Weeks of practice paid off for the Historic Durham Ferry (HDF) Equestrian Drill team. The team brought home a first place trophy for the Novice Division from The California Coto Cup Competition in Woodside on Aug. 1 and 2.
“We were really proud. All the parents were really proud. They did a great job,” said Joann Tavaziva, HDF instructor. The team has won 1st place in the Novice Division at the Coto Cup two years in a row.
The team performed two drills, one compulsory and one freestyle. The programs allow the team members to showcase their own style and involve music selection as well as costume uniforms.
“Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins was the song of choice for the compulsory program. For the compulsory program, teams are given a choreographed drill with a maximum of six minutes to perform in front of judges.
The compulsory program, worth 60% of the overall score, is a specific drill that is judged for performance accuracy. The freestyle program, worth 40%, is a four to six minute long performance designed by the team.
The HDF team’s freestyle song choice had a techno-vibe to it, said Tavaziva. “The girls wore a teal colored collared shirt with a black handkerchief for the freestyle program.”
The freestyle drill allows for more creativity from the teams. Shonna Beam, Drillmaster and HDF instructor, and the team members choreographed the routine together.
“The girls have an idea of what they want to do and Shonna works out the kinks,” said Tavaziva. Beam said there were some difficult drill maneuvers that the team spent a lot of time practicing, such as the cross and the cross by pairs. Drill teams are judged on items such as spacing and alignment, difficulty, and uniformity.
This is the second full year that HDF has had an Equestrian Drill team. “It was something that the students asked for and had a strong interest in,” said Tavaziva.
For the last two years the team has been sponsored by Van Groningen Farms. This sponsorship has made it possible for the team to compete, as costs for competitions and uniforms can be pricey.
There were 14 students on the team this year that competed through May. Nine of the HDF Equestrian Drill Team members ages 14-18, competed in the Coto Cup this year. All of the members are HDF students.
HDF is a unique academy of Venture Academy Family of Schools of the San Joaquin County Office of Education. The students complete their academic coursework just like all other students, however a portion of their day also includes helping maintain the ranch and tending to the animals. The school, located on a 290-acre park nestled within the riparian habitat of the San Joaquin River, is an outdoor education center. Not all students work with animals, but science and the outdoors is integrated into the curriculum and school activities.
For the past few years, students were taught veterinary skills and administered vaccinations to the animals on the ranch. Common core standards are nothing new to the instructors and students at HDF. Real-life applicable lessons are incorporated into core content on a regular basis. When students are taught how to give vaccinations, they use their math skills to determine appropriate dosage based on the animal’s weight.
In the first 15 minutes of the school day students are given chores that they must complete, according to Beam. Some students sweep and clean and some tend to animals. The drill team members tend to their horses.
The horses used in the competition belong to Beam who lives out at Durham Ferry and who helps educate students about agriculture, natural resources, and ecology. Beam pairs each team member to a horse based on the student’s riding skills, said Tavaziva. They are also the horses that are used for all students interested in horsemanship at HDF.
Participating in competitions like the California Coto Cup allows the team to showcase their skills, but it also pushes them to want to improve their skills. “Competitions give them something to constantly work on so they can get better,” said Tavaziva.
Tavaziva recalled a fellow Stockton team, Spurs and Lace, commenting on the HDF Equestrian Drill team. “They said that they were impressed with the foundation skills that the girls have. That’s a huge compliment!” said Tavaziva. “Shonna works hard to make sure that they have strong foundational skills.”
The California Coto Cup is presented by California State Horsemen’s Association and sponsored by Melanie Coto and MonteVerde Trails Ranch.
The HDF Equestrian Team is hopeful to possibly have three competitive teams next year: Junior Elite, Novice, and Pony Elite.
For more information about HDF please visit the SJCOE Venture Academy website: http://www.ventureacademyca.org/high-school-academies.html