The Westenaires Freedom Riders never cease to impress audiences.
Buy tickets from any Westernaires member! Tickets are also available at the door, or may be purchased from the Westernaires website.
National Western Events Center, 4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216
Show dates & times:
Saturday, October 19th: 11AM* & 4PM*
Sunday, October 20th: 2PM*
*Pre-Show starts 30 minutes prior to show time
What is "Horsecapades"?
Westernaires Riders of the Steppes perform their famed 18-man pyramid at the 2012 Horsecapades annual show.
The Varsity Big Red Team's grand finale "Firelight" drill.
It happens only once per year: the fundraising for an entire youth organization. Instead of being a boring, stodgy affair, this one is about as action-packed as an event can be. "Horsecapades", as it is also known, is a professional performance of the largest precision drill riding group in the world. High speed, precision horsemanship in a dazzling array of costumes. Bullwhips and rope tricks. Flaming batons. Historical chariots and rolling stock. Astonishing trick riding. All performed by young people who have chosen the road less traveled. While others take up more common sports and activities, the youth of Westernaires work year round at honing skills that represent the best traditions of the American West. These kids do not disappoint!
By attending the Westernaires Annual Show, you're not only seeing a Wild West Show unlike any on earth. You also help support the work of generations of Westernaires volunteers endeavoring to equip the leaders of tomorrow. While character, teamwork and self discipline are an even bigger part of Westernaires than horsemanship, the horses' feed, farrier and veterinary care come at a cost. Horsecapades is a major part of raising the funds that have kept the organization running for 70 years and counting.
This year's Horsecapades will present hundreds of riders and horses in a show of action quite unlike any arena performance you have seen. They are backed up by more than 300 volunteer parents and alumni. These are the best of our young Westernaires, many of whom have been with the group for eight, nine and occasionally ten years. When you view this year's performance, remember that these are not paid professionals, nor "super kids," but children like yours and mine who have dedicated themselves to the development of an art form quite unusual, have given a substantial part of their young years to the perfection of a skill and craft, and to learning the difficult task of working as a team. The assembly of these people and their talents is Horsecapades.
History of "Horsecapades"
A Horsecapades show ticket from 1957.
The Grand Entry serpentine at the 1957 Westernaires Horsecapades Annual Show.
Since 1949, Westernaires has produced an annual extravaganza to show off the skills of their riders. In 1955, the "Horsecapades" migrated to the National Western's historic Stockyard Stadium and was performed there each year for 40 years. In 1995, the show moved to its current home: the spacious and modern National Western Event Center.
Over the years, the show has blossomed from one Sunday afternoon show to four shows over Saturday and Sunday. But what hasn't changed is the color, the speed, and the pure entertainment brought by these young performers.
Alumni Homecoming
Westernaires Alumni ride line up in the arena at the 2017 Horsecapades.
Click here if you are Westernaires alumni looking for more information on attending Horsecapades.