A Remarkable Celebration of Youth Horsemanship by the Largest Precision Drill Riding Organization in the World
For anyone who understands horses, the scale of Westernaires Horsecapades is difficult to appreciate until you see it firsthand.
Hundreds of horses. Hundreds of young riders. Approximately 20 acts. Multiple riding disciplines and specialty performances. Precision drill riding performed at scale. Trick riding. Chariot driving. Grand Entry maneuvers involving 300 horses and riders in the arena.
But beneath the spectacle is something even more compelling: horsemanship developed over years.
Westernaires riders begin as novices and progress through an organization built around learning, responsibility, practice, teamwork, and partnership with horses.
Most of our young members do not own horses of their own. Westernaires maintains a rental herd of 200 horses, ponies, and draft animals, providing riders the opportunity to learn genuine horsemanship and progress into increasingly demanding riding disciplines.
Horsecapades showcases that development.
Audiences will see the world-famous Varsity Big Red Team, the highly skilled Freedom Riders trick riding team, specialty acts including charioteers, liberty riding, precision drill teams, and a variety of equestrian performances rarely assembled together in a single program.
The Firelight Finale combines the Varsity Big Red Team's precision riding with LED-lit costumes and dramatic lighting effects, creating one of the weekend's signature moments.
Westernaires is the largest centralized youth horsemanship and precision drill riding organization in the world, with 1,000 young participants each year.
Its purpose, however, extends well beyond performance.
Westernaires does not treat horsemanship simply as performance. Riders learn that skill in the saddle depends upon responsibility outside it -- caring for horses, understanding their behavior, developing judgment, working within a team, and earning greater responsibility over time.
Horsecapades is also the organization's annual fundraiser. Ticket proceeds help provide veterinary care, farrier services, feed and supplements, tack, transportation, facilities, costumes, equipment, and the substantial infrastructure required to provide year-round horsemanship opportunities.
3 Performances:
Saturday, Oct. 17
10:30 AM Preshow | 11:00 AM Horsecapades Grand Entry
3:30 PM Preshow | 4:00 PM Horsecapades Grand Entry
Sunday, Oct. 18
1:30 PM Preshow | 2:00 PM Horsecapades Grand Entry
Advance ticket purchase is recommended.