This is our Legacy
Pink Queens Legacy's primary focus is to perform high-quality dressage routines ridden by PQL's competitive dressage team; the "Legacy Team".
Our routines are designed using the Perfected Dressage Method, focusing on fundamentals and technique while also telling a beautiful and powerful story to the audience.
Pink Queens Legacy hopes to leave behind a "legacy" within the dressage community; to make an impact on current dressage methods and leave behind beautiful routines that tell inspiring stories.
Legacy Team Commander
Bambi Prettylove
Legacy Team Theme Designer & Story Writer
Mingxia Rainstorm
Club History
Below lists Pink Queens Legacy's competition, placement, rankings, achievements, and routine history!
November 12th, 2022
"This Is Our Legacy, Fulfilled" Retirement Live Performance
September 27th, 2022
"The Queens Stampede" Pinks Showcase
August 12th, 2022
"The Queens Last Dance" Tribute Performance
June, 2022
"The Queen's Olympiad" Record Breaking Performance
March 12th, 2022
"The Queen's Bane" PQLxSA Collaboration Performance
January 23rd, 2022
"The 8 Ball 2021" Remastered Performance
Dressage Excellence, 2021
"Pink Queens Legacy has constantly grown throughout the past year with their routines and skill. With a story built deep into their routines, PQL shows high skill and fascinating choreographies which are beautifully structured. None of their routines this year have failed to amaze and keep the viewer engaged. Great work!"
Regional Rankings, 2021
Top 20: 5th
North America: 2nd
Points: 100
Internationals, 2021
Placement: 5th/11
Score: 85.3
August, 2021
NALSA Opening Ceremony live performance.
August, 2021
Community voted PQL for club of the month.
July 31st, 2021
SSD Regional Rankings "Delayed Domination R2"
Placement: 4th/23
Score: 87.2
June 11th, 2021
SSD Regional Rankings "Delayed Domination R1"
Placement: 4th/23
Score: 88.7
April 30th, 2021
SSD Regional Rankings "Game of Illusion"
Placement: 5th/22
Score: 85.6
March 10th, 2021
SSD Regional Rankings "Need For Speed"
Placement: 4th/49
Score: 90.6/100
February, 2021
SSDC Opening Ceremony live performance.
February 7th, 2021
SSD Duo Competition "Luring Lovers"
Placement: 15th/54
Score: 26.8/40
February, 2021
Club Cliché live performance.
January 23rd, 2021
SSD Regional Rankings "The 8 Ball"
Placement: 32nd/39
Score: 71.8/100
January, 2021
Club Con 2021 live performance.
The Queens Stampede
Pinks Showcase
Pinks Practice Routine Showcase
The Queens Stampede
Across the plains you heard a rumble, a distant cloud of dust forming on the horizon. Slowly, that cloud grew, and the rumble became the thunder of hooves. Charging towards you, you could see a flash of pink, white and gold through the shimmer of heat from the ground.
You steady your mount as they fly past, a whirlwind of flying manes and glittering saddles, before they disappear once again into the distance. You wonder if they were ever real, or if The Queen's Stampede was just a figment of your imagination...
- Written by Capri Lakeshield
The Story Behind
The Queen's Stampede was designed as a fun Pinks Practice routine to challenge our riders to be more independent in their riding! Our members had a blast working together to put on a "drillsage" routine, pulling from elements of both Drill Team and Dressage to create something truly unique!
- Written by Capri Lakeshield
Behind The Scenes
Pinks Practice is a ranked club practice within PQL, and so this routine is a Pinks Practice Showcase!
Typically these practice routines would be called "Queens Routines" hosted by PQL's Commanders and worked on by our Queens and Princesses to help prepare them to one day perform as Legacy riders in Legacy Team performances! However, instead of excluding this routine solely to Queens rank, the practice routine was held in Pinks Practice which is PQL's all rank practice, therefore open to all club members!
This routine was written, choreographed, commanded, and filmed by Capri Lakeshield; practiced, performed, and filmed in just 3 weeks! This is PQL's first ever published practice routine!
The Queens Last Dance
Final Club Performance
Legacy Tribute
Performance
The Queens Last Dance
The Queens last dance, a tribute to our journey and the legacy we leave behind.
This performance showcases the journey of our club, taking a step through time from our very first routine to our last, a performance of our legacy. I am proud of the unexpected journey we have embarked on for the past two years and I can happily say that together we have fulfilled our dream of leaving behind a legacy.
Our journey has come to an end as we put down our crowns, but this is not a goodbye, rather a time to let the legacy we built carry the PQL name forward.
This is our legacy, fulfilled.
Behind The Scenes
The entire club of PQL worked together over the past few months to perform a routine of our entire journey as a club! This routine showcases sequences from every prior performance in chronological order, unifying all of our past routines into one; 8 Ball "A Million Pink Dreams", Need For Speed "Red String of Fate", Game of Illusion "The Emperors Dancers", Delayed Domination 1 "The Queens Legacy", Delayed Domination Live "This Is Our Legacy", Internationals 2021 "Queen of The Ashes", 8 Ball Remastered "The Yule Dance", SAxPQL Collaboration "The Queens Bane", and Record Breaking Performance "The Queens Olympiad"!
This routine was a incredible feat as it includes sequences from 9 different routines, 16 different outfits, 9 different horses, over 14 songs, and so much more all in one 15 minute routine, making this our biggest project ever! The amount of dedication and team work needed to complete such a monumental performance was outstanding and I could not be more proud of the amazing riders that worked together to film each sequence, allowing us to showcase our legacy.
The Queen's Olympiad
Record Breaking Routine
Legacy Team
Performance
The Queen's Olympiad
A record breaking routine by the ever talented Legacy Team.
A performance of gold standard obtained by inspirational team work and dedication, a Olympic ceremony ridden by those who wear crowns! This routine sets multiple SSO dressage records; most outfit changes, most horse changes, most uses of ignore & global, most moves, and longest routine... All performed in one routine by just 13 amazing riders and 1 commander.
Will you dare to take on the challenge of becoming an Olympiad and breaking our records...
Or will the crowned Queens of PQL hold these records until the final days of our legacy?
The Story Behind
Our goal is to set multiple SSO dressage records and invite any other dressage club to break the records we set within this video! Within this single routine we set the following records: 140+ moves, 33 ignores and global sets, 8 horse changes, 12 outfit changes, all in one 23 minute long routine!
The theme of this routine was inspired by the Olympics and so you can see this theme present throughout the routine. First the routine begins with the 5 Olympic rings; blue, yellow, black, green red. And then the passing of the torch begins, as each color of the ring passes the "torch" from one group to the other. The middle of the routine is a performance to signify all of the different sports held within the Olympics. The second to final sequence is the medal ceremony, where you can see gold, silver, and bronze horses representing the first, second, and third placing medals. Finally the routine ends with the closing ceremony and the 5 Olympic rings from the beginning!
This routine is quite different from the typical story driven performances PQL tends to produce, but we wanted to show the admirable talent and worth ethic of PQL's Legacy Team and so we pushed our limits and tried something completely new to us. I could not be more proud of the outcome!
Behind The Scenes
After two months of inspiring team work, Legacy Team presents our record breaking routine! This performance required incredible dedication from the team and never did they fault to work as a team to perform this project!
We began this routine by picking the topics we wanted to set records and then broke the 20+ minute routine into 7 sequences, each sequence focusing on a different part of the routine; each representing the Olympics. The 13 team members plus fills and backup riders were placed into specific groups, each group able to take breaks allowing for horse swaps and outfit changes between the sequences.
With such a long routine and so many moving parts, the only way for us to pull off such a project was to work together, often assisting the Commander as calling such a long routine was far from easy!
Despite countless obstacles such as render lag, ignore delay, glitchy videos, server lag, and more, we were able to pull together and make this routine possible! Many of these challenges can sadly be seen in this video, however despite the issues we faced the team performed outstandingly!
The Queen's Bane
PQLxSA Collaboration Performance
Legacy Team
Performance
The Queen's Bane
She is a queen.
She is the ruler of her kingdom, the commander of her people, and the leader of her nation.
But that's all glorified, isn't it? Behind her blade and her empty words, she is a tyrant.
She rules with the fear that runs through the blood of her citizens, without an ounce of pity behind her cold, uncaring eyes. She takes and takes from her subjects; mere ants beneath her steel-toed boots. Her soldiers served their majesty to provide for their loved ones, their dull blades reflective of their shattered morals. Her subjects started to talk. They whispered amongst themselves, hands cupped over ears and eyes flicking to the streets.
"Did you hear? The lord of another kingdom is coming!"
"We're saved! Oh heavens, we're saved!"
And that's when he entered their peripherals. He looked as regal as they all had imagined. The lord radiated an aura of confidence and determination— the thirst for victory in his eyes was inexorable. That was their savior. He was going to end this dreadful tyranny! Once the queen caught wind of the rumors of her downfall, she was enraged. How dare her kingdom even think of leaving? How dare they! Amongst the hushed whispers, she hears a single, young voice.
"Can we really be free?"
How dare they? How dare they wish to leave!
The queen gathers her forces amidst the uproar, but nothing could prepare her for the sight of the lord. There was silence. And then there was war. A second passed and the queen realized something was horribly wrong. This wasn't a war. This was a one-sided battle. A battle she was going to lose. Her kingdom fled as she was overthrown, the stone walls she built falling around her like a metaphor of all her wrongdoings. Her bejeweled roof crumbled to the ground, her riches meaning nothing at the face of reality.
How could they do this to their own queen? She sits in the ruin of everything she's built.
No. She was never a queen, was she?
She was a tyrant.
The Story Behind
"The Queen's Bane" theme and concept was chosen with both clubs themes in mind. Choosing a Queen and her majestic kingdom in mind of PQL and a King and his mighty warriors from inspiration of SA. The story was designed to focus on aspects from both clubs, creating a beautiful theme that matched the collaboration well!
Behind The Scenes
Pink Queens Legacy and Sword Aces partnered to perform a story telling routine together, as one. We spent the past month meeting three times a week, writing and practicing this routine together. Our two clubs worked on this routine equally, from writing and designing the routine to commanding - with Jewels and Bambi double commanding in call at the same time! During our time working together we made an alt club, "Sword Queens Legacy", and a private Discord server, allowing the two clubs to come together as one.
PQL and SA riders worked hard on this routine, PQL members switched between both sides of the routine and two brand new SA members learning and performing the routine all on one day during final filming!
"This was a crazy fun routine to make and an experience of a life time. I couldn't have asked for a better club to work alongside with as PQL has taught SA so much these past few months, it was an absolute honor to have this experience." - Jewels [owner of Sword Aces]
The Yule Dance
The 8 Ball Remastered
Legacy Team
Performance
The Yule Dance
“Are you attending the Yule Ball tonight?”
“The Yule Ball?”
“You don’t know about the Yule Ball?! It’s only the long-running tradition of the Triwizard Tournament! Come come–” The clueless wizard is taken by the hand and dragged into the house commons’ room. With a swish and flick of her wand, the wizard is yanked into glittering garments. They shine a dazzling white, a blinding shade that could leave anyone breathless.
“And of course, you’re coming with me!” With a flurry of lights, the wizard is taken into the ballroom. In just a glance, the atmosphere felt magical– like the air was imbued with an enchantment. Students are hand in hand, standing in each other’s arms as they sway to the delicate music. The Yule Ball was an annual Christmas tradition held for the students attending the Triwizard Tournament, something that not one student would want to miss. Not even our clueless wizard.
“Shall we dance? Just follow my lead.” The wizard is swept away, taken by her grace.
They follow her fleeting steps, mesmerized by her dance. Under curious eyes, they twirl and laugh, unnoticing the students that joined them. She takes the wizard’s hand, leading them to every corner of the ballroom. She twirls and giggles, her smile warm under the candles’ lighting. Once again she leads them to the middle.
Time stops. They give each other reserved smiles. They bow.
“Thank you for this dance. It was magical.”
The Story Behind
Exactly one year ago PQL performed our first ever competition routine, "The 8 Ball". Being our first ever routine we were full of excitement, wonder, and uncertainty.
We spent 3 months preparing and perfecting our first routine, during that time we learned more than we could have ever expected and created a everlasting bond with one another! Looking back to our first routine we see our mistakes in choreography, our faults in writing, but also a start to a very magical and inspiring journey.
One year later we remastered our first ever routine, remastering the routine to our current methods, skills, and level of story-telling; giving this routine the true performance it deserves after a year of progress and learning!
Throughout the routine you will see move sequences and aspects from the original routine, while also keeping the overall theme of ballroom dancing! Comparing our first routine to our remastered version proves how much our team has grown this past year and I could not be more grateful!
Behind The Scenes
Legacy Team began prepping this routine the first week of January and finished filming January 21st. With just weeks to write, perfect, and film our team worked together and performed this routine in such inspiring awe!
This routine was incredibly challenging due to the advance level of moves and technical difficulties, however despite the difficult nature, Legacy Team caught on quickly and performed with ease! This routine has many ignore sets (over 11) and due to the current changes to ignore and the delay, it made performing this routine very difficult as the ignore/unignore function was inconstant and often late - however, we continued to work through the technical difficulties and the final performance from the riders is absolutely beautiful!
Special thank you to Legacy Team, the original "8 Ball" riders who joined us for the remaster, Mars for her writing and theme design, as well as Ravn and Pickle who assisted with move writing and choreography!
Queen of the Ashes
Internationals 2021
Requirements
Placement: 5th
Competitors: 11
Score: 85.3
Judges
Britney Cloudshield
Lily Snowwalker
Vanessa Searock
April Purplenight
Judges Notes
The judges were incredibly impressed with the story, some stating it gave them chills! Some of the judges are fans of GOT and so this routine held a special place for them emotionally as the story was captured and told well through the performance.
One judge stated "the overall experience was one of the best I've had with SSO dressage routines, ever" and that the routine was "splendid".
Judges noted some mistakes with "spacings" in certain parts of the performance, being the only notable error throughout the routine.
One judge felt the "army" part of the riders took away from the main characters of the routine, while another judge stated the "army" part did not have enough of an impact.
One judge stated to prioritize action and diversity over focus of amount of riders.
Judges stated the "queen and dragons" was well choreographed but the "army" riders were a bit repetitive at times, although understood for sake of story-telling in terms of the army marching aspect.
Judges stated they loved the timing, creativity, energy, unity, uniformity, and overall ability of the riders working well together and that the routine seemed difficult to perform/execute overall.
Queen of the Ashes
“Madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.”
A new Targaryen is born, and once again, it’s a coin flip. Daenerys is alone and in exile, not allowed to live her own life. She’s held in metaphorical shackles, abused, broken down, and controlled. Her own betrothal is ripped from her hands.
She’s had enough.
“He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon.” She spat, looking down at the dirt beneath her feet.
With her newfound freedom, she births three fierce souls into the world; Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. Her dragons breathe fire, burning anything that threatens their mother to a crisp. They screech in the face of danger, “dracarys,” echoing through the void. Crossing the Targaryen and her dragons would end in certain death.
The Mother of Dragons begins her journey to the Iron Throne. She starts in Astapor, the home of the slaves and the Unsullied. Met with a man who knows not his position and who he faces, and he insults her right in her face. He belittles her, unknowing of her Targaryen blood.
“I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, of the blood of Old Valyria. Valyrian is my mother tongue.”
“Dracarys.”
With her dragons and her Targaryen blood, it ends in blood and conquest. The slaves are set free by the Unsullied and Daenerys, their protector. The Unsullied march forward, ready to serve their queen until the end. Loyalty is no small feat in the eyes of the Unsullied and Daenerys was worthy of such. The Mother of Dragons leads her army into battles, spreading her name across the lands. She conquers the kingdoms and burns those who defy her.
In the blink of an eye, everything goes wrong.
Viserion and Rhaegal are killed by her enemies. Mercilessly, Rhaegal was shot down. Mercilessly, Viserion was used against his own mother.
After a long battle, it ends in the death of her children and the death of her enemies; but also the death of her own sanity. With blood and ashes lingering in her footsteps, with the deaths of her dragons and the deaths of her allies on her shoulders, she snaps. She gives into the Targaryen curse, embracing the madness she didn’t want to inherit. She spirals into her downfall, massacring the people of King's Landing. Daenerys, the Breaker of Chains, gives into her blood, the blood of the mad.
Drogon cries in agony as he finds his mother laying lifeless, her murderer standing above her. He glares at the Iron Throne and scorches it with his grief and loss. If his mother couldn't have the throne, no one else could. He lifts her gently, carrying his mother in his claws. He turns from the melted Iron Throne and flees. After madness and war took away his mother, he no longer cares for anything in this forsaken land of greed.
She dies not the ruler of the Iron Throne, but the Queen of the Ashes.
- Written by Mingxia Rainstorm (Owner of PQL)
The Story Behind
The House Targaryen united the seven kingdoms and thrived for nearly two centuries. They reveled in fire, danced in blood, but were ultimately destroyed by the rebellion. Being descendants of a place once called Valyria, the Targaryens are born with dragon in their blood— leaving them immune to fire. They were infamous for their fall into insanity, quips arising to taunt their madness. With that mentioned, it didn’t take long for the House of Targaryen to get slaughtered; though many would have wished for the House to completely perish, their blood runs thick. And thus, the story of Daenerys of the House Targaryen, The First of Her Name, The Mother of Dragons; begins.
The routine is a retelling of Daenerys’ story. It begins at her birth, continues to her first encounter with the Dothraki and the hatching of her dragons, to her acquiring the Unsullied, and lastly, her ultimate fall into insanity as she loses everything. Daenerys enters the arena in a beige-toned outfit, a warm and light color to symbolize birth and innocence. As the dragons join her, she changes into a darker color; brown. This symbolizes the change of time, her uniting with Khal Drogo, and the birth of her dragons. She then changes to white, which signifies her status as she acquires the Unsullied, the army of the enslaved. This part of the routine is heavily based around the Unsullied and Daenerys. The Unsullied fight in formation as light infantry, they fight fearlessly and obey without question. Their elite, highly specialized training makes them most effective in their phalanx formation. As you see in the routine, the riders on the black marwaris are frequently placed in such formations to mimic the war tactics.
Daenerys, the dragons, and the Unsullied initiate war. This symbolizes the deaths of Rhaegal and Viserion, the Unsullied and Drogon fighting until the end for Daenerys, and the shell of Viserion used against his own mother. They fight until only Drogon and Daenerys remain, the Unsullied a pile of ashes, Viserion a flurry of snowflakes. Daenerys finally gives into her madness, changing into her red robes. She lays fire upon King’s Landing, embracing her madness with ashes and massacre. Finally, she is killed, and Drogon gives her a final goodbye before whisking her off into the horizon. The death of his mother leaves him lost, wandering on his own path
- Written by Mingxia Rainstorm (Owner of PQL)
Behind The Scenes
We began writing and designing this routine in January of 2021. Nearly a year later, we are proud to finally release this beautiful routine and story to the public, and we could not be more proud! Over the past year this routine has changed many times, but mostly so within the final weeks as the routine was originally unintended for competition. After a final club vote, the Queens decided to submit the routine to Internationals 2021.
With just weeks left, the routine was drastically changed. Originally written for 22-28 riders, the rider amount was lowered to just 16 to meet competition requirements. An additional one and half minutes added to the choreography, as well as adjusted to suit the scorecards.
This routine is PQL's biggest routine ever and we hope it inspires the dressage community! A special thank you to all of our amazing Queens for putting their hard work and dedication into such a monumental project!
- Bambi Prettylove (Owner of PQL)
This Is Our Legacy
SSD "Delayed Domination Live Performance" Regional Rankings 2021
Placement: 4th
Competitors: 23
Score: 87.2
Requirements
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The second part to Delayed Dominion.
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Top 6 placements continued to round two to perform a routine live for the judges.
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This competition required minimum 6 riders.
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Time Allowed Round: 4-6 minutes
Judges
Vanessa Searock
Sylvie Stormlight
Lily Snowwalker
Judges Notes
The judges stated they loved the use of the Arabian and Marwari.
The judges enjoyed the routines choreography and different move sequences.
Multiple comments stating the routine was highly elegant and beautifully done.
The judges commented on some mechanical issues.
Recommended to fill emptiness from trotting.
One judge stated there was too much "line work" in this routine.
Overall, technique was once again perfected.
This Is Our Legacy
“Pink Ladies… No. Pink Dancers? Agh, no. Elite Queens Legacy– ah! Pink Queens Legacy!
That sounds perfect.” Quite frankly, we had ambitious dreams.
The two of us, relatively new to the whole dressage club scene and even SSO, but that wouldn’t stop us from owning an elite, pink dressage club. Nothing would. And so, Pink Queens Legacy was created by two riders who had the same dream. Not long after its creation, we had a humble amount of members that were eager to learn and grow alongside us.
As time passed, we watched as our members reached new lengths with pride and a new sense of accomplishment. And when we began to enter competitions, it was time to open a new chapter of our story; a time for the Founders to pass the Queens the spotlight.
With each routine we created, we gained more experience and wisdom. With each competition we ranked, we stabilized ourselves in the renowned community. And with each passing day, there comes a time for something new. The Arabians steal the limelight, prancing refreshingly in the timeworn arena. The Queens trot apace with one another, brandishing the results of their hard work. They laugh and dance together, showing the beauty of our found family.
The Legacy we’ve always longed for has been fulfilled. The Queens, adorned in their crowns of bloomed blossoms, offer a grateful curtsy to the Founders. We ride and dance beside each other just like in the old times before we stop with a reminiscent sigh. A knowing smile is displayed on our faces as we bow to one another. It’s time to leave our legacy behind.
- Written by Mars (Mingxia Rainstorm, owner of PQL)
The Story Behind
"This Is Our Legacy" is a continuation of "The Queens Legacy" routine which was submitted for the first round of Delayed Domination. This story was designed to showcase the club as a whole and tell our story more so from the owners point of view, whereas the round one story focused more on the journey to being crowned a Queen and becoming one with the club.
The routine starts out with the two owners: Mars and Bambi, to signify the making of Pink Queens Legacy and shortly after Queens appear in the routine showcasing the opening of the club and PQL growing with members, then the Arabians join the routine symbolizing the growth and changes we have made along our journey, the owners disappear to give spotlight to the Queens as without them this club would not be what it is today. When the Queens switch to their flower crowns it represents that we have accomplished our dreams and therefore have fulfilled our legacy. The routine ends with the Queens showing their respects to the owners and disappearing one by one while the owners share one final dance and leave behind their legacy.
Telling our story through this competition was incredibly meaningful to us as creating Pink Queens Legacy was a truly unexpected journey from starting with nothing but a dream, however through hard work and dedication, we have found ourselves fulfilling a legacy we never thought possible.
- Bambi (Bambi Prettylove, owner of PQL)
Behind The Scenes
Our riders worked on this routine for about 3 weeks, at first we did not expect to make it to round two and so we had to write a story and theme within a short amount of time. By working together and testing out different ideas, we finally ended up with a beautiful routine and story, I could not be more proud.
Due to the performance being live, we could not use the ignore function, and so we used global store for all of the transitions and swapping of horses, which meant this routine had to be focused on using markers because once you enter global store you can not move. Each rider had over 20 markers to memorize due to a large portion of the routine having no "go's". Our team and fills performed beautifully and the outcome was absolutely perfect, which is a testament to the riders true talent! During preparation we focused on adjustments and fixing of mistakes, as a live routine you can not simply "reset" if something goes wrong and this helped the riders immensely as we all make mistakes at some point!
Despite nerves and overwhelming excitement, the performance went wonderfully and I could not be more thankful to have such a strong team of talented and dedicated riders.
The Queens Legacy
SSD "Delayed Domination" Regional Rankings 2021
Placement: Top 6
Competitors: 23
Score: 88.7
Requirements
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Two part competition: 1st part video submission.
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Top 6 placements will continue to the second round to do a live performance for double points.
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Competition theme based on the growth of beginner to elite dressage.
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Riders required: 6+
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Time Allowed: 5-7 minutes
Judges
Britney Cloudshield
Sylvie Stormlight
Lily Snowwalker
Judges Notes
The judges were highly impressed of our storytelling and creativity.
Judges stated the technique was once again amazingly perfected.
Judges stated the beginning was more intermediate rather than beginner.
The judges felt some aspects of the routine were repetitive and lacked variety.
Judges were impressed with the teamwork and precision of the riders.
Judges stated they did not have any negativity to say and that the routine was incredible.
The Queens Legacy
Pink Queens Legacy, the elite pink queens I’ve heard stories of far and wide. I really made it in, didn’t I? Rolling my shoulders, I enter the arena with as much poise as I could muster. I watch the queens turn away and begin with a simple, yet breathtaking section, something I always admired about them.
My mentor emerges, greeting me playfully before leading me away with unbelievable grace. I follow her instructions, mirroring the elegant moves she trots. As we stop, I watch with rapt attention as they surrounded us and showcased the product of their blood, sweat, and tears. That! That is what I strive to be. With newfound inspiration, I know I can follow in their footsteps.
As our lessons continue, the fire burning in me only grows as I watch the queens; the complexity in their movements evident. They almost looked untouchable. Although I may not have reached my goal just yet, my mentor encourages that I show what I’ve learned– to not hide the results of my diligent practicing. And with a deep breath, I dance with her. I let myself free as I execute the moves I worked so hard to perfect, my fingers clutched around the reins elegantly as I remembered how the queens held themselves with such confidence, and before I know it– It’s over.
With bated breath, I watch as my mentor approaches me and gives me their signature bow, welcoming me. She leads me into the line, standing side by side, we are one. My heart feels full as I’m crowned with a final bow.
I am a queen and this is my legacy.
- Written by Mars (Mingxia Rainstorm, owner of PQL)
The Story Behind
The Queens Legacy was designed to showcase who we are as a club and to tell the story of our legacy. This routine has aspects of the club itself, moves from our own elite dictionary, and parts from previous competition routines.
We chose this competition to tell our own story because of the theme of growing beginner to elite. We felt this was a perfect way to tell our story as Mars and I started this club with little knowledge or experience, but over time we worked our way to where we are now, an elite dressage club.
The princess being mentored to become a queen is from our very own mentor ship program within PQL, where new trials and scholars have a queen mentor help guide them through their process of becoming an official queen and becoming one with the club.
Throughout this routine the audience will notice certain aspects from previous routines, such as the infinity from 'Red String of Fate', the shapes from 'The Emperors Dancers', and more. Within this routine we incorporated moves from our very own elite dictionary, such as Bambi, Ambassador, and finishing the routine with Crown.
- Bambi (Bambi Prettylove, owner of PQL)
Behind The Scenes
Legacy Team worked on this routine and story for about one month, during that time the entire team was able to provide input and suggestions on the story and routine itself - the final product was a result of all the members working together.
Due to the complex aspect of two routines being part of one, we required to have two commanders. Bambi Prettylove commanded the 8 "Queens" while Flaw - Capri Lakeshield commanded the "Mentor" while riding as the "Princess", all happening at the same time in the same call. Both Flaw and the mentor, Sora, needed to listen to their own commands but also Bambi's commands for the end of the routine.
Flaw and Sora being the mentor and princess was very special to us, as during Sora's scholarship into PQL, Flaw mentored her into becoming an official queen. In our routines story, Sora now mentors Flaw, resulting in the story coming full circle.
Through dedication and team work, our Legacy Team was able to produce this beautiful routine and tell the story of our legacy. I am so proud of our team and grateful to have such talented riders to work with!
The Emperor's Dancers
SSD "Game of Illusion" Regional Rankings 2021
Placement: 5th
Competitors: 22
Score: 85.6
Requirements
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This competition was themed around dressage shapes and illusions.
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The first 30 seconds of the routine must be replicated and reversed for the last 30 seconds of the routine.
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Riders were required to have matching outfits and horses.
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Required riders: 10+
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Time Allowed: 7-9 minutes
Judges
Britney Cloudshield
Lily Snowwalker
Fiona Macworth
Judges Notes
The judges stated our team showed strong team work and unity! The outfits matched beautifully and worked well with our theme.
The intro/outro really caught the judges eye as it was very unique and beautiful to watch.
The line work was very impressive and some of the best they have ever seen!
The judges would like to see us advance our routines more in the sense of complex and individualized moves. The technical side was very good, however, a few minor mistakes in some parts. The energy of the routine started out fast, but began to fade towards the end.
The judges stated we have mastered our dressage, now we need to master our routines!
The Emperor's Dancers
The warm hues of rose and canary glimmer under the brilliant moon as the dancers curtsy to the critical audience. They represent the emperor with pride and joy, their heads held high as they rear, showcasing their magnificence. They feel the burden of the judgmental eyes branding onto their skin– nothing but a simmer compared to the heat of passion burning from their eyes. They fan out, creating a beautiful illusion. Nonchalant to the criticism, they flower with well-earned confidence as the tempo picks up. Such critical eyes don’t know the beauty of delicacy and intensity, but the emperor’s dancers will show them.
They flow like dragons weaving through the clouds, taking on a fierceness that no one would’ve expected from such dainty flowers. The audience is taken aback– none have ever seen a sight quite like this. This feeling— is it excitement? Is it apprehension? The dancers flow across the stage, reminiscent of a stream running gently down a mountain.
Then, they suddenly stop in the middle. A moment of anticipated silence. They twirl and bow, bright smiles adorned on their faces as they moved to the rhythm of their heartbeat. The audience watches with bated breath, so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard. With a fierce flame in their eyes, they perform. They curl and spin, weaving in and out of each other like wind playing with fallen petals. The judgmental eyes no longer seem so heavy. The emperor’s dancers return to their circle to wave a final goodbye, leaving behind only the desire to see more.
- Written by Mars (Mingxia Rainstorm, owner of PQL)
The Story Behind
The inspiration of this routine has aspects of Vietnamese/Chinese dance (music as well). We wanted to do something that isn’t too common: taking into account some culture into routines.
I’m Vietnamese myself and I, of course, love my Asian culture. What’s best but to represent that with this style of routine, music, and concept? I notice that in a lot of more traditional parties/banquets (hence the presence of an emperor), the entertainment is often overlooked as simply that: entertainers.
We wanted to show that they aren’t JUST that; they’re hard-working performers and aren’t to be written off as eye-candy.
- Mars (Mingxia Rainstorm, owner of PQL)
Behind The Scenes
PQL's Legacy Team prepped and filmed this routine within one month, however we made major changes to the final routine just a week before filming our submission. SSD extended GOI's submission date, however due to our schedule our team worked hard to obtain a video by April 25th and I could not be more proud!
Half of the riders in this routine are comp fills, meaning this is their first competition ever! One of our riders is getting married the days after we filmed this video, so thank you Flaw for putting so much time into this competition even though you were preparing for the most important day of your life! Another rider, Colorado, being our backup had to remember and perform all parts of the routine, and she did amazing, especially considering this was her first competition!
This routine was designed around the competition theme, shapes and illusions, so we incorporated many symmetrical shapes, however all in canter to keep it exciting, and added three "illusional performances" at the beginning, middle, and end! Each rider had over 30 markers to memorize, as all the shapes were not commanded.
- Bambi (Bambi Prettylove, owner of PQL)
The Red String of Fate
SSD "Need For Speed" Regional Rankings 2021
Placement: 4th (tied)
Competitors: 49
Score: 90.6
Requirements
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This competition only provided 2 weeks of preparation time and the routine required no halting or walking.
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Routines were required to have minimum 30 seconds of cantering-galloping.This competition required 6-8 riders.
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Time Allowed: 3-5 minutes
Judges
Sylvie Stormlight
Britney Cloudshield
Lily Snowwalker
Judges Notes
Due to the uniqueness of the story, outfit, concept, music, and theme, this routine stood out against all other routines. Riders had perfect technique and the routine went above the requirements of the competition.
One judge stated that using less riders at certain points of the routine can be disengaging. Judges encouraged us to continue to work on advancing our routines to tell our beautiful stories.
The Red String of Fate
Good and evil. Society has established such an obvious line between the two; wrong and right, black and white, day and night, virtue and vice. Even death and life. The two are always at each other's throats, pushing and pulling for victory in a war that was never meant to be won. The riders in black represent death; or evil. The riders in white represent life; or good. They mingle, they mirror, they dance as they size-up their counterparts. They are complete opposites of each other, yet have a chemistry none have ever witnessed.
But… Society has always deemed the pair forbidden, how could they ever coincide with each other? With society’s labels set in stone, they battle. Life and death are to be kept separate, they all say: “Good can’t live with evil, it’s pure colors would be tainted with oil!”, “evil could never coexist with life. Evil is the path to complete corruption.” As the black and white riders fight against each other, they begin to look at themselves. Everything people labeled them as, was wrong. Were they really all that different from each other? Could they really not walk down the same path as each other? As they begin to doubt the roles they play, they run towards each other, eager to end the war that they were never meant to fight. Instead of a clear victory as many might’ve expected— a stalemate is met instead.
Good and evil. Society has established such an obvious line between the two. But society is wrong. Death cannot be without life as life cannot be without death. They embrace each other, they interweave with each other. Death is not the opposite of life; it is a part of life, and the only line between the two is the red string of fate. Fate has brought them together and made them realize that, truly, there is no need to battle against each other. The red riders weave through the black and white riders, uniting them as one. Life and death join hands as they trot in a circle, realizing that they belong to each other— that they are a part of each other. To truly live, there must be an end. To truly die, you must have lived.
As good and evil return to their ubiquitous entities, fate closes their book with a knot of infinity.
- Written by Mars (Mingxia Rainstorm, owner of PQL)
The Story Behind
Ten and WinWin are two members of the popular K-Pop group, NCT. About a year ago, they filmed a video of their dance to lovely. Watching their piece intrigued me, the way they danced and expressed themselves took me by the collar and held me to the screen for days on end.
What kept me so intrigued, you may ask? Well, it was the fact that they didn’t explicitly state what the story was. It was completely up to the viewers for how they interpreted what the dancers presented. And that, my friends, is how my idea for “The Red String of Fate” was unraveled. My own interpretation is the story of this routine.
- Mars (Mingxia Rainstorm, owner of PQL)
Behind The Scenes
Pink Queens Legacy competition team worked on this routine in a matter of days, they prepped and filmed all in under the time allowed which was only 9 days!
The riders rode this routine beautifully and portrayed the story incredibly well... Using the ignore option as well as incorporating canter and extended canter into the routine for more than half of the entire performance! I am incredibly proud of our "Legacy Team"!
Waltz: A Million Pink Dreams
SSD "The 8 Ball" Regional Rankings 2021
Pink Queen Legacy's first competition!
Placement: 32nd
Competitors: 39
Score: 71.8
Requirements
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This competition required 8 riders.
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The routine was required to portray the theme of formal ball room dancing.
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Time Allowed: 5-7 minutes
Judges
NA
Judges Notes
The routine was very elegant, however, we lost points due to the routine being too slow and being center focused.
Judges stated the routine stood out amongst others as we focused on the presenting the theme, however, they would have liked to see more from the routine itself.
Waltz: A Million Pink Dreams
This routine represents everything a ballroom dance is, slow, flowing, beautiful, but with our own unique pink touch.
The name "Waltz: A Million Pink Dreams" represents Pink Queens Legacy aesthetic and the dream like state of the routine as well of the dream behind PQL: to create a club that inspires others to be unique.
Each move was inspired from a real ballroom dance and the black horses signify the dancers in tuxedos while the palomino horses signify the dancers in dresses, however, pink to spread our message of being unique.
In ballroom dancing there is always one "special dress" which is the lead of the dance, and in our routine that special dressed dancer is the cremello horse. The bows, halts, and spins represent the slow and rhythmic beauty of ballroom dancing.
The Story Behind
The riders worked on this routine for 3 months and studied ballroom dancing for many hours trying to find the perfect way to incorporate ball room dancing into SSO dressage but keeping our unique pink style.
In Pink Queens Legacy we focus and teach perfected dressage, and you can see in this video minimal mistakes and perfected timing, gaps, straightness, alignment, and so much more. This routine was performed using markers rather than "go's", the riders performed their moves using specified markers with only some moves being assisted with commanding.
Despite some hard days, the Queens pushed through and the outcome is truly beautiful. We filmed this exact take hours before submission time, with one of our riders, Tricc, learning the routine in a matter of 2 days.
