Westernaires History With over sixty years of wonderful memories, the Westernaires story is a big one to tell and show. Stories and images from the past will be offered here in "scrapbooks" for each decade, starting with the 1950's: 1950's Memories We'll be bringing more of Westernaires' history to this site, so come visit again. If you may be interested in booking the Westernaires for a performance, click here.

Westernaires is a mounted precision drill organization composed of Jefferson County, Colorado, youngsters from 9 to 19 years of age. Founded in 1949, Westernaires has provided training in western riding, precision drills, and horse care for over 60 years. Some members also elect to receive training in specialty acts such as bull whips, trick riding and dressage. In addition to learning about care of horses and honing their skill at precision mounted drill, Westernaires members develop important intangible qualities. These include the discipline that comes from training every week for years to achieve promotion to the top teams of the organization, the sense of teamwork from riding week after week with a group of riders trying to gel into a polished performance, the sense of personal responsibility from caring for horses, and community pride from gaining a personal appreciation for our western heritage. Perhaps the most important feature of the Westernaires today is that it provides a constructive alternative for today's suburban youngsters. At Westernaires, there are no drugs, no alcohol, no tobacco. There is a sense of community, of family which nurtures young people into responsible community leaders. It provides a place for parents and children to work together in so many ways that seem unavailable elsewhere. This teamwork between generations is exemplified by the scores of parents and other adult volunteers who make it possible for our young people to ride; Westernaires' horse and facilities caretaker is its one and only one paid employee! Home is Fort Westernaire adjacent to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds near Golden, Colorado, where the organization trains year round. It maintains three outdoor arenas and three indoor arenas as well as stables for the string of livery horses it owns and rents out to the members on an hourly basis. Fort Westernaire also houses classrooms, a club store, a museum, and caretakers' quarters. The group is non-profit, with members paying modest annual dues. Every fall the organization presents a fund-raising set of performances which involves all members, either as performers or helpers behind the scenes. This "Horsecapades" is also our Alumni Homecoming.

The Varsity "Big Red" and Cavalry teams have appeared in numerous television shows and documentaries as well as feature films such as "Centennial", "How The West Was Won", and "Stagecoach." The Horse Museum of France filmed a full-length feature of the Westernaires entitled "Westernaire Carousel." In the summer of 1997, the Varsity "Big Red" Team was honored to present their Firelight Finale as well as the flags of the Nations at the Summit of the Eight Conference in Denver.

However it is analyzed, Westernaires is young people, horses, history, fun, entertainment and, most of all, satisfaction at becoming the "best in the world." [ Home | About Westernaires | Events/News | Membership | Kids' Corner | Teams | Alumni | Links ]