BUTLER TWP— Since the Butler High athletic program already offers lacrosse and rifle, along with mainstream sports, why not equestrian?

Lauren Holmes, an elementary school teacher at Northwest, Oakland and Center Avenue schools in the Butler district, posed such a question to the school board last fall.

"The support I received was fantastic," Holmes said. "We posted some flyers, had an organizational meeting and put together a team."

Butler's equestrian team — the sport consisting of showing horses in a competitive format — organized in December and began practice three weeks ago.

The team has 12 riding members and two nonriding members. About 30 girls showed up for the initial meeting.

The squad is open to boys and girls, but no males are currently on the team.

"I expect this will grow once the word gets out and we get involved in some competitions,"Holmes said.

Equestrian isn't exactly commonplace in the high school ranks. Washington County has a team, as do Erie and Tyrone. Butler competes in Zone 2 with teams from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

Holmes coached the Washington County team, based in Canonsburg, before relocating to the Butler area. She competed for the University of Pittsburgh's equestrian team and helped coach there briefly.

"The district is always open to new activities the kids are interested in,"Butler athletic director Curt Phillips said. "And Lauren didn't just walk in and request we start an equestrian team.

"She had a detailed presentation ready to go. She was extremely organized. Basically, her program was ready to go. All we had to do was give the OK."

Holmes works and rides for Culver Training Stables in Fombell, which is where her team practices.

"Riders don't need to provide their own horse in equestrian,"Holmes said. "The hosting team of an event provides the horses.

"Horses are assigned by random draw at a competition, so it's up to the rider to work with the horse. Having a team through the school district makes the sport more accessible for other kids."

Brian Ivory, a Butler senior whose father is a blacksmith, is a member of the team.

"I'm excited that Miss Holmes is doing this,"Ivory said. "I'm learning better horse skills and it's a chance to compete against kids my own age."

Also a member of Butler's rifle team for three years, Ivory plans to participate in equestrian in college.

Carissa Chilcott, a seventh grader, was the lone Butler equestrian team member to compete in the school's first official meet, held recently at the Linden Hill Boarding School in Lancaster.

Chilcott placed second in fences and third in flat work.

"They do jumping over fences and have the horse walk, trot and canter in flat work,"her mother, Shirley Chilcott, said. "I'm impressed by how much Carissa has already picked up.

"At least three other (Butler) students will compete in our next show (Sunday in Tyrone). Our team actually got started in midseason this year. The equestrian season begins in September."

Equestrian season runs 12 weeks during the fall and 12 weeks during the spring.

Holmes said Butler competes in English-style equestrian as opposed to Western style.

"English is more refined, more traditional," she said. "Western is a bit more rodeo-style, there's barrel jumping, you have a saddle ... It's more common."

Holmes said her program will get into more Western style next year, when she has a full season to work with.

"I'm sure that will attract more riders. I'm excited about what this can become," she said.