Quadrille - What is it? Why do it?

Quadrille is most simply defined as team riding.  Riding as a team is great for green horses and riders and can get horses and riders used to showing without the high pressure of showing.  There are no qualifying requirements to show quadrille and no non-member fees.

If your quadrille team chooses to show there are tests ranging from basic through third level on the USDF website.  The quadrille teams in these tests will consist of four riders.  Each team will ride the same test and be compared against each other on cohesiveness and spacing (both longitudinally and laterally).  This is a more formal type of quadrille.

Many folks put together quadrille teams for exhibition.  These can be 4,6,8 or 12 members.  Many exhibition teams are more freestyle in nature and put to music.  These freestyle quadrilles are what we do at Hay River Equestrian.  We really try to make it fun and help our horses are riders get comfortable in a busier environment.

Our farm is putting on a 6 horse freestyle quadrille at the MN Equifest on 10-15 and 10-16.  I hope to see some of you there. 

Enjoy every ride every time!