Quadrille

Definition: qua-drille (noun, Etymology French, a group of knights engaged in a carousel, from Spanish cuadrilla which means 'troop', from diminutive of cuadra which means 'square').

A Quadrille is a choreographed dressage ride, commonly performed to music, which is often compared to an equestrian ballet or to a drill team. A minimum of four horses are used, although many times more (always in pairs), which perform movements together. Quadrille may be ridden as a performance, such as those given by the Spanish Riding School, or as a competitive test with judging. At the highest level, quadrille includes movements such as shoulder-in, travers, half-pass, passage, flying changes, and canter pirouettes.


Over the years, members of the RRC have formed various drill teams for kids and adults which have come and gone. But all of them have provided them same essential and unique benefits to both riders and their horses: regularly scheduled camaraderie and improved riding skills which can only be learned when horses are ridden closely together and in formations. The latest drill team started out in May 2009 with Paul Deichelbohrer (a drill team veteran) giving combined riding lessons to Eric Tchemitcheff and dave espinosa-aguilar early on Sunday mornings. Other mounted riders took notice of the drill formation exercises they were working on, saw how fun, challeging and useful they were, and asked to join in the fun. By Octoberfest 2009, the quadrille had recruited 17 members for weekly practices. They had also separated some of the members interested in taking dressage show USDF quadrille-specific tests into various teams of 4 (quadrilles) and assisted them with learning and preparing for them. The quadrille riders have been very fortunate so far to have the excellent coaching of drill team veterans Paul Deichelbohrer, Barb Fredenburg and Jessica Ni, and any quadrille member can share with you how much they (and their horses) are continuing to learn from their participation.

While several of the quadrille members continue to have quadrille-specific test show goals, no one in the quadrille is ever pressured into doing shows. The primary focus of the quadrille is to teach riders skills unique to drill team riding such as accomplishing coordinated maneuvers in paired and single-file patterns, maintaining one's pacing and spacing regardless of the horse's unique characteristics and behaviors. Equally valuable is that drill team riding teaches horses to get along with other horses; to get comfortable with other horses moving directly towards them, alongside them (stirrup to stirrup), and in between them -- sometimes at high speed. These are practical things for any horse to learn whether it is ever ridden in a show or not, and this is why we encourage any member to consider getting involved with quadrille practices, even if they can't commit to weekly involvement. There's really no limit to the number of people who can ride together, simultaneously, in these sessions.

Many of the quadrille members are hardcores who haven't allowed the winter weather to keep them from their weekly 9am Sunday morning practices. It's quite addictive, and the only way to understand why is to climb into your saddle and join right in. For more information on the quadrille or to be included on its email-based forum, you can contact Paul Deichelbohrer at paul@richlandriders.org.

Current Quadrille: Sarah Sundgren & Prancer/Ranger Kelly Lessor & Dallen Eric Tchemitcheff & Shaker dave espinosa-aguilar & Wilbur Danielle Castillo & Cowboy Nell Cliff & Bree Bettie Tille & Fatima Judi Johannessen & Hannah Kristi Polus & Misty/Woody Karen Casassa & Murphy Tammy Lascheid & Molly Mary Majetich & Dream Carl Baker & Celebrity Alicia Kary & Max Paul Deichelbohrer (coaching) & Salute/Shaker Barb Fredenburg (coaching) & Bailey Jessica Ni (coaching) Quadrille Safety Rules: Wear ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials)-approved, or equivalent, helmet while mounted. Boots or shoes with 1/2" (minimum) heel must be worn while mounted. When riding one-by-one (in files) maintain at least one horse-length between horses. Control your horse, don't let it kick another horse or person. Obey all of the Ground Rules of the Richland Riders Club. USDF Quadrille Documents: USDF Quadrille Rules and Guidelines (170K PDF file) USDF Quadrille Tests (130K PDF file) Dressage Arena Layout Form (50K PDF file) Quadrille Courses Currently Being Worked On: Basic Level Visual Course (80K PDF file) Training Level Visual Course (94K PDF file) USDF BASIC LEVEL QUADRILLE TEST A Enter single file at walk or trot L Divide, On Half circle to track, 1's right, 2's left. Between P & F, V & K files trot as one. A Turn down centerline in pairs 1. D Proceed in Pairs at working trot. X Halt fan formation, salute. Proceed working trot single file. 2. C Track left. V 1/2 10m circle to centerline. I 1/2 10m circle right to track. 3. A Circle right 20m. 4. Between V & E Individual right obliques to centerline when lead rider reaches E. C Track right. 5. Centered on B Individual right turns across arena. Track left towards A 6. A Circle left 20m. 7. Between P & B Individual left obliques to centerline when lead rider reaches B. C Divide, 1's right, 2's left 8. M & H Files walk as one. R & S Short oblique to X, forming pairs. L Individual right and left obliques to track. 9. F & K Files trot as one. A Turn down centerline in single file 1,2,3,4. Centered on X Individual right and left obliques to track, 1's right, 2's left. 10. C Cross over. B & E Files 1/2 circle to centerline, forming single file. 2's in front of 1's. 11. Between I & G Individual 1/2 circles to rail, 1's right, 2's left 12. E to F and B to K Thread the needle 3,4,1,2. 13. A Down centerline in pairs. X Halt fan formation, salute.

Some typical maneuvers used in quadrilles: