Quadrille as a Tradition in Team Riding
Deeply rooted in the Royal Courts of the European Renaissance era, Quadrille is an equestrian tradition that has been made famous by the incomparable Spanish Riding School of Vienna and the unforgettable Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Quadrille is becoming more and more popular in the USDF and Mountain Harmony Drill is the first quadrille chapter of the PVDA.
Working with the balance and harmony of dressage, the members of the Mountain Harmony Drill are training their horses to work together. It is fun and rewarding when your horses are having a good time too. As a team, the quadrille offers an opportunity to develop a strong atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie. Mountain Harmony Drill encourages family support and participation; and have a variety of rewarding ‘jobs’ for the ground crew.
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Quadrille is made up of different movements from a set USDF test or an original pattern that are practiced until they are mastered. Some common movements are single file, forming and riding a column of two, circles right and left, oblique, and flank. Mountain Harmony Drill takes a classical military approach to the tradition. Lead horses are frequently changed to allow everyone the opportunity to learn the pattern from a new perspective and to be able to fill in various positions. |
Quadrille Competition
Competitions are offered for teams of four with standardized tests and freestyles. Quadrille teams are judged on the ability of the entire team to perform the required movements; spacing, synchrony and alignment, submission and impulsion. Mountain Harmony Drill has competed successfully with their original musical freestyle.
Quadrille Exhibition
Quadrille performances are definitely crowd pleasers. For an exhibition, Mountain Harmony Drill is not restricted by time or the number of riders. Exhibitions are personally rewarding and a wonderful way to get your horse familiar with new surroundings, without the pressure of competition.