By VALERIE ANSELL
Special to Hernando Sun
What started as a casual conversation ended up with the “Saddle Sisters” equestrian Drill team being formed.
Debbie Benedict and Shawn Roetschke were talking one afternoon about their rodeo experiences and how it would be nice to have a local equestrian drill team. An equestrian drill team is a group of horses and riders performing choreographed maneuvers to music. Debbie mentioned it to Valerie Ansell, and the next thing they knew, practice was being called. The “Saddle Sisters,” as the group of ladies aged 56 to 77 call themselves, hasn’t stopped since.
Talk about dedication; the ladies have been practicing twice a week for almost two months. Some members needed more riding instruction, so they met even more. All of this is under the direction of Shawn, who has a vast amount of riding experience, including trick riding.
The “Saddle Sisters” practice and are sponsored by Head and Heel Ranch.
A simple conversation took nine trail riders and made them into an equestrian drill team. They will be performing on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30, prior to the start of the Florida Agriculture and Wildlife Expo Rodeo, which will be held at 8132 Croom Rital Road, Brooksville. More information and tickets can be found at www.fawe.org
