74R1150 PAN-D By Kubiak H.R. No. 13 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Texas Ladies Aside (TLA) is a precision equestrian 1-2 drill team that has delighted audiences throughout the state and 1-3 nation with its stunning performances of this unusual form of 1-4 family entertainment; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Cofounded by Caldwell residents Eileen Craig and 1-6 Sallie Cochran, the group is the world's only equestrian drill team 1-7 that performs maneuvers while riding sidesaddle on the distinctive 1-8 Peruvian Paso, a breed of horse that is becoming more widely known 1-9 as a result of its naturally flashy gait and pleasant disposition; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, This unique organization currently has more than 50 1-12 members nationwide; ranging in age from 18 to over 60 years old, 1-13 the women of the TLA encompass all levels of riding skills, from 1-14 novice to expert, and come from all walks of life to contribute 1-15 their creative skills and practical knowledge to the group; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Having developed a well-deserved reputation for 1-17 conviviality and friendliness, Texas Ladies Aside has a burgeoning 1-18 membership, with some of the group's enthusiastic participants 1-19 hauling their horses several hundred miles for the opportunity to 1-20 take part in the group's regularly scheduled practices; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Routines involve from two to 12 people and sometimes 1-22 feature the team's auxiliary group, The Men Besides; while 1-23 performing, members of the TLA wear costumes that vary in style 1-24 from smartly tailored elegance to frilly femininity in the fashion 2-1 of Spanish-Mexican "charras"; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Through the years, Texas Ladies Aside has attracted 2-3 many new fans with a host of stellar performances at such popular 2-4 events as the Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas, Foley's Thanksgiving 2-5 parade in Houston, and the Christmas parade in Bryan-College 2-6 Station; along the way, the group has earned a number of 2-7 prestigious honors, including an invitation to perform at the 2-8 Peruvian National Horse Show in Lima, a shared first place in the 2-9 mounted division of the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade, and top 2-10 honors in the mounted costume division of the San Antonio Fiesta 2-11 Parade for six years; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Having long served as goodwill ambassadors for the 2-13 Lone Star State, the talented members of Texas Ladies Aside help to 2-14 promote our proud Western heritage and exemplify the true spirit of 2-15 Texas through their superb performances on horseback; their 2-16 continuing contributions in this regard make them an ideal choice 2-17 to represent Texas as the state's official equestrian drill team; 2-18 now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby designate Texas Ladies Aside as the official 2-21 Equestrian Drill Team of Texas.