Horse Illustrated Magazine

The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championships (USEDC), known as Super Ride VI, run June 24 through 28, at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, Texas, and the competition is heating up.

This year the event is being highlighted by the inaugural USEDC Ride of Champions, Friday evening, June 27, and the USEDC National Open Drill Championship, Saturday evening, June 28.

The USEDC Ride of Champions showcases USEDC Open Division National Champions, Reserve Champions and Second Runners Up from the past five years in a special ride-off. Qualified teams include: Latigo N Lace (Washington State), the Rebel Riders (Texas), the Easy Riders (Missouri), the Matagorda County Thundering Hooves (Texas), Stars N Steeds (Missouri), the Visalia Rockettes (California), the Cowgirl Express Rodeo Drill Team (Ohio), the Bellville Heritage Cowgirls (Texas), the Canadian Valley Rangerettes (Oklahoma) and the Ghostriders Precision Drill Team (Texas).

The Ride of Champions will be contested under a special set of rules (teams not to carry flags) and will be judged by a nationally recognized panel.

The USEDC National Open Drill Championship features America’s best mounted drill teams vying for top honors and an invitation to the 2009 Ride of Champions. “We’ve changed the format a bit, to showcase our national championship as a first class sports spectacular,” says Gary Bonner, executive director of the United States Equestrian Drill Association and coordinator of the Super Ride.

Returning to Canton to defend their 2007 National Open Drill Championship will be the popular Canadian Valley Rangerettes. With three top-three finishes to date, the 2004 National Open Drill Champion Matagorda County Thundering Hooves lead all teams in national championship success. Not to be ignored in a sport where the style and technical excellence of teams from the West Coast has had a far ranging influence are the 2003 National Champion Latigo N Lace, and the 2005 Champion Visalia Rockettes. The 2006 Champion Cowgirl Express Rodeo Drill Team is also expected to challenge for the top honors in the USEDC Ride of Champions.

Other competitive divisions at Super Ride VI feature mounted color guard teams, a rodeo speed drill team category and classes open to youth, novice and challenged riders.

For more information, visit www.superride.us.