Equestrian Drill Teams

An equestrian drill team is a group of horses and riders performing choreographed maneuvers to music. Teams typically perform at rodeos, horse fairs, parades, benefits, and drill team competitions. Drill teams are intended to entertain, show sportsmanship, horsemanship, team work and dedication. Competition drill at the national level is a controlled ride and has continuous forward motion. Some competition venues have set up special divisions of competition to provide for novice, rodeo, youth, gaited and special effects (as allowed at the venue) such as theme and drama. Theme drill provides a division that allows teams to showcase their uniforms, horse ability, music and inclusions of trick riding or other variations.
Members must have a uniform appearance, including outfits, hats, tack, and flags (if used). Horses should be of the same type, e.g. stock type, gaited, or miniature, however matching horse colors or breeds are at the team’s discretion. Teams can range in size from four horses (Quad team) to 20 plus horses.
At competitions, a drill team is judged on ability, including spacing and alignment, timing and coordination, originality, difficulty, and attractiveness of patterns, speed, horsemanship, uniformity, manners of the animals, music, and crowd appeal. Categories can include Novice, Youth, 4-H, Gaited, Theme, Rodeo, Quad, or Open.
 
The Thrill of the Drill is a wonderful experience. You get to ride at fast paces and maybe even carry a flag. You meet new people and learn a lot. Drill teams help create a stronger bond between the horse and rider as well as learning to work with others in a team. This group is for horsemen and women who are on a Drill team or plan to become on a Drill team.
 
In drill, there are several different manuvers a team can do. Thankfully, the Western States Equestrian Drill Team Assoc. has put a descriptive booklet togther of different moves. http://www.wsedta.org/Drill%20Maneuvers%20Descriptions%20&%20Diagrams%20rev08.09.pdf
 
Here are some examples of what Equestrian Drill Teams can do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zQz8p7Jfyo -- The Canadian Valley Rangerettes, a regular Rodeo Drill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Og-btywBE -- Prime Time Express, a Theme Drill
 
Here is the United States Equestrian Drill Assoc. Website: http://useda.us/
United States Equestrian Drill Competition: http://www.superride.us/
Here is a list of Team Assoc. contact numbers from across the U.S.: http://www.drill-fever.com/Equestrian_Drill_Team_Assoc.html
 
"It's not the type of trailer, saddle, tack, or clothes you have, but the bond between you and your horse."
 
http://useda.us/

There aren't many drill teams that use English tack. The ones that do are usually gaited. I think it would be cool to see more English style drill teams, maybe throw in a few dressage moves or something! The English would deffinately stand out from all the Western teams! So, in reality, it doesn't matter if you ride Western or English for drill. It's just the time, effort and love put in to it.
 
Here is a book with some drill exercises and manuevers which can help when forming a drill and/or warming up: http://horsebooksetc.com/products/101_Drill_Team_Exercises_for_Horse_Rider-798-63.html