RIDE

put together silly, crowd-pleasing routines the younger attendees will enjoy, volunteer instructor Karen Kronauge explained.

e performers described how, while it’s a long day that requires tons of preparation and behindthe-scenes work, it’s worth it to see the smiles on people’s faces.

“I love seeing the kids’ faces light up,” said Jenna Lamm, 18, who’s performed in the event three years now.

Quinn Owen, 15, said this was only her second Western Heritage Day, and riding in performances like this can be nerve-wracking. However, the Westernaires have practiced their routines so many times now that it’s basically muscle memory, she said.

“We practice these drills so much, they get nailed into our brains,” Owen said.

e organization has several performance teams, like the Crimson Rangers and the Royal Rangers. Each developed its own routine around a unique theme, ranging from “Star Wars” to the Easter Bunny.

Westernaires on multiple performance teams have to do quickchanges between routines.

Emrey King, 14, described how she’d be changing three times per show. She was performing with the “Star Wars”-themed base team, the Easter Bunny-themed Liberty team, and the “Mario Kart”themed cart team.

“People don’t see all the hard work that goes into it,” King said of the Western Heritage Day shows. She encouraged young people to sign up for the Westernaires, saying they don’t have to own a horse or have ever ridden one to join.

e organization is about teaching young people responsibility, discipline and leadership, she and others commented.

Lamm, Owen and King said the Westernaires practice about 10 hours a week, depending on the time of year. Along with taking care of the horses they own or rent, they do drills, diagram their routines, study equestrian safety and more.

As with other extra-curriculars, the three said Westernaires has taught them good time management, they described, as they juggle those commitments with their schoolwork.

Lamm, who graduated from high school this spring, will also graduate from Westernaires this fall. Her nal performance will be at the Oct. 28-29 Horsecapades Annual

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