As the sun sank below the line of trees on the west edge of the Sherman County Fairgrounds, a group of women atop horses filed by twos into the arena. The group is an equestrian drill team. As the sun sank below the line of trees on the west edge of the Sherman County Fairgrounds, a group of women atop horses filed by twos into the arena. It leads into the dangerous figure eight.
Precise timing is required for horses to weave between each other.
The Classic Country Riders equestrian drill team of Loup City is in its second year of existence, performing at county fairs, rodeos and horse events and marching in parades. The team's performance on Tuesday night in Loup City was its first of the season. The group formed in April 1999 after five or six women from around Loup City left the Garfield County Frontier Gals Equestrian Drill Team to form a separate one. The distance the women traveled to Burwell for practices became a factor in their decision, leader Connie Newtson of rural Ravenna said. Other women expressed interest in joining the Burwell group, but the distance became a deterrent, she said.