Regulators Ride

LINCOLN — “Regulators ride,” this command won’t be spoken by William H. Bonney or any of his cohorts wreaking havoc across a sage brush- dotted prairie with posse in hot pursuit.

Instruction to move forward on horseback will more likely come from Hannah Sanders or Marlana Edgmon, coaches and line leaders, who co-founded this version of ‘the Regulators,’ formed in 2013 and billed as Northwest Arkansas’ newest precision drill team.

There is a Lincoln in the equation but not Lincoln County, New Mexico, where Bonney a.k.a Billy the Kid participated in a crime spree with a group of armed men known as regulators before he experienced frontier justice at the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett with a single shotgun blast at Fort Sumner.

These modern Regulators ride horses with names such as Bullet, Diva, Gunner, Cash, Moonshine, Trip and Wiley, but visitors to Lincoln’s 61st annual rodeo need not worry. The drama won’t involve any gunplay or outlaws. Violence will be limited to within the rodeo arena in a confrontation between man and beast as cowboys take on bulls and broncs.

New to Lincoln Rodeo for 2014 are performances by ‘the Regulators,’ a 14-member strong band of riders and horses, established by rodeo host, Lincoln Riding Club.

According to their website, ‘the Regulators’ were formed in July 2013 by Edgmon, Megan Anderson and Sanders with a passion for horses and tenacity driving their dedication to the success of the drill team.

In recruiting members to the drill team, the Regulators acknowledge horseback riders originate from varying backgrounds with different levels of riding ability. They stipulate participation in a drill team is not for beginners and policies have been enacted with the foundation of the group requiring members to be out of high school and at least 18-years of age, possessing basic riding skills with the ability to pivot, side pass and ride two- handed and be willing to commit to practices and performances. Horses must understand lead, lead changes and maintain a gait.

While Bonney and his Regulators owed allegiance to their employer, rancher John Tunstall, who was eventually assassinated in 1878 during New Mexico’s Lincoln County War, these Regulators ride to a different tune. Commitment and dedication to the team and their fans are valued.

These Regulators operate on foundational principles that set them apart. Their website states members are expected to conduct themselves appropriately when representing the team, sponsors and Lincoln Riding Club. The team places a high emphasis on maintaining respect for others, self and horses.

The Regulators perform at rodeos, fairs and horse shows all over the Ozarks and beyond. Their aim is to provide family friendly performances while striving to be good role models for all generations. Team members endeavor to make each child feel special and connect with the crowd and fans.

In addition to Sanders and Edgmon, founding members include: Amber Hutchison, Dianna Baer and Courtney Bilderback, with Amanda Cunningham, Shayla Fox, Amber Durham, Jana Graham, Abby Sizemore, Cassie Fox, Kelly Fox, Kerrie Price and Ariana Price in their first season as Regulators added for 2014.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER In past years various equestrian drill teams such as the Sky High Angels shown during the 2012 Lincoln Rodeo have performed at the event. With the ever-increasing popularity of such groups, Lincoln Riding Club formed its own drill precision drill team,...