of being expelled from OHSET and pointing to the organization’s own rules that prohibit any negative or disparaging remarks regarding the organization.

The Polzel girls have maintained that the policy and the current culture of OHSET is keeping many aware of the allegations, including fellow equestrian athletes, from speaking out online and to the school district amid fear of repercussions by OHSET.

One source claimed the policy, which they also said is now labeled as “draft”, goes on to say:

“OHSET does not want to infringe on anyone’s right to free speech. With that said, we also do not want to be the place where people are free to bully, intimidate, or shame our athletes, volunteers, or contractors. It seems some mandated restraint is necessary.”

“Your personal Social Media should never include criticisms of OHSET, OHSET athletes,
coaches, advisory, judges, etc…” the policy states.

While restricting criticism, the policy does provide direction on using social media to promote the organization positively. Equestrian Media Group could not yet confirm if the policy was ever officially adopted by OHSET, but sources said it is being enforced.

April Polzel also remarked about the policy: “A policy which restricts and allows them to punish these girls for any bit of criticism isn’t okay, and that’s another reason that any level of support by a school district is just not appropriate when they have a first amendment right when the group ties itself to the school.”

“OHSET, like some of these other sports groups, can exist without even a small tie to the school, but the the [school] district having even small ties is not approperiate if they avoid intervening. Pamplin’s story about Oregon City OHSET seemed to make that clear too,” Polzel went on to say.

The Polzel’s also alleged that OHSET failed to even abide by its policy, having not contacted law enforcement as their policy requires if their athletes were consuming illegal narcotics or alcohol in violation of the law.

Hannah and Hailee said they believe the allegations stem from an adverse relationship they had with the daughter of one of the coaches.

Both girls weren’t aware of any use of marijuana or alcohol by any of the girls during the meet.

(Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

April Polzel claimed that Gayln Snair, the team’s advisor and OHSET’s liaison to the school, reported that there was video evidence to support the allegations against her daughters.

However, she claims that OHSET officials later stated there was no video when she requested to see it. Instead, she says OHSET said that they had several written statements by undisclosed individuals.

School officials have yet to disclose if any of these written statements or other OHSET reports were provided to them. The district is currently citing current exemptions under the law in releasing some material as part of a March 12th public records request submitted by Equestrian Media Group.

The district also failed to provide any fee waiver or consideration of a reduction, which this publication intends to contest, although we will be paying the requested fees while we continue to appeal the matter, if necessary, to the local district attorney.

We also asked what impacts the girls might face moving forward following the suspension and allegations of criminal wrongdoing.

“It was just unbelievable how the whole thing was handled,” said Hannah Polzel, a freshman in her first year and at her first official competition with OHSET.

“I’ve cried for like days over days on just thinking over everything and just like how disgusted it is– how adults could just treat kids like that and try to sweep it under the rug like that.”

Hannah went on to explain that despite feeling embarrassed, she knew they were innocent and thought that when the drug test results came back, their names would be cleared.

According to documents shared with Equestrian Media Group, emails sent to parents and school officials by OHSET’s State Chair Teresa Hoffman make clear that’s not what’s happened.

“To All Involved Parties, I am sending out this email as requested and in conjunction with the revised disciplinary action that Central District implemented for Hannah Polzel and Hailee Polzel of [sic] Ridgeview OHSET team. On March 12th I emailed the revised disciplinary actions that were to be put into effect even though Athletes declined. It reinstated the Athlete with the stipulations of losing 60% of the competition season while still being able to practice with the team and then being eligible for competition on Meet #3 April 11-14, 2024 .” said Hoffman in a March 19th email.

“It’s almost like they just don’t care about the truth. They don’t want the truth,” said Hannah.

Hailee Polzel, a junior in her second year with OHSET, felt the ordeal would likely hurt her chances for scholarships for college to continue her equestrian endeavors.

“Last year, I was top of my events for nearly everything. I made it to State in all my events and continued onto regionals for sorting and poles,” explained Hailee.

“We even broke the regional record for sorting,” she also explained.

The Polzel’s have since shared the drug & alcohol test results for the girls on social media, leading to a number of criticisms about the alleged incident as well as rebuke by some claiming systemic issues within OHSET, specifically its Central District.

As mentioned earlier, OHSET has ignored all requests seeking any comment on the allegations, including the allegations it maintains against the students.

While Equestrian Media Group would typically have just reviewed the test results documents, we are sharing them here because the Polzels have already posted them publically on social media.

April Polzel went on to explain that had her daughters done what she says they are falsely alleged to have done, she absolutely would have stood by the decision and would have “been tough on the girls, making them understand the lesson they’d learn from doing it.”

“That the Redmond School District is allowing a club to abuse and strip these students of basic rights every American is entitled to, is unacceptable. My girls were handed down the heaviest of consequences when code of conduct violations were assumed, yet OHSET factually violated many of their own codes of conduct and it is being completely ignored, causing further insult and injury to these girls,” said April Polzel in a March 11th email to the elected board members for the Redmond School District.

Polzel went on to say in her email to the board:

“You are allowing these students to be bullied, harassed and ostracized by this club that you allow parents to believe is a safe environment. Being as you are involved with education, I would assume that you have a heart for children. The unjust treatment of these children should outrage you and you should be going to battle for them instead of washing your hands of the situation, wishing them well in their own fight for truth and justice to be enforced and recognized.”

Brown did go on to claim that “the children involved are not Redmond School District students,” a claim that Polzel later said during follow-up questioning was “disingenuous” and likely due to her girls just recently registering out of Ridgeview High School after what she says was the school and OHSET’s failures.

April Polzel went on to explain that their family has been supporters of the program for a generation, explaining that the girl’s father was a former coach of the Trinity Lutheran OHSET team years ago and that she has allowed OHSET teams to practice at her horse boarding facility at zero cost over the years.

“My girls grew up around OHSET; they were inspired to be part of OHSET and support the organization, and that makes this all the more devastating to see at the hands of their current leadership,” said Polzel.

In a follow-up email to our interview request to the Redmond School District, we asked, “Does the district dispute that OHSET coaches are considered public officials?”

The Redmond School District has not yet responded to the question.

OHSET’s State Director Teresa Hoffman has also yet to respond to or acknowledge multiple emails made in recent weeks.

You can count on NW Horse Report to keep you updated on this developing story. Join the discussion on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formally Twitter).

The 2024 Northwest Horse Fair & Expo kicking off at Oregon’s Linn County Fairgrounds March 22-24

NW Horse Report Staff
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The 2024 Northwest Horse Fair & Expo kicking off at Oregon’s Linn County Fairgrounds March 22-24
(Photo Credit – Equine Promotions)

Albany, Ore. – The Northwest Horse Fair & Expo 2024 is returning to the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon, for its twenty-third year. The show will run from Friday, March 22nd, through the 24th.

The event, presented by Akins Trailer Sales, is set to feature top clinicians, numerous presentations, workshops, trade show shopping, and elite horses and trainers from across the northwest and abroad.

Several headline clinicians include John Lyons, Matt Livengood, Abby Carbaugh, and Kalley Krickeberg. The famous Endo the Blind horse will also appear all three days of the event.

The action-packed Cold Starting Challenge USA is another staple scheduled to return this year. According to the event’s producer, Equine Promotions, “Experienced horse trainers will be working with four young, unbroken horses, gentling and saddling them and riding them in just three days. Using Natura Horsemanship methods, each trainer will work with the colt they have drawn.”

“During the Sunday event of the expo, the colts will be ridden and compete through a challenging obstacle course.”

Sunday is also the event’s youth day, during which children aged 12 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by a paying adult. All 4-H and Pony Club members aged 13 – 18 get in free with a club ID.

Tickets are available online or at the gate by visiting https://equinepromotions.net/northwest-horse-fair/event-details/tickets/

State Fair Director continues to conceal records over controversy of a now-defunct horse auction whose auctioneer is wanted fugitive for horse theft

Justin Alderman
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State Fair Director continues to conceal records over controversy of a now-defunct horse auction whose auctioneer is wanted fugitive for horse theft
Former OSFC Chair and State Rep. Vicki Berger (left) and Oregon State Fair Director Kim Grewe-Powell (right) during an October 26th meeting of the Oregon State Fair Council. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

Salem, Ore. – Nearly six months after Equestrian Media Group submitted public records requests, the Oregon State Fair Council and its director have yet to provide the requested records, which seek to reveal the director’s role following the publishing of stories involving a controversial and now-defunct horse auction company.

Increased attention also came following a story first reported by Willamette Week titled: “The Oregon State Fair Tried to Silence an Investigative Reporter. It’s Failing.”

The issues came to a head in September 2023 when Equestrian Media Group revealed that PNW Horse Sales was concealing and misrepresenting ownership and management information, as numerous equestrian proponents had alleged for months prior. Those proponents included self-described victims of fraud at the hands of the company’s involved horse traders.

The allegations among equestrian circles included misrepresentation and conflicts of interest, as the individuals staffing and operating the company were the very horse traders consigning horses for auction. The company also faced allegations of illegal child labor, and it never obtained workers’ compensation coverage.

That also included the revelation that the company’s auctioneer was a wanted fugitive in Louisana for multiple causes involving horse theft. According to a Louisana livestock investigator, the same man was also suspected of being the subject of a Texas Rangers’ investigation after originally fleeing Louisana around 2018.

An Oregon horse trainer tied to the company, Geneva Boston, was also receiving national attention after a viral video emerged showing her repeatedly whipping a horse– including in the face.

The incident later resulted in the State Fair Director Kim Grewe-Powell threatening to call the governor and the Oregon State Police on this reporter and an Equestrian Media Group cameraman– claiming she could not be filmed or recorded without her permission, despite Grewe-Powell having approached us at the NPRA Finals event on September 23rd.

Grewe-Powell had repeatedly maintained that the public body was “private” and that she was not a public official.

During a September 9th incident in which Equestrian Media Group was trespassed from publically accessible areas of the fairgrounds not leased by PNW Horse Sales, an Oregon State Trooper also claimed that the OSFC was a private corporation and had unrestricted rights to trespass those it wanted to.

Grewe-Powell also claimed in the recorded interview that the incident did not result in trespass or threat of arrest, despite video clearly disputing that claim.

The agency’s failures related to public records and retaliation have led to an increased focus by Equestrian Media Group on the public bodies’ conduct. This included coverage of the agency’s public meetings and efforts to institute an unconstitutional media policy, which Director Kim-Grewe-Powell claimed was in response to the incident.

The policy went as far as requiring news media organizations and journalists to obtain “accreditation” and that the OSFC and staff had the right to correct reporting they believed to be inaccurate. Typically such policies are internal procedures that provide public officials guidance on how to facilitate increased access for news media representatives.

The media policy was motioned for adoption by the agency’s former chair, Vicki Berger, who stepped down in January. Berger, a former Oregon State House representative, continues to serve as a member of the governor-appointed council.

The handling and implementation of the media and a public records policy also resulted in Equestrian Media Group submitting two formal grievances as part of a new Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) law.

That policy resulted in this reporter filing a lawsuit and application for an injunction in Marion County Circuit Court, a story first reported by Willamette Week.

A Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Oregon DOJ retained by the OSFC and Grewe-Powell promptly claimed the issue was “moot” and that the OSFC had withdrawn the policy.

That claim only fueled ongoing questions and other allegations made in the legal complaint concerning more violations of the Oregon Public Meetings Law (OPML).

The reply to the response filed by the Oregon DOJ attorney questioned how the OSFC could have withdrawn the policy as claimed when no notice of any public meeting or executive session had been made as required under the meetings law.

The complaint also mentioned how Grewe-Powell and State Fair staff put the policy in effect as early as October 25th, sending it out to all of their regular event lessors before it was even brought before the council.

Grewe-Powell and staffers also attempted to stop Equestrian Media Group from filming upon arrival at the October 26th public meeting– claiming we had to comply with the posted media policy that was on a sign-in table.

When asked for clarification, as the policy was listed as being discussed and possibly adopted by the council, Grewe-Powell claimed the policy didn’t need the council’s approval.

That claim was caught on camera by Equestrian Media Group’s cameraman, who started recording even before the meeting started after staff members were attempting to prevent our recording of the public meeting.

The legal complaint against the OSFC and Grewe-Powell also details a law that requires that matters of public policy be approved and adopted by the council.

ORS 565.470 reads that: “The council shall determine and approve policies and procedures to further the mission and purposes of the council and shall provide oversight and guidance to the state fair director and employees of the council.”

The policy was not adopted despite a motion– instead being tabled to seek input from professional news media organizations, which never happened, according to omissions in OSFC’s own meeting minutes.

The lawsuit also addresses allegations of violations of the OPML and breaches by Grewe-Powell of laws concerning financial reporting requirements she’s responsible for. Those issues only began in December, the next public meeting after Equestrian Media Group began attending and recording the body’s public meetings in October 2023.

Equestrian Media Group alleged in a public records petition with the Marion County District Attorney’s Office that the Oregon State Fair Council and one of its attorneys, Elliott Field of Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C., of intentionally causing repeated “frustration” and delay that violated timelines and notice requirements related to public records requests.

Part of the allegations of intentional frustration included repeated failures to provide records in their normal electronic format, including “.eml” email formats. Instead, records were often provided by printing and simply copying into PDF files, including phone log records, which could have been provided in electronic spreadsheets as the agency had done earlier in 2023 when seeking records concerning PNW Horse Sales.

The production method also allowed the OSFC to prevent connecting which emails the file attachments were connected to, including which users and when they were sent or received.

Oregon’s records law generally requires public bodies to provide data in an electronic medium when available. Follow-up requests for the data in electronic forms have been repeatedly ignored by Field, resulting in an ongoing request for facilitated dispute resolution from the Oregon Public Records Advocate.

Late last month, Field eventually provided some of the requested phone log records for Director Powell, but the records were only for February 2024, which was not even part of the timeline that had been ordered.

Equestrian Media Group also alleged to the Oregon Public Records Advocate that the OSFC continuely delayed producing public records for months and failed to provide updates concerning those requests.

Field and the OSFC have responded in reasonable timeframes when providing records specifically focused on PNW Horse Sales and not their own internal affairs.

Field and the OSFC have continued to be cagey about phone records requested from Grewe-Powell’s official and personal phones, although they eventually admitted in the course of a petition process with the district attorney that Grewe-Powell did, in fact, use a personal phone in the course of official business while simultaneously claiming that Grewe-Powell and other officials spent over ten hours attempting to get AT&T to produce records.

Field claimed on behalf of Grewe-Powell that AT&T would not produce the records, which this publication alleged as a misleading claim supported only by a short transcript of an online chat between Grewe-Powell and AT&T officials. Equestrian Media Group pointed out that it appeared the AT&T support agent only meant the records could not be provided “here” via the online chat system while having provided instructions to Grewe-Powell on how to access those records.

Despite that interaction in early December of 2023, which was the last effort made to obtain the records at the time, Field and the OSFC did not provide any updates until further pushback by this reporter over a month later.

Around the same time, in early December, Field finally provided phone records for the agency’s operations supervisor, Michael Legoretta, but made unnecessary redactions not covered by exemptions under the public records law.

Equestrian Media Group promptly pointed out that the redactions were made in white, which made it difficult to notice that there were redactions at all. Field later provided the records again without the redactions.

Records thus far already reveal a pattern of State Fair officials using personal devices when communicating with other staff using official devices. Other logs showed that Legoretta also forwarded media content via text, including content sent on September 9th during this publication altercation with OSFC staff and PNW Horse Sales, to his personal phone that is not issued by the agency.

The matter now raises questions concerning the OSFC’s compliance with public records retention laws. Such requirements and the use of personal devices received intense scrutiny after the scandal involving former Gov. John Kitzhaber and his girlfriend, Cylvia Hayes.

The issue also resulted in legal action against the Oregonian stemming from investigative reporting by seasoned reporter Nick Budnick. The action was Hayes’ effort to block an order from the Oregon DOJ requiring the release of public records from Hayes’ personal email and devices.

Hayes was ultimately ordered by a court to release many of the records being sought by the Oregonian.

Since the filing of the lawsuit against the OSFC and Grewe-Powell, the OSFC has also appeared to expand on its efforts to avoid public transparency. The OSFC, in accordance with the required practice under the meetings law and its own standard practice, would release a meeting notice and agenda for public meetings on its website.

Despite a meeting set for two days from now, the OSFC has yet to publish any agenda that details the subject matters to be discussed during the meeting, as required. The OSFC would normally publish its agenda the week before the meeting.

The OSFC has also failed to publish the minutes of its January public meeting and the special meeting on February 23rd that it held to correct inaccurate meeting minutes and properly adopt the policy. Only the agenda packets were available for the last two meetings.

According to the Oregon Public Meetings Law, the agency must produce these meeting minutes, even if in draft form, and post them online for public review. The OSFC previously provided draft meeting minutes on its websites, at least until increased scrutiny and news media attention in recent months.

This publication also called into question the last-minute notice, which was provided by Field, of the OSFC’s special meeting. An email was sent to this reporter only 5 hours prior to the meeting. The meeting also didn’t state the meeting was not in person, resulting in our cameraman being unable to access the meeting in person at the fairgrounds.

The notices indicated the meeting was in person and on Zoom.

Despite the meeting only being available by Zoom, Grewe-Powell and two other unknown officials who were not identified in the video were together at an undisclosed location believed to be at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.

The OSFC’s next meeting is set for March 21st at 1:30 pm in Columbia Hall at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. It is open to the public. Remote attendance information has yet to be provided as it is typically included in the agenda packet for the meeting.

Grewe-Powell, Berger, and the OSFC as a body has ignored numerous requests for comment when informed of pending publication.

If you want to support our efforts surrounding public records issues, you can donate to our Public Records & Legal Fund by clicking here. We appreciate your help as we continue to provide our publication at no cost behind any paywalls. You can make a general donation by clicking here instead.

Equestrian outfitting guide life-flighted after horse riding injury on Oregon coast

Miranda Rodriguez
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Equestrian outfitting guide life-flighted after horse riding injury on Oregon coast
Rescue crews with the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District load an injured equestrian onto a Life Flight helicopter at the Pacific City Airport on March 18th, 2024. (Photo Courtesy – Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District)

Pacific City, Ore. – A young woman with an equestrian outfitter company was airlifted by Life Flight Network following a reported horseback riding injury on Monday in the small town of Pacific City in Tillamook County.

According to HelenFay Maze, a spokesperson at the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District, no additional information was immediately available as the crew handling the scene is now off duty for the next week.

While there was no information regarding any injury or rescue involving the horses, Maze did reveal that their agency is also trained in the Technical Large Animal Rescue offered by the Oregon Horse Council.

The NRFPD’s Facebook post reported a “horse riding accident” taking place at the Bob Straub State Park and the patient being transferred to Life Flight at the Pacific City State Airport.

Crews were assisted with ground transport to the airport by an ambulance from Adventist Health Tillamook.

A post made on Facebook by Morgan DeLain stated her sister is “currently stable at the hospital.” DeLain also thanked first responders.

Equestrian Media Group confirmed that DeLain is the sister of Mahaley “Mo” Rogers, 23, who is also listed as an owner of Mo’s Beach & Trail Rides.

Mahaley was one of several former employees of Green Acres Beach & Trail Rides, another Pacific City equestrian outfitter company facing ongoing allegations of horse neglect.

Rogers was one of multiple former employees and others who alleged a number of legal issues by the company and its owners last year.

The owners of Green Acres are embattled with state officials from numerous agencies on issues of illegal child labor and avoiding workers’ compensation insurance, resulting in a $119,000 fine late last year which is still unpaid.

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Labor and Industries declined to provide records, citing exemptions to release due to an ongoing investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice into the company and its owners.

Equestrian Media Group could not determine if Rogers was injured while conducting equestrian outfitting for customers, an activity overseen by the Oregon State Marine Board through a licensing process.

Additional details regarding the accident were not immediately available. We will update this story if we learn more. Remember that we depend on reader tips in order to cover these breaking news stories.

Felony indictment on 41 counts unveiled against woman with ongoing woes from horse neglect conviction

Justin Alderman
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Felony indictment on 41 counts unveiled against woman with ongoing woes from horse neglect conviction
A booking photo of Raina Ott from 2020 was released by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office following her past conviction for neglecting horses. On the right is the heading of the recent 41-count indictment brought against Ott by a grand jury in Lane County, Oregon.

Eugene, Ore. – An Oregon woman who has already been facing increasing legal woes from criminal charges has now been indicted by a Lane County grand jury of 41 additional criminal counts ranging from felony animal neglect, theft of property, identify theft, and more probation violations.

Raina McKenzie Ott, 24, was indicated on Tuesday in one of her newer criminal cases, which initially only included a single misdemeanor charge of animal neglect.

That case and a separate case of four counts of theft in connection with a Coastal Farm & Ranch Store are in addition to ongoing probation violations from Ott’s conviction in a 2020 case on multiple counts of neglecting horses.

Ott and her mother, Erica Ott, were initially charged and then convicted years ago for their role in a high-profile case involving over 60 horses primarily neglected by Gwenyth Davies.

Since that time, Ott has faced years of repeated probation violations, ultimately leading to her facing over a month in jail last year.

The forty-one counts listed in the criminal indictment revealed on Tuesday included:

  • 16 counts of Identify Theft
  • 5 counts of Theft in the First Degree
  • 12 counts of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree
  • 6 counts of Animal Neglect in the First Degree
  • 2 counts of a Brand Inspection Violation

Days before the indictment against Ott was revealed, a warrant was issued for her arrest after failing to appear for arraignments in both of the new cases.

Sergeant Tim Wallace, a public information officer for the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, also confirmed that Ott was not cooperating further, as previously indicated in a press release a week prior, but that the “case is still being actively investigated…”

When asked about efforts in attempting to apprehend Ott; as well as Davies, who also has an outstanding warrant since September of 2023 for her own alleged probation violations, Wallace stated they were aware of the warrants.

“Our patrol staff is aware of Ott’s misdemeanor warrant, and the neglect case is still being actively investigated,” said Wallace.

“Davies is believed to have fled the state, and we have conflicting leads on where she may be.”

Questions raised about involvement by livestock auctions

The new charges have also been part of increasing allegations being raised against multiple livestock auction companies for facilitating sales of livestock to Ott, some of which go as far as alleging that one of the auctions allowed Ott to conduct the transactions under an alias matching charges in her indictment.

In late January, the owner of the Lebanon Auction Yard, Lezlie Cowart, sent an unsolicited message on social media to Darla Clark, who is the Executive Director of Strawberry Mountain Mustangs, a 501(c)(3) horse rescue organization.

Cowart introduced herself to Clark and said she was, “trying to reach Raina Ott about some paperwork,” going on to ask if Clark had any contact information for Ott.

“I can look. Can you tell me what it’s for?” replied Clark.

Cowart responded by saying: “No”

Clark then responded with a message suggesting (albeit somewhat facetiously) that Cowart reach out to Senior Assistant Attorney General Jacob Kamins who has been handling Ott’s cases as a special prosecutor for Lane County.

“Ok, so I would reach out to Jake Kamins. I’m pretty sure he has a good way to contact her. I’ll copy his number to you below.”

When sharing these messages, Clark told Equestrian Media Group that she was immediately suspicious concerning why this auction would need to transact papers with Ott while not understanding why Cowart chose to reach out to her via social media in the first place.

Clark also suspected that Cowart was likely aware of Ott’s situation due to the widespread media attention from NW Horse Report and other local news publications, which Cowart later confirmed.

Equestrian Media Group then spoke with Cowart at the Lebanon Auction Yard and asked if she was looking for Ott and if she had purchased an animal from them.

While confirming that she was indeed looking for Ott, she would not confirm or deny if Ott had purchased an animal.

“Well, we’re just looking for some paperwork information,” remarked Cowart.

Cowart also confirmed that they were aware of Ott’s probation and restrictions and eventually admitted that Ott was handling a purchase for Wade Ott, her father.

“We’re looking for her for some paperwork issues, so I’m not really sure how much information I’m free to divulge to you, but they were actually purchased for Wade [Ott],” Cowart also said.

Equestrian Media Group then asked Cowart why Ott would be allowed to conduct transactions for others. Cowart’s response avoided the question, instead responding by asking why Equestrian Media Group was calling about Ott in the first place.

This publication explained that Ott had been the subject of repeated public interest surrounding her ongoing criminal charges and alleged probation violations.

“This is not much of public interest, had nothing to do with horses, we’re dealing with it– with our issue– in-house, and so there is not any news article to it at the moment.”

Cowart was then asked why the company would engage with Ott if they knew about Ott’s legal prohibitions.

“It’s a public livestock auction; anyone who wants to walk through the doors can do so,” said Cowart.

When pressed further about the papers and Ott’s involvement with the purchase of cattle, Cowart said she had no further comment. Equestrian Media Group contacted Cowart at the Lebanon Auction Yard again just before this story was published, but she declined to comment further except to say she was happy to hear about Ott’s indictment.

It was not immediately clear if any of the new charges against Ott were tied to any incident involving the Lebanon Auction Yard.

Additional allegations made to Equestrian Media Group involving another auction company recently surfaced in late February and are still being investigated and under editorial review.

Those allegations also pointed to auction officials with another company knowingly submitting false sale reports to the Oregon Department of Agriculture for Ott under her alias sometime in 2023 after having previously transacted business with the same company immediately before under her actual name.

Ott is scheduled to be arraigned on the slew of new felony charges on March 19th in Lane County Circuit Court. Her previous probation violation hearing and mini-trial, originally scheduled on March 11th, was rescheduled for April 1st at 10 am.

This is a developing story you can count on us to keep you updated on.

DA pleads down Mustang horse trainer’s criminal neglect and abandonment charges to single violation

Justin Alderman
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DA pleads down Mustang horse trainer’s criminal neglect and abandonment charges to single violation

Hillsboro, Ore. – A former BLM Mustang horse trainer from Oregon received a sudden and unexpected sentence last week in one of her two criminal cases that involved a total of fourteen misdemeanor charges for animal neglect and abandonment.

Horse advocates are now expressing their disappointment over the plea deal prosecutors with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office handling one of the two cases gave the defendant.

In April, Michael Jean Wells, 48, who also goes by “Mickie”, allegedly neglected her horses before abandoning them at multiple horse boarding facilities. Boarders at a boarding facility outside of Colton in Clackamas County tipped off investigators with the Oregon Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement team to the situation.

That investigation, which resulted in the seizure of four horses, then led to the discovery that Wells had abandoned previously neglected horses at another facility located in Washington County. That then prompted another round of charges, also for neglect and abandonment.

According to past statements by Oregon Humane Society spokesperson Laura Klink, Sound Equine Options assisted agents in taking custody of the horses after obtaining and executing a warrant in May of 2023.

The cases faced repeated delays caused by Wells, including questions regarding her claims of retaining private legal counsel despite later having to be appointed a court-appointed attorney. She also failed to appear at other hearings, leading to warrants issued for her arrest.

Equestrian Media Group and news partner Pamplin Media Group have continued to provide updated coverage over the last year as Wells’ cases moved through the courts.

“While we are grateful that Ms. Wells has been banned from owning horses for 5 years and that the horses were forfeited, we are very disappointed that she was able to make a plea agreement that did not include at least one misdemeanor charge for animal neglect in the second degree,” said Sound Equine Options’ Executive Director Kim Mosiman.

“We often see people convicted of animal neglect re-offend. This makes it important for neglect charges to be on the record so that any additional convictions are likely to result in tougher sentencing.”

Mosiman detailed their work supporting the Oregon Humane Society (OHS), whose Humane Law Enforcement team was the lead agency investigating Wells’ cases.

“In addition to caring for horses from this case for over 9 months, we have also been caring for 4 horses owned by Ms. Wells that were seized in Clackamas County. Those horses came under our care on March 7th, 2023. We are hoping for more accountability on the Clackamas County Case,” said Mosiman.

James Jacobus, an OHS spokesperson, told Equestrian Media Group: “[The] Oregon Humane Society is grateful that this case has been resolved and that the horses can move on to their new homes.”

Despite a slew of specific questions sent to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office concerning their handling of the case, Public Information Officer Stephen Mayer provided the following statement to Equestrian Media Group:

“Our goal with this prosecution was to ensure the safety of these horses. We feel that the resolution of this case accomplished that goal. With her conviction, Ms. Wells forfeited the horses that were endangered in this case. She is also now prohibited by statute from owning any horses for a period of five years. Additionally, Ms. Wells was ordered to reimburse the Oregon Humane Society more than $13,000 spent on the care of the animals.”

Mayer did not address whether the assistance from Senior Assistant Attorney General Jacob Kamins– the State’s Animal Abuse Resource Prosecutor– had been offered or requested. Kamins is currently handling similar charges against Wells on behalf of the Clackamas County District Attorney, a case which is still ongoing.

Several proponents who had been following the case reached out to Equestrian Media Group and expressed that they thought the terms for Wells were ultimately poorly written compared to similar cases, especially since the prohibition only stated that she was prohibited from ownership and not from being in the care, custody, or control of horses.

She was also surprised to learn about the entire judgment from Equestrian Media Group and not from prosecutors, considering their involvement in the case and pending requests to testify at forfeiture hearings, which had been repeatedly delayed.

Mayer also did not explain the alleged lack of communication from Deputy District Attorney Trevor Farrell.

Wells is scheduled to return to Clackamas County Circuit Court on March 25th at 1:30 p.m. for a mini-trial concerning the forfeiture of the four horses seized in that case. A six-person jury trial is also scheduled for April 16th.

You can count on NW Horse Report to keep you updated on this ongoing story.

Equestrian proponent and current Ms. Oregon pushing for bill to update anti-stalking laws

Justin Alderman
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Equestrian proponent and current Ms. Oregon pushing for bill to update anti-stalking laws
2024 International Ms. Oregon, Amber Rosenberry, showed off her equestrian roots by revealing her boots during the organization’s event in 2023. (Photo Courtesy – Amber Rosenberry)

Portland, Ore. – Victims of stalking are pushing for a new Oregon bill that would revamp what they say is the State’s outdated anti-stalking laws. That includes Amber Rosenberry, the current International Ms. Oregon, who has also been a lifelong equestrian and horse advocate.

In a move to combat stalking, Rosenberry has taken the lead in supporting Oregon House Bill 4156. The bi-partisan legislation aims to provide stronger protections for victims of stalking and empower law enforcement agencies to address and prevent such crimes effectively.

Equestrian Media Group had also caught up just months ago with Rosenberry when she advocated for equestrian proponents calling for changes by the Chehalem Parks & Recreation District to protect riders on horseback using longtime horse trails.

Stalking, a form of harassment that often goes unnoticed or unaddressed, can have severe and lasting impacts on its victims. From incessant phone calls and messages to physical surveillance and intimidation, stalkers instill fear and anxiety, infringing upon the victim’s sense of safety and security.

According to proponents, stalking has often been difficult to prosecute, with existing laws falling short of adequately addressing the complexities of these cases.

Recognizing the urgent need for action, Ms. Oregon has made it her mission to champion the cause of anti-stalking legislation under Oregon House Bill 4156. She is drawing upon her own experiences involving an ex-boyfriend who was initially charged in 2019 with coercion, identity theft, and stalking.

“My family slept in shifts, we had someone awake at all times to keep watch and check every car on the road around me and getting off at the wrong exit and driving through parking lots to make sure I wasn’t being followed. I had a lot of concerns,” said Rosenberry in 2021 during an interview with KOIN News 6.

Equestrian Media Group spoke again with Rosenberry this week, who explained her ongoing efforts and calls to Oregonians to reach out to their legislators to express their support for these changes, believing that many in the community have a friend or family member who has been the victim of some degree at stalking.

At the heart of the proposed legislation are provisions to strengthen the legal framework surrounding stalking offenses. One key aspect is the expansion of what constitutes stalking behavior, encompassing not only physical acts but also cyberstalking and online harassment. By broadening the definition, the bill seeks to close existing loopholes and ensure that all forms of stalking are adequately addressed under the law.

Currently, the law makes stalking only a misdemeanor crime. In contrast, many laws typically support degrees that are both misdemeanor and felony level, depending on the severity and repeating nature of the crime. HB 4156 seeks to change the law to provide for both misdemeanor and felony-level charges.

According to Rosenberry, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men are victims of stalking.

Moreover, HB 4156 proposes enhancements to penalties for stalking offenses. By imposing stricter consequences, including longer prison sentences and fines, the legislation aims to deter potential perpetrators and provide a measure of justice for victims.

The bill would increase penalties for the crimes of stalking and violating a court’s stalking protective order in certain circumstances. Punishes by a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both. If the bill was to pass, it would become effective July 1st.

Amber Rosenberry has been an equestrian and avid rider since a young age. (Photo Courtesy – Amber Rosenberry)

Ms. Oregon went on to outline how part of this process to bring change also involves changes in training for law enforcement to ensure that different investigators with both front-line and technical backgrounds are working cohesively and expediently in a way that recognizes the dangers that stalking victims face– especially after they come forward in court for restraining orders.

“So they will treat sending an email or text messages as stalking, but what I was finding is someone was hacking my accounts, and while that is a crime its not part of the stalking laws,” Rosenberry explained.

“It’d then mean it was a totally different group of detectives or investigators, folks who don’t understand the timeliness of protecting a victim. Any form of location tracking doesn’t count as stalking because that technology didn’t exist like it does today in the 90’s.”

Ms. Oregon’s advocacy efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she has garnered widespread support from lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the general public. Her impassioned speeches and tireless lobbying have helped propel HB 4156 forward, garnering bipartisan backing and momentum for its passage.

“It’s been extraordinary; before we even formally launched the bill, 33 representatives in the house had signaled their support for change,” said Rosenberry.

However, Rosenberry said that the road to enacting meaningful change has not been without its challenges.

Despite the bill’s merits, it faces opposition from some quarters, citing concerns about privacy rights and the potential for abuse of power. Opponents are allegedly having backdoor conversations with Oregon legislators handling the bill in committee despite public testimony already being held.

Rosenberry also explained that she hoped her efforts to use her current platform would increase citizen involvement in the legislative process– as well as bring further support for HB 4156

“If the positive that comes out of this is that more people became aware, paid more attention, and got involved in speaking out to their representatives, then I will feel very accomplished. I’ll feel even more accomplished if this bill goes through.”

As the debate over HB 4156 continues, one thing remains clear: Ms. Oregon’s unwavering commitment to changing Oregon’s anti-stalking laws has been instrumental in driving progress forward.

For information on Oregon’s current legislative session, you can visit https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/

Oregon woman faces new charges for animal neglect and theft, amid probation violations in horse neglect case

Justin Alderman
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Oregon woman faces new charges for animal neglect and theft, amid probation violations in horse neglect case

Update on 2/28/24 at 8:31pm – Additional details were added to this story following a press release from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office about a follow-up incident that took place on 2/23/24 that involved the seizure of further animals and even further pending charges against Ott. Ott also failed to appear for her arraignment on the morning of 2/28, resulting in bench warrants being issued for Ott in both of her new cases.

Eugene, Ore. – An Oregon woman already embroiled in probation violations from a 2019 horse neglect case near Eugene, Oregon, is now facing new charges for animal neglect as well as theft from a Coastal Farm & Ranch store.

Equestrian Media Group reported on Ott’s third round of alleged probation violations just days ago.

Raina McKenzie Ott, 24, was recently arrested in early February on a warrant for the third round of alleged probation violations stemming from her conviction tied to one of Oregon’s worst and largest horse neglect cases in recent memory.

The original case was centered around Gwenyth Davies, a former friend and associate of Ott, and recieved some national media attention and coverage from the Associated Press. Ott had originally painted herself as a victim of Davies while criticizing law enforcement agencies and non-profit horse rescue officials in a video interview with KEZI 9 News. Ott’s mother, Erica Ott, was also charged and convicted and has faced her own alleged probation violations.

On Friday, Senior Deputy Attorney General Jacob Kamins, serving as a special prosecutor for the Lane County District Attorney, filed the new charges in two separate cases against Ott.

The court documents revealed that Ott’s arrest in early February was also tied to the four counts of second-degree theft.

Ott allegedly engaged in a string of thefts from the Coastal Farm & Ranch store in Eugene on four separate occasions through July and August 2023. The first incident is reported to have occurred on July 7th, 2023, only about a week after Ott was released after serving a month in county jail for earlier probation violations.

Court documents appear to corroborate the earlier reports and statements made to Equestrian Media Group by sources last summer– including by a store employee who was not authorized to speak to the media and was provided anonymity.

Those sources at the time alleged Ott had been trespassed from the store for manipulating barcodes to ring up lower prices tied to the wrong items.

The store’s general manager, Tina Bartram, had confirmed that Ott was trespassed from the store. She said their store only successfully identified Ott after she was escorted away, thanks partly to past reporting and photographs from Equestrian Media Group involving Ott.

Additional questions involving the incident were directed to Coastal’s corporate office, which has never responded to any requests from this publication on this or other stories.

A probable cause affidavit filed in Ott’s new theft case also alleges that Ott revealed her past 2018 theft at a local Walmart. Ott was charged with a felony count of theft in the first degree.

According to the documents obtained by Equestrian Media Group, Ott’s new charge for animal neglect involves discoveries made the same day Ott was arrested for the numerous probation violations and the new theft charges.

An affidavit from Stacy Manning, an animal welfare officer with Lane County Animal Services, stated that on February 1st of this year, she arrived at the Hwy 58 property where Ott resided to check on the welfare of the animals owned by Raina and Wade Ott.

Manning reports finding a dog named JoJo in a small dog kennel inside a tack room with “a strong ammonia order and feces on the floor.”

She went on further to detail in her report that the dog had a serious front leg injury: ” ‘JoJo’s’ front leg was bent underneath itself. When I asked Raina Ott about the dogs, she advised me that ‘JoJo’ and ‘Ukiah’ belong to her sister, Shae, and that ‘JoJo’ had been taken to a vet. When I asked [Ott] which vet clinic ‘JoJo’ was taken to, [Ott] advised me she did not know.”

Manning’s statement then explains she spoke with Ott’s sister, Shae, by phone. “Shae advised me she did not own any of the dogs and that ‘JoJo’ and ‘Ukiah’ belong to Raina. Shea also stated that she herself had not taken any dogs to a vet.”

Ott’s brother had also allegedly told Manning that the dogs belonged to Raina. Ott is currently prohibited under the terms of her existing probation stemming from her conviction for horse neglect of possessing or caring for any equine or other domestic animals.

According to Manning’s report, she impounded JoJo under an ordinance violation for neglect. She took the animal to an emergency veterinary hospital for immediate care, where a veterinarian determined the dog’s leg needed to be amputated. Shortly after JoJo was transferred to the Greenhill Humane Society.

The report went on to detail findings by another veterinarian at Greenhill: “Dr. Schroeder inspected the dog and on February 2, 2024, advised me that ‘JoJo’ had chronic scarring on leg due to disuse [sic] due to the old injury and had a malodorous dirty coat consistent with long-standing unsanitary living conditions. Dr. Schroeder advised that Greenhill Humane Society would amputate the leg once custody of a dog is decided.”

Ott appeared to have been released promptly after her arrest. She is scheduled for arraignment on February 28th at 8:30 am. A mini-trial and hearing on Ott’s alleged probation violations in her past case is scheduled for March 11th at 10:00 am. Both are set at the Lane County Circuit Court in downtown Eugene.

Raina Ott is pictured yelling unintelligibly at a reporter taking photos of a property that doubled as an equine facility outside Eugene from a public roadway in late April 2023. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

No attempts to contact Ott were made due to a previous altercation in which Ott falsely alleged this reporter was trespassing in response to taking photos from a public highway interviewing an elderly neighbor. According to police who responded, Ott demanded no further contact by this publication.

The incident last year also sparked an illegal detention by Deputy Bradly May of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, resulting in a complaint by Equestrian Media Group, prompting an internal investigation, the results of which the Sheriff’s Office would not release even after self-admitted delays in response.

Following the initial publication, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office released a statement regarding another incident at Ott’s Hwy 58 residence, corroborating earlier allegations made to Equestrian Media Group of dead cattle on the property.

The statement read:

“On Friday, Deputies responded with Lane County Animal Services to an address in the 34400 block of Highway 58.  LCAS had received complaints of malnourished animals from area residents.  The owner of the animals, Raina McKenzie Ott, was known to be on probation from a 2020 conviction for 11 counts of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree in which she was sentenced to 60 months of probation.  While LCAS typically does initial contact on animal neglect cases, LCSO assisted due to the likely probation violation and criminal neglect of the animals.  

Deputies contacted Ott at the residence and discovered several malnourished cows and emaciated companion animals living in deplorable conditions.  Several decomposing cow carcasses were also found.  LCAS rehoused the companion animals and is working with Ott to remove the remaining cows from the property.  Possession of the cows and companion animals was in violation of her probation as well.  

Ott was cited in lieu of custody for Animal Neglect in the First Degree, Animal Neglect in the Second Degree, and Contempt of Court. “

Ott also failed to attend the earlier mentioned arraignment hearing on February 28th for her newer cases. A bench warrant has been issued for her arrest.

This is a developing story you can count on us to keep you updated on.

Please help us continue our non-paywall news access and investigative journalism, which requires significant battles related to public records. You can donate to our Public Records & Legal Fund by clicking here.

Attorney for equestrian staffer charged with sex abuse trying to bar news media access with misleading claims

Justin Alderman
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Attorney for equestrian staffer charged with sex abuse trying to bar news media access with misleading claims
Harrison Brown, 26, appeared on Feb 15th, 2024, during a case management hearing in the Clackamas County Circuit Court. Brown is charged with four felony counts of sex abuse involving a then-minor. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

Oregon City, Ore. – An attorney representing the now former staffer and alleged romantic partner of a professional horse trainer, Jill McGrady, wants journalists restricted after also making false statements to question media “objectivity” to convince the court to limit media access which is expressly allowed by court rules.

Harrison Joseph Brown, 26, was indicted by a Clackamas County grand jury in October on four felony counts of sex abuse involving a minor and arrested days after turning himself into authorities. The alleged then-minor victim, Kaylyn McGrady, now 21, is the estranged daughter of professional horse trainer Jill McGrady, who operated Quiet Rein Riding School and was the founder of the non-profit Leg Up Northwest, both of which are now shuttered.

The younger McGrady gave an exclusive interview to Equestrian Media Group in April of 2023, where she and her attorney, Russel Prince, detailed how she had initially tried to report the alleged conduct to her mother, who failed to report the incident to authorities.

Brown was permanently suspended by the US Center for SafeSport in August of 2023 following a year-long investigation into the allegations after McGrady opened up to investigators in the summer of 2022.

During a case management hearing on February 15th, Brown’s attorney, Shannon Kmetic, raised concern with the judge allowing Equestrian Media Group’s freelance reporter Raymond Rendleman to film the proceedings. A video of the incident is available by clicking here.

Rendleman is also a seasoned local reporter and current editor for multiple publications of Pamplin Media Group, including Oregon City News & the Milwaukie Review. Rendleman indicated that Kmetic is familiar with who he is.

The concern raised by Kmetic followed Brown’s family members’ objections to the media access, prompting a sheriff’s deputy to intervene and attempt to stop the filming. Judge Katherine Weber quickly intervened to stop the deputy, stating she had granted permission for reporters to record.

Immediately after the Judge made clear the recording was permitted, Kmetic alleged that this publication’s reporters had caused “commotion” and safety concerns for Mr. Brown on prior occasions.

“Judge, my concern– I understand that the court has the purview to allow that– unfortunately, these individuals have caused some commotion outside the courtroom on prior occasions, so I’m very concerned about their objectivity as it relates to these proceedings,” Kmetic told the court.

Harrison Brown appeared with his attorney, Shannon Kmetic (left), during a court hearing on Feb 15th, 2024. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)

However, reporters with this publication or Pamplin Media Group had never attended any past hearings in Brown’s case.

Kmetic promptly tried walking back her statements in emails with Equestrian Media Group, claiming she was not being specific about the conduct of any journalists but was referring to other individuals.

“If you report that, it would be inaccurate. I said individuals associated with this case, which is absolutely true.  If you make statements like you indicated, they would be in error,” wrote Kmetic.

However, it was pointed out to Kmetic that her remarks were made in direct response to the issue of the media access request, which the Judge granted pursuant to court and constitutional rules that allow such access.

Kmetic also clearly said she had concerns about “objectivity,” which this publication and Rendleman believed left little doubt that it was targeted at news media in an effort to convince the court to stifle future access.

This reporter, on behalf of Equestrian Media Group, stated to Kmetic in part:

“We intend to report that your allegations are blatantly false, as neither myself, freelance reporter Raymond Rendleman or any of our other staff or freelance reporters have even attended any court hearings for your client’s case at any time until today, and no reporter affiliated with this publication has been involved in any [commotion] that you implied to the court.”

This reporter also stated, “…I hope your intent is not to provide false or misleading statements in an attempt to have the court stifle journalists’ freedom of press rights through such allegations.”

Kmetic promptly responded, saying: “If you were recording, it was without court permission.  I am not going to debate with you.”

However, a court clerk confirmed before that Equestrian Media Group had approval from the court before the proceedings. Judge Weber had also established as much during the proceeding while Rendleman was clearly recording.

Kmetic went on in an attempt to intimidate this reporter from the publication of her emailed statements.

“You do not have permission to publish any of my statements. And again [sic] you do not have an order to do what you did [sic] which I intend to raise with the Court. It will not be permitted in any capacity moving forward.”

Equestrian Media Group responded by contesting Kmetic’s implication that her permission was required to publish her statements.

“You should know we do not need your permission to publish your statements, whether they have been recorded or not. As an attorney, you should know we are protected by the 1st Amendment and Article 1, Section 8 of the Oregon Consitution.”

This publication’s response also said: “While you claim we will be prohibited, I’m sure the decision would be the courts as far as being prohibited from conducting media access of the courts pursuant to UTCR 3.180 and rights afforded by the Oregon Consitution on such matters. We will absolutely contest dubious efforts to restrict ourselves or any other media representatives from being prohibited from engaging in a constitutionally protected activity.”

Kmetic also went on to demand we no longer contact her and that she and her client would have no further statements.

In Oregon, Media access to the courts is generally required to be granted according to rights afforded under Article 1, Section 10, of the Oregon Consitution.

According to the Reporters Commitee for the Freedom of the Press, a determination was made by the 1987 Oregon Supreme Court in the case of Oregonian Publ’g Co. v. O’Leary, which is protection also separate from that provided by the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as affirmed in the 1980 case of Oregonian Publ’g Co. v. Deiz.

These cases have resulted in the adoption of Uniform Trial Court Rules by the Oregon trial courts that expressly provide for camera access by media representatives.

Equestrian Media Group quickly obtained the court audio from the Feb 15th hearing through public records, which further verified the statements made by Kmetic during the hearing.

While it was clear Kmetic attempted to tie reporters to the alleged conduct by other individuals outside the courthouse, no evidence or additional details about those allegations are known or could be confirmed.

Brown’s next court hearing is scheduled for March 18th at 8:30am at the Clackamas County Courthouse.

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