CWU educator really makes horse sense

She legislates, she educates, she develops policy.

And, she's pretty adept in the saddle.

Ann Anderson of Ellensburg has just returned from the 2009 World Championship Appaloosa Show in Fort Worth, Texas, with two prizes -- a championship finish and a sixth-place award.

Anderson, who is director of government relations for Central Washington University, took the grand prize in Novice Western Horsemanship and sixth in Non-Pro Masters Western Horsemanship. She competed on her horse, Dayzee Weedo, in the Appaloosa show, which ran from Oct. 23-31.

When she isn't horsing around, Anderson, 58, is well known for her legislative and policy work.

A Republican, she served from 1986-1998 in the Washington state Senate, representing Whatcom County's 42nd District. Her leadership positions included Senate Majority Whip and Majority Caucus Chairwoman.

In Ellensburg, she co-chairs the government affairs committee for the Chamber of Commerce and is a moderator for the League of Women Voters.

Anderson holds bachelor and master of education degrees from Central and has received CWU's Distinguished Alumni Award.

And that's no horsefeathers.