Devotion, dedication, determination and a lot of hard work - it's what drives these kids to do what they do. Their motto is: Ride With Pride - and it shows in every performance they produce. These are the Westernaires. They are the youth of Jefferson County, Colorado. They are not paid professional performers. They are everyday kids that live in your neighborhoods and attend school with your kids. They have devoted themselves to training their horses to perform complicated maneuvers. They have dedicated themselves to hours of practice to perfect their drill riding with their teammates with an athleticism and skill-level rarely seen. And they are determined to put it all together and produce a fast-paced, action-packed, heart-stopping performance for every audience. It is not an easy task, nor one that is lightly undertaken.

Westernaires was founded at the request of the Lakewood Youth Council in 1949 by Elmer E. Wyland. 60 years later the organization is stronger and better than ever under the direction of Glen E. Keller, Jr. From the original 26 riders and 13 adult volunteers, the organization has grown today to more than 1000 young people with approximately 500 adult volunteers. Westernaires is a self-supporting, non-profit youth group that relies on ticket sales to their performances and nominal rider dues to maintain its facilities and the more than 150 horses and ponies that are available to those riders who do not own their own horse. The organization strives to keep the dues low so that it is affordable to all who are interested. For the past 55+ years, the Westernaires have produced action-packed performances throughout the country, and right here in Denver, while also providing an organization for the area youth that is dedicated to encouraging self-respect, responsibility, and leadership through horsemanship and family participation. Through this organization have come many community and business leaders. Additionally, many alumni return to volunteer their time to the organization or to participate with their own children.

Westernaires accepts new riders every fall between the ages of 9 and 14. From there it is several years and many hours of practice, study and hard work before they are ready for the show arena. Once riders have reached the pinnacle, Red Division, they have spent many hours in the saddle and acquired the show savvy of a professional. Our youth are capable of producing a professional quality show that includes the breathtaking Freedom Riders; the re-enactment of the post-Civil war frontier cavalry battle, the exciting Riders of the Steppes performing Cossack-style acrobatics on horseback, liberty riding without saddle or bridles, elegant dressage routines, and the "finest precision mounted drill team at speed in the world". All this combines to create the best two hours of family entertainment available.

The Westernaires Varsity Team has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada at venues such as the Kansas City Royal Rodeo; the Calgary Stampede; Cheyenne Frontier Days; Buffalo Bill Days Wild West Show in Sheridan, Wyoming; the Marcus Fair in Marcus, Iowa; the Dinosaur Round-up in Vernal, Utah; the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana; the Regina Horse Show in Regina, Saskatchewan and a joint performance with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride. Local performances include:Polo for the Cure at the Polo Grounds in Sedalia; Flying Heels Rodeo in Granby; Rodeo at the Ranch in Highlands Ranch; and regular performances for the past 50+ years at the Trinidad Roundup and the National Western Stock Show here in Denver - providing the signature 'lighted' Grand Entry for every PRCA performance.

Each year, Westernaires also produces their annual "Horsecapades" performance at the National Western Stock Show Event Center in November. The 2009 shows will be November 7 th and 8 th - with performances at 10 am, 2 pm and 7 pm on Saturday and again at 2 pm on Sunday. Each performance is just $7.00 per ticket, available from any of the 1000 members of Westernaires or at the door prior to the show. This is quality family entertainment at its best -come out for a show you won't forget! Don't miss this year's HORSECAPADES!