3 minute read
Come Ride With Us
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com @DanvilleLivingCA #DanvilleLivingCA
By Joyce Bohn, Resident since 2018
The Cavallo Cowgirls is an equestrian drill team. The riders, young ladies from 14 to 24 years of age, are passionate about this sport. So if you love horses, ride Western, enjoy camaraderie – Come Ride With Us!
The team choreographed their Star Wars themed ride for the Cota Cup last May, and won first place!
The Cavallo Cowgirls Drill Team was founded in January of 2016 and delivers precise, fast paced performances to music at various drill team competitions. In addition, the team performs at shows, rodeos, and parades throughout the season. The riders have a desire to build a team that continues to perfect their abilities while having an incredible amount of fun.
In May, the Cavallo Cowgirls came to ride at the 2019 CSHA State Championships at Diamond Bar Arena in Ceres, CA. The ladies proved once again that they were there to compete, and win. Putting down 3 excellent rides during the weekend, the Cavallo Cowgirls took home 1st Place in the Theme competition, running a Star Wars themed ride on May the 4th (be with you!). Their subsequent long program and short program in the very competitive Mixed Division earned the team Reserve Champion status in the event.
And in July, the girls traveled to Southern California to compete in the California State Horseman’s Association (CSHA) Coto Cup competition at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. This year’s competition marks the second year that The Cavallo Cowgirls have participated in the annual event where they continued to solidify their presence as a young team competing against larger and more experienced teams. They performed two programs and earned a very respectable 3rd place overall in the Elite Division. The ladies scored the highest point total of all competitors in the freestyle program according to the CSHA Chairwoman, Jill Kraut.
One of the team’s best maneuvers is the pinwheel. They stay tight and go fast.
Team members are; Alexa, Ashley, Juliana, Ronnie, Sophia “Pie,” Sophia, Taylor, and Teaghen.
Participation in the drill team is not without some hard work and sacrifice. The riders spend countless hours practicing and collaborating on creative drill maneuvers. They all take care of their own horses and work together to raise the funds necessary to buy the costumes and equipment required to compete. They are supported by their parents and grandparents who assist with the logistics of practicing and performing. “It’s great to see the smiles on their faces when they have a good ride,” commented one parent. “The girls have really gained valuable experience and maturity though their participation,” says another.
The team is coached by Shauna Ketcham who has been the coach of the team since its inception 3 years ago. Shauna has been riding and showing drill for 5 years, riding with the Smoking Guns and Buckshot Beauties. In addition, she is the owner/trainer of Ketcham Quarter Horses and Paints in Livermore, CA located on the beautiful Circle J Ranch, specializing in AQHA and APHA all around horses. Shauna has been riding and showing her whole life and has worked and trained under Bruce Vickery, Chris Brown, and Scott Neuman in the AQHA world, just to name a few, and under Sumer Peioxto in the drill world.
The Assistant Coach is Samantha Turner. While she has only been with the team for a year, she has loved every second of it. She has been riding drill for four years, having started with the West Coast Cowgirls, then Smoking Guns and the Buckshot Beauties. Besides coaching drill, she competes in rodeo events. In 2015 she was Miss La Grange Rodeo Queen and traveled all over the state of California and Nevada.
The Cavallo Cowgirls
They are supported by Dave Colli who owns and operates the Cavallo Riding Center in Tracy, and various other sponsors. The team practices at CRC Ranch and is very grateful for their sponsors’ ongoing support. To try out for the team, contact:
Yvette Sharif
(209) 456-0505
www.cavallocowgirls.com
