Highlights of this week's United States Equestrian Drill Championship (USEDC) will be available worldwide from this weekend on HorseGirlTV and SportsQuest.tv

Internet coverage will include interviews with competitors, judges and organizers and will present excerpts from a special performance by the United States Equestrian Drill Association All Star Team, as well as from the inaugural USEDC Ride of Champions and the 2008 USEDC National Open Drill Championship.

The event takes place Wednesday through Saturday at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, TX.

The USEDA All Star Team will feature top juniors and young riders drawn from teams participating in the 2008 National Championship.

The USEDC Ride of Champions will showcase USEDC Open Division National Champions, Reserve Champions and Second Runners-up from the past five years in a special ride-off on Friday evening, June 27.

The USEDC National Open Drill Championship will provide a dramatic climax to Super Ride VI on Saturday, June 28.

The United States Equestrian Drill Association is the national sanctioning body for Mounted Drill, Quadrille and Color Guard competitions.

HorseGirlTV is by an equestrian for equestrians and horse enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.

HorseGirlTV plugs the classic equine world into the wired generation. The show is hosted by Angelea Kelly Walkup. Website address: www.horsegirltv.com.

SportsQuest.tv is an interactive service of SportsQuest International, a privately held multimedia production company specializing in the development and promotion of sports related programming that presents positive, informationally rich themes.

The Texas Rose Horse Park is a 1,700 acre facility opened in 2006. The multi discipline venue features four permanent barns that can stable up to 400 horses.

Full details on the competition, sponsorship and merchandising opportunities are available upon request. Kindly contact the United States Equestrian Drill Association on 1-972-679-0770.

Organizers of Super Ride VI: The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championship (USEDC) have announced participants in the first United States Equestrian Drill Association (USEDA) All Star Team, and have launched an on-line contest for VIP seating at the event and other valuable prizes.

The USEDA All Star Team will feature top juniors and young riders drawn from teams participating in the 2008 National Championship. The event will be held June 25 – 28 at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, Texas.

The USEDA All Star Team will perform in the event's closing performance on Saturday evening, June 28th. The evening will also feature the 2008 USEDC National Open Drill Championship.

Riders selected for the 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Association (USEDA) All Star Team include:

• Sara Bass, Ghostriders Rodeo Drill Team, Texas
• Amy Murphree, Matagorda County Thundering Hooves, Texas
• Bri Self, Prime Time Express, Texas
• Britta Lubkeman, Midwest Renegades, IL
• Emma Weathers, Finisimo, Texas
• Anna Hagee, Finisimo, Texas
• Kylie Myers, Freedom Riders, Oklahoma
• Veronica Plant, Matagorda County Thundering Hooves, Texas
• Maci Jayroe, Ghostriders 4H Youth Team, Texas
• Kaitlyn Stewart, Freedom Riders, Oklahoma
• Ka'Lyn Green, Gerry Lane Youth Association, Louisiana
• Megan Rice, Canadian Valley Rangerettes, Oklahoma
• Alexandria Ryan, Rolling Thunder, Texas
• Stevie Jones, Silver Spurs, Texas
• Bethany Neal, Prime Time Express, Texas
• Jensen Ropp, Canadian Valley Rangerettes, Oklahoma
• Kalee Seidel, Rolling Thunder, Texas
• Colin Brock, Silver Spurs, Texas

Ray Smithey of the Matagorda County Thundering Hooves Drill Team will coach the 2008 USEDA All Star Team. He will be assisted by Lisa Lewis of Finisimo, as well as Kelly Jayroe and Pam Bonner of the Ghostriders organization.

Persons wishing to enter the contest are asked to visit: http://www.superride.us.

Entries in the USEDC Contest of Champions close on Sunday, June 22, 2008. Only one entry submission per person is allowed.

With a May 5th deadline for entries fast approaching, and stalls filling rapidly, organizers of Super Ride VI: The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championship are ecstatic about the quality and quantity of the entries received to-date.  Through April 29, a record eighty three (83) entries have been received in fifteen competitive divisions.

The event will be held June 24 – 28 at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, TX.

“The move to the Texas Rose Horse Park has already paid major dividends” says Gary Bonner, Executive Director of the United States Equestrian Drill Association and Coordinator of the Super Ride competition.  “Since announcing the new venue in early January, we have seen a dramatic increase in interest from within the drill community and from the general public.  This year's Super Ride will present mounted drill teams, quadrille and color guard units from around the country in a wonderfully well managed, easily accessible new facility.

“In these days of $4.00 a gallon gasoline, $75.00 baseball tickets and astronomically priced concert seating, the Super Ride offers an incredibly good value to individuals and families seeking first quality live entertainment.”

Led by the defending National Open Drill Champion Canadian Valley Rangerettes, from Oklahoma, the field for the 2008 Super Ride is highly competitive.  Entries have been received from throughout the country and include several teams who will be making their first appearance in the national championship.  Organizers have worked tirelessly throughout the past year to insure that the event is first rate in every respect.

“Sadly, there are a few individuals who, six years in, have failed to fully embrace the vision of a true national championship” says Bonner.  “Rather than engage them, we have chosen to move forward in building the sport and the Super Ride competitions - in a cooperative, all-inclusive spirit.  When they do finally choose to join us, we will welcome their support and active participation ”

The USEDC National Open Drill Championship will provide a dramatic climax to the Super Ride competitions on Saturday evening, June 28.   “We expect to see the best of the best, as most of the 'serious' contenders have made plans to be here” says Beth McEnturff, a member for the Ghostriders Precision Drill Team. “Interest in drill is growing both nationally and internationally, as more and more people see it as a safer, more collegial, more affordable path into the upper levels of equestrian competition.”

Anticipation is  growing as well for the inaugural USEDC Ride of Champions, a special competition that will showcase USEDC Open Division National Champions, Reserve Champions and Second Runners-up from the past five years in a special ride-off on Friday evening, June 27.

Qualified teams include: Latigo N Lace (Washington State), the Rebel Riders (Texas), the Easy Riders (Missouri), the Matagorda County Thundering Hooves (Texas), Stars N Steeds (Missouri), the Visalia Rockettes (California), the Cowgirl Express Rodeo Drill Team (Ohio), the Bellville Heritage Cowgirls (Texas), the Canadian Valley Rangerettes (Oklahoma) and the Ghostriders Precision Drill Team (Texas).

A perpetual trophy, The SportsQuest Cup, will be awarded annually to the winning team in USEDC Ride of Champions.

The United States Equestrian Drill Association is the national sanctioning body for Mounted Drill, Quadrille and Color Guard competitions.

The Texas Rose Horse Park is a 1,700 acre facility opened in 2006.  The multi discipline venue features four permanent barns that can stable up to 400 horses.

Video coverage of Super Ride VI: The United States Equestrian Drill Championship will be coordinated by SportsQuest International.

Full details on the competition, sponsorship and merchandising opportunities are available upon request.  Kindly contact the United States Equestrian Drill Association on 1-972-679-0770.

#

Super Ride VI: The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championship will benefit organizations sponsoring cancer research and support for victims of four all too common forms of the disease: Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Liver Cancer.

The championship will be held June 24 – 28 at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, Texas (USA).

Proceeds from the event will be donated to a coalition of organizations fighting cancer, including:

• Tough Enough to Wear Pink
• C-3 Colorectal Cancer Coalition
• YES
• National Coalition for Cancer Suvivorship (NCCS)

The United States Equestrian Drill Championship brings together mounted color guard and drill teams from throughout the United States. The 'Super Ride' is the showcase event of the United States Equestrian Drill Association and its sister organization the United States Equestrian Drill Competition – a registered charity.

The event will be highlighted by the inaugural USEDC Ride of Champions, to be held on Friday evening, June 27 and the USEDC National Open Drill Championship, on Saturday evening, June 28.

The USEDC Ride of Champions will showcase USEDC Open Division National Champions, Reserve Champions and Second Runners-up from the past five years in a special ride-off for the SportsQuest Cup(1).

The USEDC National Open Drill Championship will feature America's very best mounted drill teams vying for top honors and an invitation to the 2009 Ride of Champions.

Other competitive divisions at Super Ride VI will feature mounted color guard teams, a 'rodeo speed' drill team category and classes open to youth, novice and challenged riders.

Video coverage of Super Ride VI: The United States Equestrian Drill Championship will be coordinated by SportsQuest International.

Popular television host, rodeo and equine sports announcer Alan Moorhead has been confirmed as the principal announcer

Full details on the competition, sponsorship and merchandising opportunities are available upon request. Kindly contact the United States Equestrian Drill Championship on 1-972-679-0770.

The entry deadline for Super Ride VI: The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championship is Monday, May 5.

#

(1) The SportsQuest Cup, a perpetual trophy awarded to the winning team in the USEDC Ride of Champions, is being donated by the proprietors of SportsQuest International and SportsQuest.tv.

Quotes:

Pam Bonner, Drillmaster, Ghostriders Equestrian Drill Teams

Bob Lorbeer, Captain Sacramento Sheriff's Posse Mounted Drill Team & Chief Judge, United States Equestrian Drill Championship

Popular television host, rodeo and equine sports announcer Alan Moorhead has been confirmed as the principal announcer for Super Ride VI: The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championship (USEDC). The event will run June 24 – 28 at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, Texas.

“The Super Ride Competition requires a Super Announcer”, says Gary Bonner, Executive Director of the United States Equestrian Drill Association (USEDA) and coordinator of the Super Ride.

The United States Equestrian Drill Championship's inaugural “Ride of Champions” will be held on Friday evening, June 27, 2008, at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, Texas (USA).

The USEDC Ride of Champions will be a featured competition at Super Ride VI: The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championship, held at the horse park from June 24 through 28.

Super Ride VI: The 2008 United States Equestrian Drill Championships (USEDC) will be held June 24 through 28 at the Texas Rose Horse Park, near Canton, Texas (USA).

The event will be highlighted by the inaugural USEDC Ride of Champions, to be held on Friday evening, June 27 and the USEDC National Open Drill Championship, on Saturday evening, June 28.

The USEDC Ride of Champions will showcase USEDC Open Division National Champions, Reserve Champions and Second Runners Up from the past five years in a special ride-off.  Qualified teams include: Latigo N Lace (Washington State), the Rebel Riders (Texas), the Easy Riders (Missouri), the Matagorda County Thundering Hooves (Texas), Stars N Steeds (Missouri), the Visalia Rockettes (California), the Cowgirl Express Rodeo Drill Team (Ohio), the Bellville Heritage Cowgirls (Texas), the Canadian Valley Rangerettes (Oklahoma) and the Ghostriders Precision Drill Team (Texas).

The Ride of Champions will be contested under a special set of rules (teams not to carry flags) and will be judged by a nationally recognized panel, led by Robert Lorbeer, a California attorney and Captain of the Sacramento Sheriff's Posse.

Returning to Canton to defend their 2007 National Open Drill Championship will be the popular Canadian Valley Rangerettes.   With three (3) top three finishes to date, the 2004 National Open Drill Champion Matagorda County Thundering Hooves lead all teams in national championship success.  Not to be ignored in a sport where the style and technical excellence of teams from the West Coast has had a far ranging influence are the 2003 National Champion Latigo N Lace, and the 2005 Champion Visalia Rockettes.  The 2006 Champion Cowgirl Express Rodeo Drill Team is also expected to challenge for the top honors in the USEDC Ride of Champions.

The USEDC National Open Drill Championship will feature America's very best mounted drill teams vying for top honors and an invitation to the 2009 Ride of Champions.  “We've changed the format a bit, to showcase our national championship as a first class sports spectacular”, says Gary Bonner, Executive Director of the United States Equestrian Drill Association and coordinator of the Super Ride.  “Our premiere competitions will be held in the evening, packaged for television and widely promoted  in horse publications and other media in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia”.

“It is important”, says Bonner, “that our sport be presented in a manner that retains the integrity of the competition, while at the same time presenting lasting value to sponsors, to spectators and to the community at large.”

Other competitive divisions at Super Ride VI will feature mounted color guard teams, a 'rodeo speed' drill team category and classes open to youth, novice and challenged riders.

The United States Equestrian Drill Championship brings together mounted color guard and drill teams from throughout the United States.  The USEDC is the showcase event of the United States Equestrian Drill Association and its sister organization the United States Equestrian Drill Competition – a registered charity.

Teams competing in the national open championship division or ‘Super Ride’ represent the very best in ‘Xtreme Drill’ presentation. Speed, precision and most importantly sound fundamental horsemanship are the hallmarks of a winning combination.

The Texas Rose Horse Park is a 1,700 acre facility opened in 2006. The multi discipline venue features four permanent barns that can stable up to 400 horses.

Video coverage of Super Ride VI: The United States Equestrian Drill Championship will be coordinated by SportsQuest International.

Full details on the competition, sponsorship and merchandising opportunities are available upon request.  Kindly contact the United States Equestrian Drill Association on 1-972-679-0770.

#

A television documentary produced by SportsQuest International has been well received at its premiere screening in Florida.

"A Life of Equestrian Substance: Conversations with Major General Jonathan R. Burton", was completed in November for Phelps-Hathaway Enterprises, Inc., with production support from The Dressage Foundation and Offield Farms.

A two-time Olympian, military leader and a major figure in the development of equestrian sports in the United States following the Second World War, General Burton (at 88) is a 'living legend' in the American equestrian community.

The documentary was warmly received in its inaugural screening at the recently concluded United States Dressage Federation Annual Convention in Orlando [see DressageDaily.com article].

An excerpt from the program is currently available for preview on-line (requires QuickTime).

SportsQuest International is a privately held multimedia production company specializing in the development and promotion of sports related programming that presents positive, informationally rich themes. The company is based in Oakland, California (USA), and is widely known for its coverage of national and international level equestrian events.

SportsQuest International has announced the worldwide availability of its SportsQuest.tv -Equestrian Channel [Hi-Res Edition] via Apple, Inc's popular on-line iTunes store.

The Uniform Resource Locater (URL) for the SportsQuest.tv podcast is: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=263655759

The SportsQuest.tv - Equestrian Channel presents news and documentary features highlighting important national and international competitions. Special editorial focus is given to issues, trends and personalities shaping the development of horse related sports activities throughout the world.

Persons subscribing to the SportsQuest.tv - Equestrian Channel will have the option of playing broadcast quality video content a) on their computer, b) on a video enabled iPod or c) on a television set (via Apple TV).

SportsQuest.tv is an interactive service of SportsQuest International.

Open 24/7, the iTunes Store features more than 6 million audio recordings, 125,000 podcasts, 30,000 audiobooks, 600 TV shows, 500 movies, and iPod games. iTunes is the number one (#1) on-line music store in 22 countries. Over 600 million copies of iTunes have been distributed.

To date, over 110 million iPod media players have been sold(1).

iTunes, iTunes Store, iPod and Apple TV are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

SportsQuest International is a privately held multimedia production company specializing in the development and promotion of sports related programming that presents positive, informationally rich themes. The company is based in Oakland, California (USA), and is widely known for its coverage of national and international level equestrian events.

SportsQuest International is a member of the iTunes Affiliate Program.

For further information, please contact SportsQuest.tv via email at: info@sportsquestinternational.com

(1) Source: Apple, Inc.

The SportsQuest.tv - Equestrian Channel has launched in a 'pre-release beta', and is now available online (www.SportsQuest.tv) and as an RSS enabled Internet feed accessible via Miro, iTunes, FireAnt and other popular media players.

SportsQuest.tv's equestrian oriented programming is also available via blip.tv (http://SportsQuest-equestrian.blip.tv).

The SportsQuest.tv - Equestrian Channel presents news and documentary features highlighting important national and international competitions. Special editorial focus is given to issues, trends and personalities shaping the development of horse related sports activities throughout the world.

When fully deployed, the SportsQuest.tv web portal will feature multiple Internet video channels, each targeting a specific sporting tradition. A searchable on-line calendar of events is an important facet of the project.

SportsQuest.tv is sponsorship based and offers revenue sharing opportunities to the content producers whose news stories, features and documentary presentations are exhibited within the incorporated 'niche channels'.

Current sponsors include the United States Equestrian Drill Championship, Tal-Y-Tara Tea and Polo Shoppe and ERM Ventures.

The equestrian channel is the first service launched under the SportsQuest.tv banner. SportsQuest.tv is an interactive service of SportsQuest International.

SportsQuest International is a privately held multimedia production company specializing in the development and promotion of sports related programming that presents positive, informationally rich themes. The company is based in Oakland, California (USA), and is widely known for its coverage of national and international level equestrian events.

For further information, please contact SportsQuest.tv via email at: info@sportsquestinternational.com

To the uninitiated, competitors in the 2007 United States Equestrian Drill Championship (Super Ride V) may appear to be worlds away from the highly intense spotlight that falls upon champions of the horse world's most storied national and international competitions.

Events such as Germany's Official International Horse Show (or CHIO) at Aachen, Canada's Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament, The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in England and the annual fixtures staged at the legendary North American venues in Wellington, FL, Devon, PA, Upperville, VA, Harrisburg, PA, Monterey, Mexico and at the Kentucky Horse Park annually attract international television coverage, tens of thousands of spectators and millions of dollars in sponsorship.

Super Ride V:The United States Equestrian Drill Championship (USEDC) will be held June 6 - 9 at the Austin Arena in Myrtle Springs, near Canton, Texas. 

Following a day of practice, the event will be highlighted by three action packed days of  drill team and mounted color guard competitions. 

The Quadrille, Color Guard and Theatrical Theme Divisions will be contested on Thursday, June 7, with Drill Teams taking center stage on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9.

Boasting a record number of entries, the 2007 competition will feature 58 teams in 12 competitive divisions.

The Cowgirl Express Rodeo Drill Team, from Ohio, will return to defend its National Open Division Championship.  The only team from East of the Mississippi River to capture the top prize at the USEDC, Cowgirl Express is considered a strong early favorite to repeat.

Also returning to the Championship are the 2006 Open Division Reserve Champions, the Bellville Heritage Cowgirls.  Having finished last year's contest a mere two (2) points from the Open Division championship, the team from Bellville (the County Seat of Austin County), Texas will be clearly focused both on defending its USEDC Rodeo Division title and on capturing the 2007 Open Division title.

Another strong contender is the Southwest Missouri based EasyRiders Drill Team, a squad that is well known for its star formation and for beautifully choreographed side-passes along the length of the arena.  All moves are performed by horses in simple snaffle bits, without the use of spurs or whips. 

Perhaps the most unique team in the competition is Finisimo - the world's only youth drill team using the elegant and distinctive Paso Fino horses.  Known for the smooth four beat rhythm of its natural gait, the Paso Fino is a rare and desirable equine partner.

Founded over Spring Break in 2004,  with just three horses and 6 riders, Finisimo has evolved into a team that includes 37 riders, 27 Paso Fino horses and a goal of successfully defending the earned title of National Champions in the USEDC's Gaited Horse Division.

The Matagorda County Thundering Hooves from Bay City Texas, the 2004 USEDC Open  Division Champions and current Theme Division National Champions, also return with winning on their mind.

A long shot for the Open Division title, the Canton, Texas based  Ghostriders, will defend their Quadrille and  Theatrical Theme Division Championships. As the 'host team' for the National Championships, the Ghostriders carry the extra responsibility of providing a positive experience for both competitors and members of the general public.  

Following a strong third place finish in the 2006 Open Division by the Ghostriders Precision Drill Team, the Ghostriders Adult and Youth squads are in a rebuilding period under the direction of highly regarded Drill Master, Pamela Bonner and Youth Coach Kelly Jayroe.

Competition on Thursday, June 7 will start at 10  a.m. and conclude around 4:30 p.m. 

Due to the large number of entries, the start time for Friday, June 8 has been pushed forward one hour to 8 a.m., with the competition running well into the evening hours.

On Saturday, June 9, the competition will begin at 8:30 a.m., and will be followed at around 7:45 p.m. with a live concert by the popular band Finding Shade.   The awards ceremony will begin at approximately 8:30 p.m. 

The Austin Arena is located between Canton and Wills Point, Texas on State Highway 64, two miles north of Interstate Highway 20.

Food service, gifts and specialty items will be available at the arena during the competition.

Representatives of the Canton Chamber of Commerce will be on-site throughout the event to provide information and assistance to contestants and visitors to the area.

Video highlights and interviews from Super Ride V will be available on-line via the  SportsQuest.tv - Equestrian Channel and  Google Video.

Come out and watch the greatest show on dirt....

Voice actress Cynthia McMillian has been retained as a principal voice for SportsQuest.tv, the multi-sport Internet media portal - now undergoing pre-launch testing and development.

Miss McMillian will narrate feature stories and documentaries produced by SportsQuest International, and will record vocal signatures and promotional announcements for SportsQuest.tv.

A long time instructor in the Oakland (CA) Unified School District, Cynthia McMillian is a graduate of Kresge College at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).

She has appeared on stage in productions of the Oakland Ensemble Theatre and UCSC's Black Magic Theatre, and has worked with many noted artists including Ted Lange, Ruth Beckford-Smith, Ron 'Stacker' Thompson, Eugene Calhoun, Leslie Perry and Danny Glover.

When fully deployed later this year, the SportsQuest.tv web portal will feature RSS enabled channels presenting professionally produced sports content from an international roster of video producers, an interactive calendar of sporting fixtures, an on-line store offering DVDs, books, clothing and specialty items from throughout world.