SunSation! Mounted Drill Team is a team representing the Yakima Valley that was formed in 1998, as a non-profit corporation. We are made up of women throughout the Valley who respect and love horses. Seven of our ten charter members, and collectively, we have over 162 years of drill experience from the "school of hard knocks." Our objective is to share our enjoyment of horses with others by performing in parades, rodeos, drill competitions, and other horse-related events.
Our team colors are fuchsia, silver and black. Our new shirts are a very tailored look with black ultra suede French cuffs and collar accented with clear and fuchsia rhinestones and a floral sequin patterned shoulder and sleeve and our original shirts are fuchsia tissue lame' with a rhinestone pin and trim down the front. In addition, we have a fuchsia slinky that we wear with our black leather and rhinestone vest and, with all outfits we wear our black chaps with the silver & fuchsia trim. Our team flags are a flaming fuchsia, purple and silver lame' and the parade serapes are silver lame' with our fuchsia sun and horse logo.
Our first year was dedicated to raising money for the purchase of tack and uniforms. During 2000, SunSation! was proud to have been selected to compete at "Equidance 2000" in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We were excited to represent the Yakima Valley at this prominent event, in conjunction with the "World Famous Calgary Stampede Rodeo." We also competed at the Oregon State Fair Competition in September 2000. During 2001 we participated in several parades in the Yakima Valley, the PRCA Rodeo in the Sundome, the Central Washington State Fair Rodeo, Washington Ladies Riding Club Competition and the Pacific Northwest Drill Team Competition (PNWDTA). In 2002 we participated in the events above plus traveled to the Chief Joseph Days and Cle Elum Parades and performed at the Spokane & Coeur d 'Alene PRCA Rodeos. From 2003 to 2005 we participated in several parades in the Yakima Valley, the PRCA Rodeo in the Sundome, the Central Washington State Fair Rodeo, Wiley City Rodeo, Washington Ladies Riding Club Competition, Oregon State Fair Competition and the PNWDTA Competition. In 2006 we rode most of the local parades and the Western Washington State Fair parade in Puyallup, attended the PNWDTA Competition in Moses Lake and the Oregon State Fair Competition in Salem, Oregon and sponsored a mini-competition at a local arena. In addition, we traveled to the PRCA rodeo in Coeur d' Alene, Professional Bull Riders events in Puyallup and Yakima and the Wiley City & Legends rodeos locally.
SunSation! is in search of corporate sponsors to assist us in our goal to compete and perform at rodeos, parades and exhibitions in the year 2007. As a sponsor donating $100 to $499, your name would be displayed on a banner at all team functions and mentioned during team introductions at the parades, rodeos, competitions, etc. A sponsorship of $500, or more, includes the aforementioned, and our team would carry a flag, displaying your business name, in parades, exhibitions, etc. Your donation will go toward the cost of fuel to and from events, stable fees for members' horses, and entry fees for competitions. Our corporate sponsors for the 2006 season were Argus Insurance, Brown Boys Trucks, G.S. Long , Legends Casino, Macro Plastics, Magic Metals, Mike L Clark Family Dentistry & Larry Clark Trucking, Pegasus Project and Yakima Implement.
Our annual fundraisers since 1999 have included gift wrapping at local business' (for donations), 50/50 raffles, yard sales, saddle raffle, car wash, National Finals Rodeo raffle, cash raffle and an annual Raffle Ride on Chinook Pass.
Our team is committed to riding as many local parades and equine events as possible in order to bring attention to, not only our team, but our sponsors, who help make it possible for us to participate in these activities.
