Liberty County 4-H Drill Team Sweeps The Competition

LIBERTY, July 30, 2010 - The wind swept the ominous thunderclouds out of the rain drenched skies of Abilene just in time for the Liberty County Rebel Riders to sweep the Drill Team and Precision Riding competitions at the Texas State 4-H Horse Show in Abilene, July 26th through the 28th. The judges, impressed by the team’s skill in technical maneuvers, gave the team rave reviews for their loping two-track and circular side-passes.

The team travelled to Abilene for the competitions after winning both the theme drill and precision riding competitions at their District Horse Show in Katy, Texas in June. The Rebel Riders also won the National Theme Drill Championship at the Nationals Competition in Tyler, Texas where they competed against 17 other teams. Nationals does not offer a Precision Riding Competition. Their Quadrille team, ‘The Quatro Chix’, won the National Reserve Championship with their performance. The members of the quadrille team, Harley Gray, Kacie Hughes, Morgan Selman, and Taylor Copenhaver had never competed in a quadrille before and took it upon themselves to write their own drill. Way to go girls! Liberty County’s junior team, ‘The Lone Star Riders’ had an equally impressive year placing 3rd at District ahead of all other junior teams and one senior team in both competitions and at State Competition placing 4th in Precision Riding putting them ahead of two senior teams and all the other junior teams making them the unofficial Junior State Champions in Precision Riding. What an outstanding season for the Liberty County Drill Team

At the Theme Drill Competition on July 26th the Rebel Riders, riding to excerpts from the motion picture soundtrack of ‘Mary Poppins’, swirled into the arena in a sea of turquoise, bustled, satin dresses and Victorian tea hats in their rendition of a Victorian era Carousel.

Their horses looking like they had just pranced off the carousel deck were decorated with garlands of roses, embroidered breast collar pieces, and topped off with fans for their manes fashioned with roses and sequins. Exiting the arena to the catchy tune, ‘Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang’, they proved to be worthy mounts for these elegant equestrian ladies. The Lone Star Riders also took us back to a bygone era as they rode into the arena to the motion picture soundtracks from the classic westerns of yesteryear. The ladies were a picture of beauty in their satin ruffled dresses embellished with sequins and their elegant tresses accessorized with feathers. Their legendary cowboys rode at their sides in black hats, black chaps, six-guns, and satin-yoked western shirts embellished with fringe.

The Liberty County 4-H Mounted Drill Team, who ride under the direction of Tommy Small, Tammie Turner, and Rex Robertson, would like to thank the many sponsors who gave so generously to make it possible for their teams to travel and be a part of these competitions. Without you it would not be possible to provide the uniforms and entry fees required to compete at this level. May God bless you for your hearts of commitment to our youth.
Members of the ‘Rebel Riders’ team are: Lauren Barham, Taylor Copenhaver, Katy Curry, Emalee Diehl, Julie Dryden, Hannah Duty, Harley Gray, Kacie Hughes, Kerry Jamison, Paula Miller, Chelsea Robertson, Morgan Selman, Amber Slater, Bobbie Turner, Jenna Turner, and Kylie Turner.

Members of the ‘Lone Star Riders’ team are: Cheyenne Bass, Tayler Brister, Bobbi Ann Carroll, Jodee Crane, Hope Kennedy, Annie McKelroy, Lauren Mohn, Kaylee Shirley, Robert Simons, Dakota Thornton, Christina Tinkle, and Chandel Tayler.