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Understanding the Different Diamond D Cowgirls Teams
Dear Parents and Riders,
We have redesigned our drill team program to put more emphasis on developing both the horse and rider’s overall skills and techniques. As the program has grown over the years, the riders’ levels continue to advance, while our school horses are continuing to age. The majority of our herd is in their late teens or early twenties.
Competitive Level Horse Lease
We strive to give our school horses the best possible care, from customized diets and supplements, corrective shoeing, routine dental treatments, regular massage and bodywork, and, of course, in the instance that one is injured or needs specific joint care and treatment, they will receive whatever is needed for their recovery. Just as the more you drive a car, the more maintenance it requires, the situation is similar with horse care. The more they are worked, especially those in high level performance sports such as competition drill team, the more maintenance they require, in order to continue at that level. In order to support the horses in competition, there will be an additional fee to lease a Dabney School horse for competitive level teams. This will insure that you have a horse to ride during practices and performances. The lease only includes drill practices and performances and there may be times that the horse is also used on another team therefore some riders may have to share a horse at shows with another team. Each teams coach will pair riders with a Dabney School horse based on skills and team level. We try to maintain consistent horse and rider pairs by mid season so long as the horse is sound and able to perform at that level. Any rider who regularly brings her own horse, but may need to rent a horse for a practice or performance, will incur a one-time rental fee of $50.
Team Fee Payment Options
This season we will be offering the option of paying a one time fee for the entire season. Some have requested this way of payment in the past in order to not have to think about a monthly payment. We will also have the option of setting up an automatic monthly withdrawal. This will reduce the number of monthly invoices sent out and insure that all payments are made on time.
Team Communication
In order to streamline communication and provide a timely response to inquiries, we ask that you email questions or comments to info@dabneyridingacademy.com. Lily Sumner has been a member of our Professional drill team for 7 years and I have invited her to join our administrative and coaching staff this season. She will be keeping track of payment records and handling all email correspondence.
Loping Level Descriptions:
Beginner lope- Rider can perform a lope with little to no assistance from the instructor and maintain the lope for a minimum of 5-10 strides on a straight line displaying good control and can stop their horse within a couple of strides.
Intermediate lope- Rider can ask specifically for a lope on both leads as well as determine which lead the horse is on by feel. Rider can maintain a lope for a minimum of one lap of the arena while displaying control through the different speeds of a lope (slow, medium, fast).
Advanced Lope- Rider can ask specifically for a lope on both leads as well as determine which lead the horse is on by feel. Rider can maintain a lope for a minimum of one lap of the arena while displaying control through the different speeds of a lope (slow, medium, fast). Rider can maintain a lope through turns of various degrees, asking for lead changes all while neck reining (only one hand on the rein.)
Show Descriptions:
Fall Showcase- This is our end of the season show where riders invite their friends and family to Dabney Riding Academy for a chance to display their routines to music. There will be an additional $15 show fee per rider for teams performing in the Fall Showcase.
Dabney Fun Show- This is a new show that will be hosted at Dabney Riding Academy. Similar to most fun shows there will be many different competitive classes the riders can enter such as barrel racing, pole bending, arena race and more! Only riders on the JV and Jewel teams are allowed to ride Dabney School horses for the show. All other riders who choose to enter the show are required to ride a personal horse. There will be a separate entry fee per rider, per class entered. More information to come!
Competition- Drill Team competitions are a 3 day weekend event usually 2-4 hours away from Dabney Riding Academy. Horses will be stalled on location of the competition and riders are fully responsible for feeding, cleaning and caring for their horse’s needs throughout the course of the show. Parents are responsible for booking their own hotel/camping accommodations for the duration of the show. Competition show fees can range from $150-$200 per rider per competition (price varies depending on entry fees).
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Competition Drill Teams
Elite: Lope with Flags (Ages 14-25) Practice on Mondays at 5:00pm
-Audition:
No audition, invitation only based on previous performances, riding skills, attitude and work ethic.
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot and lope by yourself while maintaining good control of the horse’s speed and direction. Advanced lope level required.
Personal Horse and transportation to practices and shows or lease a Dabney school horse for an additional monthly fee of $160 per month.
Riders should have black chaps, black felt hat, black bling belt, white bling belt and flag boot for performances.
Minimum of two season on the Varsity Team
-Performance:
The Elite team will perform at 1-2 competitions per season, our Fall Showcase and 1 local show performance.
-Pricing:
$200 per month or one payment of $600 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
Additional $160 per month for riders leasing a Dabney School horse or one payment of $480 for the season.
$150-$200 per rider per competition (price varies depending on entry fees).
$30-$80 for Theme costume
Varsity: Lope with Flags (Ages 10-19) Practice on Tuesdays at 5:00pm
-Audition:
Trot a provided drill routine in an assigned group plus perform an individual lope pattern with flag
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot and lope by yourself while maintaining good control of the horse’s speed and direction. Intermediate lope level required.
Personal Horse and transportation to practices and shows or lease a Dabney school horse for an additional monthly fee of $160 per month.
Riders should have black chaps, black felt hat, black bling belt and flag boot for performances.
Minimum of one season on the All star Team, although two seasons are highly suggested.
-Performance:
The Varsity team will perform at 1 competition per season and our Fall Showcase.
-Pricing:
$200 per month or one payment of $600 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
Additional $160 per month for riders leasing a Dabney School horse or one payment of $480 for the season.
$150-$200 per rider per competition (price varies depending on entry fees).
$30-$80 for Theme costume
All Star: Trot/Lope (Ages 10-19) Practice on Thursdays at 5:00pm
-Audition:
Trot a provided drill routine in an assigned group
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot and lope by yourself while maintaining good control of horse’s speed and direction. Intermediate lope level required.
Personal Horse and transportation to practices and shows or lease a Dabney school horse for an additional monthly fee of $160 per month.
Riders should have black Chaps, black felt hat, black bling belt and flag boot for performances.
Minimum of one season on the JV Team
*This level team will begin intro to flags during practices but will not be performing with flags.
-Performance:
The All Star team will perform at 1 competition per season and our Fall Showcase. This level team will begin intro to flags during practices but will not be performing with flags.
-Pricing:
$200 per month or one payment of $600 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
Additional $160 per month for riders leasing a Dabney School horse or one payment of $480 for the season.
$150-$200 per rider per competition (price varies depending on entry fees).
$30-$80 for Theme costume
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Non Competition Drill Teams
Jewel Team: Trot/lope (Ages 10-25): Practice day TBD
*The Jewel team is designed for riders who want to spend a season developing their personal riding skills or those who have a horse who they would like to train and develop into a drill team horse that matches the riders drill team level. This team will be a group setting focused on sharpening and advancing individual skills in riders and horses. Along with drill team training, riders and horses will learn flag carriage, classical maneuvers, obstacle course skills and techniques for participating in our Fall Dabney Fun show such as barrels, pole bending and other arena games.
-Audition:
Trot tryout with group displaying riders personal skills (speed transitions, side pass, turns, etc)
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot and lope by yourself while maintaining good control of the horse’s speed and direction. Beginner lope level required. Riders can bring their personal horse or ride a Dabney school horse.
-Performance:
The Jewel team will perform and participate in our Fall Dabney Fun Show as well as our Fall Showcase.
-Pricing:
$200 per month or one payment of $600 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
JV Team: Trot/Beginner lope (Ages 6-16): Practice on Tuesdays at 5:00pm
-Audition:
Trot tryout with group displaying the rider’s personal skills (speed transitions, side pass, turns, etc)
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot by yourself and have good control of the horse’s speed and direction.
Beginner lope level required.
-Performance:
The JV team will perform and participate in our Fall Dabney Fun Show and our Fall Showcase.
-Pricing:
$200 per month or one payment of $600 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
Jr. JV Team: Walk/Trot (Ages 5- 12): 2 Saturdays per month 11:30 - 1:00 PM
-Audition:
Trot tryout with group displaying the rider’s personal skills (speed transitions, side pass, turns, etc)
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot by yourself and have good control of the horse’s speed and direction.
-Performance:
The Jr. JV team will perform in our Fall Showcase.
-Pricing:
$100 per month or one payment of $300 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
Intro to Drill Team: Walk/Trot (Ages 5- 12): 2 Saturdays per month 1:00 - 2:30 PM
-Audition:
Rider evaluation in a scheduled Private Lesson
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot with little to no assistance and have good control of the horse’s speed and direction.
-Performance:
This level class is designed to act as a group lesson for young riders to begin learning the basics of drill team and riding together as a group while also continuing to work on growing their riding skills as individuals. This level class does not perform at any events. This takes the pressure off of the riders to learn and perform a specific routine and instead the riders can enjoy riding with their friends and learning new skills!
-Pricing:
$100 per month or one payment of $300 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
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Adult Drill Teams
Legacy Team: Trot/Lope with Flags: 2 Saturdays per month 10:00 - 11:30 AM
-Audition:
Trot a provided drill routine in an assigned group plus perform an individual lope pattern
-Requirements:
Personal Horse and transportation to practices and show or lease a Dabney school horse for an additional monthly fee of $80 per month.
-Performance:
The Legacy team will perform in our Fall Showcase.
-Pricing:
$100 per month or one payment of $300 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
Additional $80 per month for riders leasing a Dabney School horse or one payment of $240 for the season.
$30-$50 for Performance costume
Classical Skills Team: Trot/Lope: 2 Saturdays per month 10:00 - 11:30 AM
-Audition:
Trot tryout with group displaying rider’s personal skills (speed transitions, side pass, turns, etc)
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot without assistance and have good control of horses speed and direction.
-Performance:
The Legacy team will perform in our Fall Showcase.
-Pricing:
$100 per month or one payment of $300 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
Rusty Spurs Team: Trot: 2 Fridays per month 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
-Audition:
Trot tryout with group displaying rider’s personal skills (speed transitions, side pass, turns, etc)
-Requirements:
Must be able to trot without assistance and have good control of the horse’s speed and direction.
-Performance:
The Rusty Spurs team will perform in our Fall Showcase.
-Pricing:
$100 per month or one payment of $300 for the Fall season (12 weeks).
