About the Cariboo Cowgirls Drill Team
The Cariboo Cowgirls Drill Team performances are a series of patterns and manoeuvres that are choreographed into a full routine of horses and riders moving in precision motion, uniting as one with grace, movement and flow. The result is spectacular, filling the arena with a collage of color, motion, tempo ad excitement, creating a captivating visual landscape for audiences and spectators of all ages. Each performance promises an impressive and thrilling demonstration of skill and horsemanship.
Equestrian Drill Team has been described as a group of riders working in unison to create an "equine dance" on horseback which is often seen in rodeos, exhibitions or at horse related events. Unlike the slower line manoeuvre drills done in parades, the musical equine dance or drill routines are done at a canter or gallop and performed to a musical selection where an entire arena becomes the "dance floor" for several paired horse and rider couples. Precision drill routines can be done at a faster paced short program of 4 to 5 minutes or longer. Intricate programs can last up to 10 minutes in length - an "equine dance" on horseback. See the photo gallery and video archive for more!
The Cariboo Cowgirls offer various venues of professional performances: Rodeo Grand Entries, sponsor and association flag presentations, parades, intermission performances and event exhibitions. If you are interested in having a razzle dazzle, high-speed musical equine performance at your rodeo or event check out the events schedule and if you can find a time when we are available then send an email for more information.
The Cariboo Cowgirls Drill Team is a non profit organization. The original team was 'rounded up' in 2000, and later with the merger of another existing drill team, re-emerged as the Cariboo Cowgirls. All team members must have their own horse and transportation. Running precision drill, designing new manoeuvres and choreographing new routines is a never-ending learning process. Due to these conditions a rigorous, demanding drill season and schedule is mandatory.
Practices are twice weekly, lasting two hours per practice and continue for eight months of the year. This schedule keeps the horses and riders 'show ready'.
The Cariboo Cowgirls Drill Team was created by some ambitious riders at the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds & Williams Lake Trail Riders Facility in Williams Lake BC. This group of Cowgirl's was looking for personal satisfaction, entertainment and a way to create an organization that would draw together other individuals in the horse industry of similar nature and interests!
The Cariboo Cowgirls take pride in the history of the team and its members and the many contributions and individual accomplishments they have made over the years. The team feels they owe much to those teams that went before them, the ones that 'rode the drill', blazing the way for other drill teams and all the people who led and organized them.
The Williams Lake Stampede Grounds & The Williams Lake Trail Riders Facility in Williams Lake BC are the Cariboo Cowgirls home arenas. These associations unofficially sponsor the team by allowing them use of the arenas and access to arena grooming equipment for all their practices.
The Williams Lake Stampede is now one of Canada's largest professional rodeos. Immediately adjacent to the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds is the Williams Lake Trail Riders Facility, which provides an indoor and outdoor arena and a stabling facility for a variety of venues. These arenas and grounds are a vital part of their success and the Cariboo Cowgirls are proud to call them their home.