Equestrian Drill Team is an event where riders and their horses perform a synchronized pattern to music, requiring both leadership and teamwork to be successful. Riders and their horses wear coordinated outfits and tack, creating a pattern synchronized to music that includes many maneuvers at various speeds to keep the crowd entertained. There are multiple divisions for drill teams, each designated by the number of riders participating and the duration of their pattern.
Four 4-H members from the Sunnyside club recently formed the first Washington County drill team. They competed in the limited short division, which allows two to four youth to ride in a pattern set to a single song that is two to four minutes long. They chose their music, "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus, and constructed a pattern to fit. They reached out to Kristen Leko and Jennifer Torning, who have both previously ridden and coached drill teams, to help them. Practicing is important to learn the pattern and work out the timing for maneuvers. Most practices are held on horseback, but occasionally, trailering horses together gets tricky, so practicing on foot is done too.
The drill team is made up of four girls who have a love for horses and all horse-related activities.
Norah Leyde (15) has been riding since she was about five years old and has really enjoyed trying many different aspects of horse-related activities. She’s been riding her horse, Stevi, for almost two years and thought drill team would be something new and interesting to try.
Addison (14) and Aubrey (13) Strohfus are sisters from Denmark Township. Addison will be a freshman this coming fall at Hastings Senior High School, and Aubrey will start eighth grade at Hastings Middle School. The girls have been showing horses since they were about two years old in lead line classes with their parents, John and Jeanie, at the Minnesota Palomino Horse Shows. They joined the 4-H horse program when they were in 5th (Addison) and 4th (Aubrey) grades. The duo enjoys being active in their 4-H club, Sunnyside. 4-H has been a great way to teach the kids leadership skills and social skills, and it has encouraged them to try new activities.
Dannielle Filler (12) is going into seventh grade at Hastings Middle School. She likes competing in all of the 4-H horse classes that are offered but really enjoys drill because of the team aspect. Each summer, she looks forward to going to the Washington County 4-H horse camp, and this summer, she also attended the 4-H Drill Team Camp in Brainerd for a week. She loves taking advantage of all that 4-H has to offer.
The group competed at the regional competition on Saturday, July 27th, at Kuka Equestrian Center in Maple Plain, MN. They earned a blue ribbon and a spot to compete once more at the 4-H State Horse Show on September 14th at the state fairgrounds.