People Strategies: Drill team provides early life lessons

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Linda Bower is a speaker, executive coach and human performance improvement consultant in Rogersville.|ret||ret||tab|

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Our area's Easy Riders Drill Team won the National Youth Championship at the United States Equestrian Drill Competition in Canton, Texas, in July. |ret||ret||tab|

Two weeks ago, five of nine riders, ages 11-17, wanted to back out of going to Texas, lacking confidence in the team's ability to perform. |ret||ret||tab|

The drill team leader, Elizabeth Guillebeau, demonstrated exceptional leadership to bring the group from the point of giving up to participating, then to winning. Rogersville resident Guillebeau is 22 years old and a Drury University student. |ret||ret||tab|

According to Guillebeau, the purpose of the Easy Riders Drill Team is "to teach kids how to deal with life through horses." |ret||ret||tab|

It exists with the coordination of parents and financial grants from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Smith Brothers, the Pearl Foundation and the Sedora Trust. The team also sells concessions and offers raffles to raise operating funds.|ret||ret||tab|

An equestrian drill team looks like synchronized riding to music.|ret||ret||tab|

Teams range from four to 30 people. They work in various styles including rodeo, theme and what Guillebeau choreographs and teaches, precision riding. |ret||ret||tab|

Drill teams are a favorite during exhibitions at horse shows. To the audience, the horses simply glide in and around each other in colorful formations like the "pinwheel," "suicide pass," and the "figure eight." The Easy Riders are known for the "shooting star," created by Guillebeau.|ret||ret||tab|

Behind the scenes, the team spends many hours visualizing, practicing, and communicating with each other to achieve a well-coordinated look. Unlike most business teams, they do this on large live animals. The range of Guillebeau's leadership role is no less than that of a corporate executive, from motivating and coaching to budgeting and goal planning. |ret||ret||tab|

After winning the national youth competition, I asked Guillebeau to reflect on which actions had the greatest impact on moving the team's attitude toward being ready to compete in Texas. Her response can teach us lessons about leadership:|ret||ret||tab|

Individual feedback in two areas: riding ability and team interaction skills. Each one-on-one coaching session was planned in advance with a balance of positive reinforcement and corrective actions in both areas. Guillebeau said this was the most effective method to achieve overall team performance. |ret||ret||tab|

Individual and team feedback in group situations: In debriefing sessions, the team and Guillebeau discussed what worked and didn't work; the team gave feedback to Guillebeau and to each other. Guillebeau said this was the primary motivator for keeping the team focused on the goal.|ret||ret||tab|

Visualization exercises: Guillebeau combined videos of past performances with routines pictured on a flipchart. The team was able to quickly assimilate the drill to be used in Texas. Probably the greatest benefit of this was increased confidence.|ret||ret||tab|

Practice, practice, practice: Grueling practice sessions were frustrating and difficult. Riders learned their part of the routine, increased their riding ability and communicated differently with others than in any other of their life situations. |ret||ret||tab|

Guillebeau spends a lot of time helping the kids make connections to life lessons. They learn key skills including active listening, appropriately asserting their opinions and giving and receiving feedback. |ret||ret||tab|

The discussion about pulling out of the Texas competition is an excellent example of how this team helps kids learn about life. For some of them, it was the first time they faced fear of failure in an area that really mattered to them. They realized it was best to learn how to face it now. |ret||ret||tab|

Like most high performers, Guillebeau is already talking about the next challenges. She thinks it will take two years to get a team ready for the Reno competition. The team will need to compete and perform several times before it makes it to the "big show." |ret||ret||tab|

Corporate sponsorship and additional team members are also needed.|ret||ret||tab|

The Easy Riders Drill Team members include assistant coach Sarah Rohlman, Carrie Collier, Rebecca Fuller, Jenny Garver, Kris Hoaglin, Heather Johnson, Lauren Sanders, Morgan Shook, Kristen Tuter and alternate rider Travis Brooks. |ret||ret||tab|

Look for their next local performance at the Darr Agricultural Center on Oct. 2. They will appear as part of the Horses in our Community Symposium, which is sponsored by Southwest Missouri State University agriculture department, Therapeutic Riding of the Ozarks and Boys and Girls Town.|ret||ret||tab|

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