GENOA, Ill. — Circle K-D Trail Riders hosted its first-ever horse drill team competition and lunch on Sunday, July 9 at the club’s arena near Genoa. About 250 riders and spectators participated in the event.

Equestrians turned the art of riding and a love of horses into a dance. Costumed riders and horses worked as one to make synchronized moves and music come alive. Nine teams participated in the competition. The teams were Four Square Walking, Elkhorn, Wis.; Kettle Moraine Rough Riders, Dousman, Wis.; Hidden Acres, Elgin; Timmermann’s Ranch & Saddle Shop, Island Lake; Kettle Moraine Easy Riders, Dousman, Wis. and Tumbleweed Wranglers, Garden Prairie.

The three youth teams were Hoofbeats, DeKalb County 4-H Drill Team; Ogle County 4-H Drill Team and Sizzlin’ Hot Equestrian Drill Team, Will County 4-H. The total number of riders on all the teams numbered 76. Many of these teams not only compete in drill team competitions, but also perform at rodeos, host demonstrations, participate in parades and present flags at specific events.

First place in the open division was awarded to Timmermann’s Ranch & Saddle Shop. Second place went to Kettle Moraine Rough Riders. Third place was presented to Four Square Walking. First place in the youth division was awarded to Ogle County 4-H. Second place honor went to Sizzlin’ Hot. Third place was presented to Hoofbeats.

The judges for the competition were Wayne and Pat Williams, and Bill McCormick, all of Whitewater, Wis. The competition was judged on entertainment, which includes such things as costumes and grooming, overall uniformity, music, choreography, difficulty of the routine, theme and overall entertainment value.

It was also judged on equitation, which includes the spacing of the horses, correctness of transitions and gaits, attitude and behavior of the horses, riders’ position, speed and difficulty of the moves, uniformity of the moves, roundness of circles, etc.

Riders and horses were dressed in costumes and their flags soared in the wind. The horses on each team represented a variety of breeds, sizes and colors. There were Appaloosas, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Paints and more. The riders ranged in age from 12-72.

Circle KD members also served a steak sandwich dinner cooked by the DeKalb-Kane Cattleman’s Assoc. A silent auction helped raise funds for the club’s grounds improvement projects.

The club thanked the businesses that donated items: Tom & Jerry’s of Sycamore, DeKalb Implement of Sycamore, MJs Hair at Last Salon & Spa of DeKalb, Merry Maids of Sycamore, Dairy Queen Brazier of DeKalb, Merlin Muffler & Brake of DeKalb, Sweet Dream Desserts of Sycamore, Sycamore Family Sports Center of Sycamore, Blackberry Station Country Store of Elburn, Ralph’s Full Service Car Wash of Sycamore, Farm & Fleet of Sycamore, Dolce Vita Salon of Sycamore, Beach Club of Sycamore, Studio One of DeKalb, Johnny’s Charhouse of Syca-more, Bodyworks of Sycamore, Powell’s Car Wash of Huntley, Dorothy Decker of Genoa, Genoa Pizza of Genoa, Marengo Feed & Seed of Marengo, Reflections Hair Salon of Genoa, Fabrizius Farm of Maple Park, Johnson Photography of DeKalb, The Nut House of DeKalb and Blanchard’s Western Store of Genoa.

Browns’ County Market, Resource Bank and Al Browne Chevrolet, sponsored the event. Circle K-D Trail Riders host weekly play nights at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the summer at their arena on Moose Range Road. The club will host a Fun Show on Sept. 10 and a Halloween Fun Show on Oct. 15.

For details on the club’s activities, call Linda Odom at 815-784-2645 or visit www.circlekd.org

This farm news was published in the August 23, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.