Many people may not know this, but there is a team of young equestrians just a few miles away that have been filling trophy cases at a rapid rate for a while now.  Blue Shadows is best described as a cavalry-based organization where kids learn how to ride a horse or increase their riding skills and learn leadership and discipline, while meeting kids with similar interests.  It is a fantastic organization for kids who would like to learn how to ride horses, ride in a drill team, and have fun in the process.
Blue Shadows is made up of three posts and each post has two to four troops that ride one night a week between Monday and Friday.  Elevating through the ranks with increased responsibility, discipline, and maturity, each member in a troop has different responsibilities according to their rank.  A rider begins as a remount where they first learn the basics about horse care and riding, then they are promoted to trooper.  Each rank can gain a promotion through gained skills and dedication.  Aside from working towards competitions, the different troops also have game nights, go on trail rides, participate in parades, and coordinate many other activities away from the ranch.
Their Junior Advanced team is comprised of the best riders in Blue Shadows under the age of 18. The “JAT” team participates in advanced competitions across the Western United States and involves a high level of dedication to Blue Shadows and a commitment to perform the most intricate drills possible at a fast pace.  The JAT team competes against many other talented drill teams and with much hard work and dedication, Blue Shadows has ridden away as the California State Champions for the past five years, 2009 Western States Drill Team Champions, and 2010 Western States Reserve Champions.  In May, the Junior Advanced Team competed in Ceres and took the Grand Champion title for the California State Horsemen’s Association. They competed against 15 other teams, including adults.  The team went to Reno in June, competing against 14 other teams for the Westerns States Championship where they also won Grand Champions, even opening in the Reno Rodeo.  Finally in August, they competed in another CSHA event called the Coto Cup, where they won in Rancho Murrieta for their 3rd Championship this year.
The group currently has over 200 members in three riding locations: Agua Dulce, Lakeview Terrace and now in Newbury Park.  They participate in community events, parades, festivals and rodeos.?  As ambassadors for their organization, the Junior Advanced Team competes throughout California and Nevada.  The most talented riders of the organization competed for 19 positions on this elite team by practicing extra hours on the weekends on top of school.
For information on sponsoring the junior advanced team you can call Nancy Chefalo at 661-268-0324 or email the JAT Boosters at BlueShadowsjatboosters@gmail.com.
For more information on joining Blue Shadows please call Janet Johnstone at 818-731-3096 or visit www.blueshadows.org.