Drill team offers 4-H'ers a chance to develop leadership and teamwork skills and learn more about horses. It's a positive environment in which to gain mentoring skills.
In drill team you'll learn coordination, timing, speed and synchronizing with other riders. Variety and creativity in dress and routine are encouraged.
Regional competitions
Register for these events through 4-H Online.
- Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Smilin'D Arena in Belgrade
- Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at R & J Arena in Verndale
State competition
Coaches will need to register their teams through Qualtrics. Youth will register on their regular state show paperwork.
The top two teams in each category from regional competitions will go to the State Drill Team competition, held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, with two categories on each day.
For participants
Youth in grades 3 and up can compete at a regional qualifier event, and grades 6 and up can compete at the state level.
Youth have to be enrolled in Minnesota 4-H to participate. Join now!
- Guide on how to build a drill team.
- Drill team procedures book.
- Drill team rules in the Minnesota 4-H Horse Program rulebook.
- A horse and rider combination for drill team can be substituted up to the day of competition due to illness or injury as long as the horse was ID’d prior to the May 15 deadline. The process for the substitution will be as follows:
- The 4-H’er would need to contact their coach immediately to discuss the reason for the substitution of horses.
- The coach needs to contact Amy DeGroot at [email protected] to let her know about the substitution.
- No rider substitution is allowed-no exceptions.
- Please keep your area clean. Pick up your trash and take it with you (horse manure, garbage, papers, food, etc.).
- All spectators and participants are encouraged to cheer on every team! Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Remember all kids worked hard to get here.
Contact
Renee Kostick, Extension educator, at [email protected]