Quadrille Theme --- HELP!

[blitznbobs]

Myself and 3 other members of our local Riding club have tentatively decided to enter the RC quadrille competition next year. It's something I've always wanted to do but never had the time and 3 other people at the same time!!

The only complication is that I now have a traditional cob not a dressage horse... and so does one of the others! So we have a 'pair' of hairies and a pair of coloured show type cobs which we have decided (in our wisdom) will look fab!!

Now considering we have 4 coloureds and 2 of which are VERY hairy what theme could we choose... we thought of cowboys and maybe gypsies, tramps and theives... but anyone come up with something more original???

And music suggesetions would be greatly received too...

BnBx

 

[sally87]

cows!

 

[Enfys]

I love the Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves theme. Lots of possibilities and you could make up some colourful costumes.

I 'You Tubed' it and now can't get the wretched song out of my head. No chance of using a bit of the music too? Very catchy.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSZwEwl_1Q

 

[be positive]

I think its probably been done before Phantom of the opera.
War horse.
Black or White M.Jackson , easy for music.

Could you do a before/ after ie hairy/clipped etc [needs some thought]

Good luck I am sure it will be really hard work

 

[Meowy Catkin]

cows!

^ Love it!

The riders can be dressed as milkmaids and the horses need fake horns and bells around their necks.

 

[much-jittering]

Have a browse through the internet to see what other people have done to give some some suggestions/set your brain working. Also don't be afraid to trawl through everybody you know to find the people who randomly have a real skill for helping set patterns, design costumes etc.

It doesn't matter they're hairy/cobby - remember the Foresters won it last year so who needs great big warmblood dressage horses?! The people with those horse can ponce round on the RC dressage teams. It sounds like you've got a lovely set of horses that will work well together. What are their and their riders strengths, that may help you choose a theme. Consider also how it's marked, will your theme and ideas for your ride tick all their boxes.

 

[Jesstickle]

Gypsies, tramps and thieves (accompanied by the formidable Cher natch) is a great theme if you can pull it off. Much more unusual than a lot of things you see which are trotted out time and time again.

 

[mulledwhine]

The size of a cow, can't remember the band that sang it, but very catchy

 

[Quantock-cob]

I know you're not from Somerset - but the cow theme could work with a Wurzels song - "Combine harvester" or "I am a cider drinker"!! Would love to see those cobs in straw hats and red bandanas round their necks!

 

[blitznbobs]

I love I've got a brand new c b h ... *grin* I had it played at my wedding !!!!

 

[Damnation]

^ Love it!

The riders can be dressed as milkmaids and the horses need fake horns and bells around their necks.

LOVE IT!!!!!!! : D

 

[sarahebbs]

Hi,

Well done on getting 4 of you together to do quadrille, my name is sarah and i have been on Bath riding clubs quadrille team for the part 2 yrs and have been lucky enough to qualify both yrs for olympia and coming 2nd both times. I wont be competing this yr as my quadrille horse had to be put to sleep but i am hoping to come up to watch all the teams compete.

Just a few pointers if you are still going ahead;

make your costumes to match as much as you can, they dont seem to like teams with really different costumes.
Dont make too may musical changes, we did 4 the first yr and this was comemted on heavily, we used two peices last yr and we recieved much nicer feedback.
music needs to flow, and tell a story.

Work in pairs and as a 4 as much as you can, dont follow one another around the school.
Take video of you practises and veiw from a judges point of view. if you think 1 piece is long and a bit boring then so will the judge.

Have a look on utube at past performances. our performances are on there from both yrs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCaimx5SnFI and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwjWeGtYkys.

I hope your routine is coming along, please do let me know what riding club you are competing for and i will keep an eye out for you.

If you need any more help please do let me know.
Sarah

 

[Trolt]

I know you're not from Somerset - but the cow theme could work with a Wurzels song - "Combine harvester" or "I am a cider drinker"!! Would love to see those cobs in straw hats and red bandanas round their necks!

That would be fantastic!

make your costumes to match as much as you can, they dont seem to like teams with really different costumes.
Dont make too may musical changes, we did 4 the first yr and this was comemted on heavily, we used two peices last yr and we recieved much nicer feedback.
music needs to flow, and tell a story.

Work in pairs and as a 4 as much as you can, dont follow one another around the school.
Take video of you practises and veiw from a judges point of view. if you think 1 piece is long and a bit boring then so will the judge.

Completely agree with that. The teams that work best are when the costumes are the same. This means that the horses can swop positions and really play with moves, without the eye knowing which horse has changed. If the costumes are different then the patterns don't flow as well.

Know your music inside out.

It's better to have a simple routine that you ride well, and hit every marker. Accuracy is important, all 4 horses should hit the centre line at the same time, should turn at the same time. For each movement you need a "leader". A horse that you look at and the rider will subtly nod so that the other riders know they need to turn NOW. Sometimes this is paired, sometimes this is the horse at the front. CONSTANTLY LOOK AT EACH OTHER! Make sure you know where everyone is in the arena.
It's better that your routine is simple and accurate and you make all the shapes, than trying something complicated which doesn't work.

Have assisted St Edmunds RC for a few years as a member of the ground team ... I think I quadrille in my sleep now Just never underestimate the time, money and rehearsals that go into these. St Eds would meet once a week for 8-10 months to get ready for the qualifiers

 

[Jenni_]

My Big Fat Gypsy Quadrille!

Make colourful 'outfits' for you and the horses.... Or do you guys as the brides as the horses as grooms... Think Tiaras, netting, lace, bling... Top Hats for the Neds

 

[Trolt]

Ok having watched the 2010 video back (Skip to 1min 15 ish for the start)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg-qJEnh-Rw

Don't think about the ride in terms of "competing at Aintree to qualify for Olympia" ... but about producing something good enough to be at Olympia. The judges need to see something that really fills the arena.

If you watch the above video at 3.01 the horse closest to the camera is practically walking, whilst the one that appears from the left has pushed on for canter. It doesn't matter that the horses aren't in the same gait ... just that they hit the marker to create the movement.

A picture of my friends competing in 2008, showing their accuracy - and costumes that fill an arena!
They came 2nd at Olympia this year, the music was all carnival music, they hit every marker and got the crowd involved and dancing. That's what they scored most on - the crowds involvement and enjoyment. I'll have to see if I can find the video from that year

Any questions, feel free to PM