Many of the top equestrian drill teams in the southern United States are competing this week at Super Ride VIII, the United States Equestrian Drill Championship. The competition is sponsored and hosted by Lindale, TX, a small city east of Dallas.
Equestrian Drill is a team sport that requires careful precision and many hours of practice. Riders must be able to control their horses’ speed while being aware of the other horses on the team to stay in formation. Drill teams can have as few as four horses or as many as 20. Any breed, including grade horses, can compete in drill as long as they can remain focused and obedient while working very closely with other horses.
Watch video from Super Ride IV, the 20006 Championships
Drill teams are noted for uniformity, typically sporting matching attire, including saddle pads and other tack embellishments. Teams are usually matched based on the type of horse, such as stock-type or gaited breeds. In competition, drill teams are judged on their timing and coordination, originality, horsemanship, and crowd appeal.
This year, Super Ride VIII will be streaming some competition highlights online. Watch live coverage of the United States Equestrian Drill Championship (USEDC) Ride of Champions beginning at 7:30 pm Eastern Time on Friday, June 25. Coverage continues with the Open Division National Drill Championship on Saturday, June 26 at 5:15 pm Eastern Time. Bookmark this page to watch the live streaming below, or visit superride.us
Live streaming video by Ustream
For successful saddle fitting, it is as important to address the dynamic stability of the rider as it is the…
Economically speaking, 2023 was a less than banner year for most Americans, and charitable organizations that rely on public donations…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
After growing up horsey, Nancy still held on to her identity as a “horse girl” even when she hadn’t ridden…
Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 29, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated…
The nurse mare industry has been a source of controversy over the years, but practices are changing—meaning a better outlook…
View Comments
That was fun to watch. Looks hard but fun. Too bad the camera angle was so close that we couldn't see the patterns.