2005 Performers

Petaluma Junior Riding Club

The Petaluma Junior Riding Club (PJRC) was founded in 1947 and is one of the oldest junior riding clubs in the State of California. The PJRC mounted Drill Team performs their precision routine at local fairs and rodeos, and has competed in the Grand National Drill Challenge at the Cow Palace for the last three years. In October of 2004 they were named the Junior Drill Champions at the Cow Palace Grand National Rodeo winning the Junior and the Open Theme Divisions. The PJRC riders range in age from 10 to 18 years old and practice once a week, perfecting the drill maneuvers by working on speed, timing, and spacing. Other activities that are available to club members include riding in parades, trail rides, competitive penning, other cattle events, play-days, schooling shows, and good old-fashioned fun.

Starfire Drill Team- Opening Ceremony

Representing the Northern Bay Area of California is the StarFire Drill Team. The team was formed in 2003 with members from Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The members ages range from 16 to 40 something. Their practices are held weekly in Healdsburg and are members of the Russian River Riders Association. Many dedicated hours of practice and travel time, skill and teamwork makeup the StarFire's precision drill. Mounted on beautiful Paints and Quarter Horses the team proudly carries all American Flags. As the lively music plays, and outfitted in bright yellow, red and white the audience can easily share in the enthusiasm and excitement the team feels when performing their drill routine. The team has performed at local rodeos and horse shows with their main focus on drill team competitions. Last fall, the team placed 1st in the Senior Division at the Cow Palace Drill Challenge held during the Grand Nationals in San Francisco. The StarFire Drill Team is honored and excited to be opening the "Dressage in the Wine Country" event this year. It gives them great pleasure to share their Patriotic spirit and love for our country as they proudly enter in to the National Anthem. To learn more about the team, their members and their generous sponsors please visit www.starfiredrillteam.com


Heidi Gaian- Freestyle
USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist
USEF "r" Dressage Judge
Successfully competed more than 20 horses at all levels, including 8 FEI horses (PSG through Grand Prix)
Currently competing 2 Grand Prix horses

Liz Hendrix
Liz Hendrix DWC 2003
FEI Freestyle with Liz Hendrix

Liz Hedrix has been riding from a young age, and has earned Gold, Silver and Bronze medals from the United States Dressage Federation. Liz is currently certified by the USDF through 4th level, and spent four months training in Germany with Conrad Schumacher. Her students have earned numerous regional and national titles.

Tambourine Vaulters

Vaulting is the sport of gymnastics on a moving horse. Vaulting dates back to the Greek and Roman Empires. Used for cavalry training, it was a skill vital for survival. The exercise became more stylized as the combatants entered the gymnasium. Today vaulting is an art form and competitive sport that develops balance and coordination, courage and confidence.
More than any other horse discipline; vaulting provides a thorough practiced knowledge of safety on a moving horse. By learning proper vaultoff and soft landings from every position, chances of injury in other disciplines lessens.
Competitive vaulting is both an individual and team sport. Team vaulting involves a choreographed routine with up to three participants on the horse at a time. Individual competition is judged on 6 compulsory excersises. Vaulters practice moves initially on a barrel fitted with handles to gain confidence and improve skills. From a simple riding seat on a barrel, to more advanced moves on a horse, vaulter’s courage continues to build.
The Tambourine Vaulters would like to thank Dressage in the Wine Country for the opportunity to perform again this year.
For further information about our vaulting club we can be reached at 707 665-9281 , 707 481-5282 or 707 953-8821

Ruben Villasenor- HORSEMEN'S WESTERN DRESSAGE

Ruben Villaseñor trains out of his facility in Benton City, WA. He also travels throughout the country as a clinician and performing and promoting Horsemen’s Western Dressage (HWD). Ruben began riding at the age of 3 and is a natural horseman. His father and grandfather were renowned horsemen in Mexico; admired for their training and riding skills. Ruben’s goal as a trainer is to share his knowledge with others so that horse and rider may fully enjoy their life together. He uses training methods that work to develop a solid foundation for horse and rider; allowing both to go into any equine discipline. If you want to learn more, move forward and get great results, then HWD can help you. For more information, a schedule of clinics, events and products for sale go to www.horsemenswesterndressage.com.

Carole Mercer Driving demonstration

Sharon Marshall- Int. II Freestyle

Leslie Rosenburg- Reining Freestyle

Foxfield Equestrian Team http://www.foxfield.com

The first featured equestrian performers in the history of the Olympic Games, the Foxfield Equestrian Team has been thrilling audiences for more than thirty years.

Sixteen young riders gallop their horses through an elaborate drill routine that includes jumps, pirouettes, and more -- all without the aid of saddles, stirrups, bits or bridles.

Riding bareback, each team member guides her horse using only her natural aids -- weight, legs and voice -- and a delicate band of wire looped around the base of her horse's neck. In addition to a rousing drill team performance, several of the riders offer individual routines in which they demonstrate Olympic-level dressage movements, soar over grand-prix-sized fences, even jump standing up.

Saddlebred and Peruvian Paso Demonstratons

THE PERUVIAN PASO IN NORTH AMERICA The Peruvian Paso horse, in a few short years, has gained tremendous recognition and popularity in the United States. They are in use for show, pleasure, trail, endurance and parade riding. Breeders in this country have already exported horses to Europe, Australia, the Orient and Canada. Owners have an important part in the future of this breed and are not merely statistic. They also have the privilege of preserving a unique breed which could never be duplicated. The gait of the Peruvian Paso horse is a broken pace which gives the rider neither the vertical movement of the trot nor the lateral motion of the pace. It is undoubtedly the smoothest ride in the horse world. Another “trademark” characteristic of the Peruvian Paso horse is the “termino” or the outward rolling of the front limb during extension. This showy action gives the Peruvian Paso horse the appearance of always being “on parade” and is also completely natural due to selective breeding. It is not a wing or paddle and originates in the shoulder giving the horse the ability to swing the leg forward with minimum vertical force. The disposition of the Peruvian Paso horse is probably his most appealing virtue although the smooth gait is probably more renown.

Petaluma Riding & Driving Senior Drill Team

The Petaluma Riding & Driving Club was formed in 1939 as a place for local enthusiasts to share their enjoyment of horses, both amongst themselves and with the community. The club hosts a number of activities including cattle events, horse shows, gymkhanas, trail riding and community events such as our Annual Fair Kick Off Breakfast.

The Senior drill team began in the early years of PRDC and has recently enjoyed a resurgence of activity. Last year they performed at several events in the Marin and Sonoma county areas. They ended the year at the Cow Palace Grand National Drill competition with a second place in both the Precision and Rodeo Drill categories. The team has 14 dedicated members who will show off their talent and hard work this year at the Petaluma Butter N’ Eggs Day Parade, the California State Horsemen’s Association Drill Competition in Turlock, CA and the Western States Equestrian Drill Team Association competitions in Reno, NV and Santa Rosa, CA.

PRDC would like to recognize the tremendous community support for the Senior Drill:
Provident Real Estate, Pacific Hardwood Cabinetry, Arena Feed, Wine Country Supply, Moylan’s Brewery & Restaurant, Papenhausen’s Horse Cover-ups, Wal-Mart in Rohnert Park, Saitone’s Trailers, The Dog Designer-Pat Arendell, Darryl & Merri Pomi, and Kathy Mitchell.

The Petaluma Senior Drill Team is looking forward to performing for the enthusiastic crowd at Dressage in the Wine Country for the second year.

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