Although horses obviously won't be found inside the halls of Eureka High School, some very dedicated Equestrian Club members can be found.  Charlotte Landrome, the founder and teacher sponsor for this club, works with eight very horse-oriented students.

The students range from freshman to juniors.  Although some of the members own their own horses, owning a horse isn't a requirement to be in the club; neither is any "horsey experience."  Members said the common thread among them is the simple and unbridled love of horses.

This Equestrian Club started last year, and meets after school to discuss such topics as horse care, training methods and general knowledge of horses. Landrome said they often go on after-school field trips as well.  

One of the recent field trips was to Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, which houses and provides rehabilitation and adoption options for abused horses and other farm animals in Union, MO.  The ranch is managed by Humane Society of Missouri staffers.

Eureka's Equestrian club members also have been on trail rides, and recently went to a facility that trains horses with the "clicker method," a unique training method used to get horses to do simple commands by using a clicker device, much like the ones many have seen being used with dogs.

This spring, Landrome said they will tour the new Equine-Assisted Therapy horse facility in Wildwood, learning how horses help people overcome both physical and mental challenges.   

Two years ago, Landrome was approached by a student with the idea of the Equestrian Club and she said she is glad that occurred. Knowing a bit about horses herself  because she grew up in Texas riding and loving them, she was intrigued by the idea.

"Although it had been many years since I had ridden, I still had a love for horses, and now my granddaughter rides; it's in the blood," she said.

The Eureka Equestrian Club is one-of-a-kind, with no other schools in the local area having an extracurricular group such as this.  But with the way this club is growing, it may not be long before others jump on and ride the wave.