BRC member and proud!

 Pippa and I completing a team arena eventing competition in 2019. 

In March 2019 I decided to join a riding club. Here is why that is one of the best decisions I have made in recent years:

1) It is inexpensive- being a horse owner I think we can all confess to the fact that we rarely discuss the realities of the big "M" in our lives. MONEY- horses are money pits and everything to do with them normally has far more zeros on the end of it than any of us would like to admit to. We have all done the " no that's not a new numnah, rug, bridle darling" dance of shame at home. So it is a relief that riding club membership is so cheap. Between £25 and £30 a year for riding membership and access to clinics, camps and competitions is very reasonable in the world of horses.

Also because you have a group together the costs of training are lower such as around £20 for an hour clinic, £45 for a two hour XC clinic, £60 for a day rally. As well as reduced entry fees at club competitions. 

From left to right: Sarah and Belle, Debbie and Bandit and Me and Pippa at Downlands Cross Country after a fantastic riding club clinic in July 2020.

2) You make so many friends! I think this is my favorite thing about my riding club- I have met so many like minded people from all walks of life and of all ages. We all have different skills and abilities from those for whom walking over a pole is a terrifying prospect to those who are competing at well over a metre and everything in between. I have been cheered on from the sidelines of competitions where I am jumping 60cm and the people cheering me are jumping double that height. I have learned so much just by talking to others about their ideas- and walking courses with them. Horse riding can be a lonely sport if you don't realise that everyone around you is in the same boat. 

Pippa and I competing at team showjumping August 2020

3) It is for everyone. 

I know that in the past ( and I'm talking 10 years ago) horse riding got a bad reputation for being close minded and arrogant. Believe me, that is why it has taken me so long to rock up to a riding club on my 13;3hh. 

In the 1990s I was at pony club where I was looked down on by many people ( including some of the instructors) for the fact I had a 12;2hh ex riding school pony that I was a little tall for and for the fact that my father towed our borrowed horse trailer with a slightly clapped out ford Sierra and that I wore hand me down jodhpurs and a hacking jacket from a charity shop. I was never taken seriously and that has always stuck with me. 

I am pleased to say that in my experience of riding club this could not be further from the truth. Riding club is ALL types of horses in all types of transport ridden by all types of people. A few years ago if you showed up to a club with a gypsy cob or -shock horror- a HEINZ 57, people would instantly judge you. Not anymore! My riding club has all creatures great and small- all competing and learning together! I was so happy that in the first clinic I did there was another adult riding a pony, a lady on a stout gypsy cob and someone on a warmblood cross- it was so lovely!

Also Riding Club caters for ALL abilities. Those who want to compete, those who want to learn, people who are terrified, people who are starting out, people who are returning to riding. 

There is something for everyone from pole clinics to yoga for horses, to dressage, to showjumping, XC, Quadrille and fun themed rides on horseback and even "have a go" Trec and endurance teams. 

Pippa and I at a cross Country Clinic in 2020 

4) It gets you doing new things. In the two years I have been a riding club member I have done: 

• Pole work clinics
• Showjumping clinics
• Grid work clinics
• Yoga on horseback
• Team Arena Eventing
• Team Showjumping
• Team Dressage
• Trec
• Clear round showjumping ( twice) 
• Cross Country Clinics
• Mini Rally Days
• Dressage Clinics
• Mounted Murder Mystery
• AGM
• Christmas party
• Helped at Camp 
• Helped at clinics

The other fabulous aspect of riding clubs is that they hold meetings and are willing to look at ideas and try new things- so as a member if you have a passion and you want to try something- just ask your club! You'll probably end up organising it ( with help from the committee who are all volunteers working on their own time to help run the club and therefore are amazing humans) but then you will be able to introduce others to new things as well!

Pippa and I representing our club at Area Dressage December 2020

5) I am proud to represent my club at local team and Area events. Which I get a lot of chances to do, particularly in dressage as this is my main discipline. It gives me a boost when I put on my club numnah and fly the flag for my team. I have done this twice this year at Area level and several times at local team events. Plus you get to wear some lovely "merch" to promote your club ( you do have to pay for this yourself but I love mine and it is even personalised!) 

Me, Pippa and Digby in our riding club colours at this years Area Dressage festival. 

6) It gives you so much confidence and surrounds you with a wealth of horse expertise. I am lucky enough to be on a fantastic livery yard with loads of other helpful, knowledgeable people - but if I was on my own on a smaller yard being in a riding club would be an invaluable source of people to bounce ideas off of. And, even if you are lucky enough to be on a yard like mine, you can never have enough like minded horse friends to share your passion with and be supported by. 

So, if you have ever thought about joining a riding club I wholeheartedly urge you to do it- I have and I have never regretted the decision.