Silk and Sable Mounted Drill Team

Team History, 1980 - Current

Silk & Sable was formed in 1980, in Sarasota, Florida by Ken London. Most any horse is suited to do this sport.

We also decided to open the membership to both male & female riders. We don’t care which riding discipline you choose as long as it’s not bareback! Riders can be aged 15 years old and up, we are a family oriented team who enjoy riding our horses and each other’s company! Our theme ranges from Medieval to modern and at times our drill includes riding with 8’ lances. It usually takes between 4 to 6

weeks to get a horse and rider combination comfortable in doing drill combinations, (the horses usually learn the pattern quicker than the riders do.) We are coached by Melissa McBride. The whole team has input on the moves, selection music for our drills, and costumes. The coach coaches us on the practice field until we get our timing right and the drill patterns become second nature to us and our horses. Lisa Pratt (riding Treasure) is Team Captain and has been the driving force behind the team for 20 + years. Lisa helps keep the drill flowing and timed properly and is responsible for motivating and training riders in the art of drill while the actual drill is in progress. Our Treasurer is Lisa Pratt
who is responsible for collecting dues (dues combined with arena fees are $60 per month per member) and taking care of any expenses we incur. Other team members include Lisa Blanton riding Serena, Lisa Trueblood riding Brady, Robin Staley riding Demi, Christina Peterson riding Mr. T and Maddie Pierce riding Rocco. The most important goal of this team is to have fun! We are like one great big family. We have traveled the State of Florida from top to bottom, performing, and riding in parades! Some of the places we have performed for are: The Magic Night of the Horse at Canterbury in Ocala, Scout Blast, Florida Stallion Showcase, the Sarasota Medieval Fair, Reading is Fundamental Program held at the Manatee Community College in Bradenton, FL, and have even traveled to Georgia for the Georgia State Games! Practices are held at Winding Trails in Myakka City on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. Spectators are welcome, also riders who have their own horse and transportation are encouraged to come and try out for the team.

07/13/2026

Silk and Sable Mounted Drill Team

07/13/2026

OPEN QUAD

07/06/2026

You know you want to! Come have fun with us! We still need riders and volunteers. DM us for more info. We promise, once you try it, you will be hooked! Our team does walk, trot and canter (we are not rodeo style), but are open to performing in that fashion at competition if we get enough riders who are interested. Age 14 and up, any gender. Come see what we are about at practices on Thursdays at 7:00pm at Whispering Ranches.

07/02/2026

We are looking for new riders! Flying the flag so everyone sees this! DM us if you’re interested in joining - or just coming to see what we are about! Share this with your friends. We need volunteers too! Open to everyone, 14 and up!
&sable

Photos from Silk and Sable Mounted Drill Team's post

06/29/2026

This weekend, Silk & Sable had our second qualifying competition in Jacksonville, FL. We debuted our "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" 80's theme and we looked totally tubular. What a fun drill to do & to watch if you were spectating. Overall, we competed in three events, but our photographer was only there for two of them (Theme & Quad). These are her pics. We have been tagging the page with other photos from our awesome volunteers. We would like to thank our Coach Isabella for putting in so much hard work to get us here & for filling in on Brady when one of our riders couldn't make it last minute due to an emergency with one of her horses. We would also like to thank our riders, who are so committed to giving their all to make this team what it is, showing up for practices (sometimes twice a week) and giving it their all. Thank you to our volunteers for traveling with us all over the state - helping to set up the field, open & close the gate, dressing & un******ng our horses, making costume improvements and being our cheering squad.

We dedicated this competition to one of our riders fighting breast cancer, who surprised us by coming to watch competition only three weeks after double mastectomy surgery (she just couldn't stay away). We wish Christina well and miss her. We hope to see her back in the saddle soon, and we know she can't wait to be back riding with us again. Keep fighting the fight!

We are ALWAYS looking for new riders, any discipline, and gender (we welcome youth riders 14 and up as well). PLEASE, if you are the slightest bit interested in seeing what we are about & trying what we do, shoot us a DM. We practice at Winding Trails on Thursday nights in Myakka.

GO TEAM SILK & SABLE!!!!!