Nebraskaland Magazine
CRAWFORD, Neb. — The Cheyenne Trotters, a group of skilled horse enthusiasts who specialize in cavalry demonstrations, parades and drill team performances, will entertain audiences during a series of appearances at Fort Robinson State Park in August.
Drill performances are set for Thursday, Aug. 11, prior to the fort’s weekly rodeo at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m., also at the rodeo arena. Cavalry performances will be Friday-Sunday, Aug. 12-14, on the park’s parade grounds at 10 a.m. each day.
The demonstrations require a high level of horsemanship of the men and women who make up the Wyoming group of eight to 12 riders. The drill performance tasks the riders and horses to gallop through an intricate pattern with impeccable timing and spacing. The cavalry routine, which has historic military origins appropriate to Fort Robinson’s history as a U.S. Cavalry post, features the horses and riders responding to spontaneous voice commands of a drillmaster as they ride at a brisk trot.
The performances are open to the public free of charge but a Nebraska park entry permit is required for vehicles entering Fort Robinson. The permits are available online at outdoornebraska.org, the park’s headquarters or from vendors throughout the state.
