Bourne Valley Riding Club
The Bourne Valley Riding Club was founded in 1966, and received affiliation to the British Horse Society (BHS) in 1967. Originally based around the Andover (Hampshire) area, its name was taken from the Bourne river running through St Mary Bourne. As membership expanded, the club encompassed the second Bourne river running through the villages of Collingbourne Ducis, Tidworth, Cholderton and on to Salisbury.Latterly membership has expanded to cover Salisbury, Winterslow, Wallop, Andover, Whitchurch, Newbury, Hungerford, Tidworth, Durrington, Larkhill, Shrewton and all places between.
The BVRC is now one of the largest adult Riding Clubs in Britain, with over 300 members and a turnover in excess of £22,000 per annum.
The club is open to individuals 17 years or older.
Events:
- Dressage Competitions range from Prelim to Elementary.
- Jumping heights from 2'3" to 3'6" with Clear Round jumping starting at 2'.
- Competition venues have included Larkhill , Andover, Cholderton EC, West Woodhay, Over Wallop and Hoplands Equestrian Centre, near Stockbridge.
- Reduced entry fees are given to club members.
- In each class a rosette is presented to the best BVRC member.
- Trophies are awarded in some classes, and these are presented to the best BVRC member.
- Competition points are given to the six highest placed members in each class.
- Points are accrued at all competitions and the overall winner receives the Be Fair Cup.
- Helpers at competitions also receive points & compete for the Caballine Trophy.
- Non-Competitive Riding Events - Each year we hold two UK Chasers rides and two or three hacks for members and their friends.
- Hunting - BVRC has a subscription to the Royal Artillery Hunt. This enables members to hunt up to 6 times during the season at a reduced cap of £15 (instead of £40).
- Social Events - Social events mainly take place on dark winter evenings; some are educational & some just plain fun.
Instruction is organised every two to three weeks throughout the year. This is mainly general instruction, flatwork with some optional grid work. Specialist dressage, show jumping & cross country instruction are also arranged as preparation for club competitions. Sessions are for 1 hour 30 minutes with groups of 4-6 riders. Cost ranges from £10-£20 per session. Instruction venues vary, but are usually held at Castle Farm (Grateley/Wallop), Cholderton EC or Hoplands EC.
Affilliated to the BHS, Berkshire County Riding Club is run by a group of riding enthusiasts in order to give riders in West Berkshire more opportunities to enjoy their riding.
Like all the clubs in the British Riding Club movement it is an independent club which is affiliated to BRC. This is very different from the Pony Club in which all authority is vested in Pony Club HQ and the local organizations are branches of The Pony Club.
The Club membership varies but is usually between 100 and 150
British Riding Clubs though originally an adult movement, now has Junior Competitions as well as senior. BCRC has opened it's doors to under 17's though the Club has decided that , in general, Rallies, Training and Camp should be run separately for adults and under 17's. Since our under 17 membership is still quite small this means that in practice under 17's have few opportunities to participate in these activities. Membership is still a very attractive option to under 17's who want to compete in RC Junior Teams or at several of our competitions.
The Club has four main area of activity.
- To organise Training sessions, rally's and camp for members.
- To organise competitions for members and others.
- To give members the opportunity to compete in British Riding Club's Area and National competitions.
- To provide a social forum for horse riders in the area.
Chilworth Riding Club
Southampton Area, affilliated to British Riding Clubs.
Ewshot Riding Club
Farnham Area, affilliated to British Riding Clubs.
Sand School Ewshot, Mrs Crimes, 20 Rushden Way, Heath End, Farnham 01252 713908
Gorley Vale Riding Club
For more information or membership form contact Rowan Lockyer 07734342476 or email gvrc@hotmail.co.uk
Hursley Hambledon Hunt
Hunt Kennels
The Kennels
Garrison Hill
Droxford
Hants
Meon Riding Club
The Meon Riding Club was established in 1968, and operates in East Hampshire, England.
Membership consists of riders from many of the towns & villages within the Portsmouth / Southampton corridor, and inland up the Meon Valley
We are an affiliated South Coast Riding club that caters for all levels of experience, from beginners to advanced, and organise shows, dressage, training and other events.
Membership is open to all, you don't even need to own a horse.
Solent Polo Crosse Club
What is Polocrosse?
As the name implies, it is a combination of polo and lacrosse. It is played outside, on a field, on horseback. Each rider uses a stick to which is attached a racquet head with a loose, thread net, in which the ball is carried. The ball is made of sponge rubber and is approximately 4" across. The objective is to score goals by throwing the ball between your opponent's goal posts.
Who can play?
The basic requisite for the successful Polocrosse player is a love of horses and the ability to ride easily and comfortably. Ball and riding skills are improved by regular practice and a competitive edge becomes important in tournament play.
Polocrosse is appealing as a sport for all the family and attracts a wide range of ability levels. In England the Pony Club has seen the tremendous potential of the game and there are now a large number of teams across the country. Club level Polocrosse is generally very sociable - for riders and non-riders too!
If you already have a horse you are halfway there. All you need in addition are a few safety items such as bandages and bell boots, and a polocrosse stick and ball for yourself - you're ready to play!
What about my horse?
Players are allowed only to play one horse, except in the case of injury. Primary Juniors must play on ponies 14.2hh or under. There are no other restrictions, you can play on any horse. The better you become the more important it becomes for the horse to be agile. Top grade players generally use thoroughbreds or horses crossed with quarter horses or australian stock horses between 14.2hh and 16hh.
Affilliated to the BHS. We are a friendly riding club with members and events in the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire/Berkshire borders. We welcome riders of all levels - whether you enjoy hacking, competing or want to meet like-minded people. We are affiliated to British Riding Clubs and aim to enter teams for all national and regional riding club competitions. We welcome both Senior and Junior (over 12 years) members.
The Benefits of Joining SORC:
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We organise many instruction sessions, with preferential prices for members, covering flatwork and jumping of all standards. We use regular and guest instructors - all of whom are professional, approachable and excellent teachers.
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We also run social events, and organise trips to popular equestrian events like Olympia. Our quadrille team have qualified for Olympia three times in the last few years.
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We have organised two pleasure rides so far this year, both in beautiful countryside, with the aim of raising money for our nominated charities.
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This year we are ran our 3rd summer camp, which was based at Milton Keynes Eventing Centre in July.
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Members enjoy reduced entry fees at our competitions and with some affiliated societies.
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We issue a monthly newsletter for members and you will also receive copies of Rider, the British Riding Clubs magazine.
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BRC membership also brings many equestrian-related discounts, and SORC have negotiated discounts at some local suppliers too.
Please join us! We want to encourage all members to participate in running the club, and hope you will join us as competitors, helpers and friends throughout the year!
Tadley & District Riding Club
We have been in existence for over 25 years now - our founder is still a member! - and are affiliated to the BHS. Our Committee not only has some very long-standing, hardworking members but also newer faces so we are able to get fresh input. A Newsletter is published quarterly and contains news, views, results and planned events. There is also an opportunity to advertise items for sale.
Although we are a relatively small Club we do try to cater for all disciplines and interests of our members. We have always had a very strong dressage contingency with many successes but show jumping and cross country tends to fluctuate. During the year we run regular dressage competitions, the last one being in October. Points are awarded to members who are placed and these accumulate throughout the year beginning in November and ending in September. This enables us to present the person and horse combination with the Dressage Accumulator Cup at our AGM in October.
We also run Clinics for dressage, show jumping and cross country. This is not only beneficial for Members but also helps us to evaluate any potential team members. These are run for all levels and experience from the very novice to intermediate.
We try our best to cater for our members' needs so please, if you have any ideas or suggestions, do contact me or anyone else on the Committee. In order to run the above events we are always in need of help from non committee members so if you are free on the day of a competition for a couple of hours please give us a call. It is a good way to meet other members and have a chat.
Thames Valley Riding Club was formed in 1983 and based around the Maidenhead area. Today, although our base is the same, with transport more widely available, we have members from 6 counties. Affiliated to the British Riding Clubs Organisation and as Area 6 members are eligible to compete for places at National Championships. We are the friendly club for adults of all ages.
Throughout the year, a very varied leisure, training and competition programme gives all our members something to be of interest. During the winter months particularly, Berkshire Agricultural College at Burchetts Green is our main venue, opening up in the summer months to several outdoor training sessions and competitions at Rosehill, near Henley. We are always interested in finding new sites to give every opportunity to both horse and rider for working away from the norm. We have members with good facilities who kindly let us use these for some of our lessons and for this we are most grateful.
The club always hopes to put forward teams for National Competitions in Show Jumping, Horse Trials, Hunter Trials, Dressage and individuals for Showing classes at the Festival of the Hunter Championships at Peterborough. For those not yet feeling capable of this, Area 6 is part of 'London and South East' who holds qualifiers and Championships for many of these events but at a lesser standard, and for those who prefer even less pressure but still want to have a go at competing, there is the Liaison Trophy in 3 main disciplines but on a much more relaxed basis. Should this still be too much, then we try to hold one pleasure ride each month and also introduce TREC training and competitions.
Socialising is a big part of our club and this year we have such things as a 'Chocoholics evening', a skittle alley competition, a series of Pilates classes, trips to the dog track and Badminton plus many more.
Wey Valley Riding Club
Wey Valley Riding Club is a friendly, sociable club, based in the Haslemere/Liphook/Farnham area on the Hampshire/Surrey borders.
Wey Valley Riding club has been established for 25 years and tries to cater for all its members, whether they are happy hackers or ambitious competitors. The club aims to encourage the rider's rapport with their horse at whatever level and hold tuition clinics for all disciplines - and also to remember that riding should always be fun!
The club holds five open competitions a year, and an in-club dressage series during the summer. In 2003 Wey Valley entered teams for the dressage, show jumping and one day event Riding club qualifiers, and came first and second at Hickstead in the teams of three showjumping.
The club also holds fun rides, barbeques, a skittles evening, table top sales and trips to Olympia, Badminton etc. A quarterly magazine, Mane News, and newletters keep members up to date.
Wessex Classical Riding Club
The WCRG is a friendly riding club of like minded people, inspired by the ethos of the Classical Riding Club. We are a club for ordinary riders with ordinary horses - all horses, any size or any breed, are judged on an equal basis. Our overall goal is to work and progress in harmony with our horse. Based in Downton, Wiltshire, we have a fast growing membership covering East Dorset, West Hampshire and South Wiltshire.
As well as helping to encourage understanding of the Classical Riding principles with dressage clinics and competitions, we feel that Classical Riding is an approach to all training, not just dressage. We therefore get involved in show jumping, cross country, group hacks, talks and demos on a whole range of equestrian activities.
Our monthly 'Talk & Chat' evenings have proved very popular and are friendly affairs featuring a variety of speakers on all things 'horsey'.
Winchester Riding Club
Winchester Riding Club was founded in 1988 as a campaigning group to maintain and promote the network of bridleways in the Winchester area. Since then it's grown to become one of the most flourishing Riding Clubs in Hampshire. WRC is a non-affiliated club and does not become involved in team competitions or training for BHS or other riding club tests, but aims to cater for all horse lovers who ride principally for pleasure.
WRC has over 200 members living and keeping their horses in the area 18 - 20 miles from Winchester. Members range from small children to older adults and the club caters for all abilities, from very novice riders to professionals, with equal enthusiasm.
During the year WRC holds about 100 different events covering a wide range of equine activities. We have an enthusiastic committee who work hard to ensure that each event is well organised and the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly. Our programme is both comprehensive and diverse and includes:
- Frequent, regular instruction at popular venues in dressage, show jumping and cross country
- Competitions (members only and open)
- Non-competitive events, eg, fun rides
- Talks, trips and visits
- Social events
If you are a member, you'll also receive our excellent bi-monthly magazine which gives details of future events and training, a full update of all club activities, reports on recent events, a What's On of local horsy events, advertisements, national and local information of interest to members and special offers for members.
We are a well established but relatively small club,with a very long history. Windsor Forest Riding Club was affiliated to the British Riding Clubs office in 1957, the Riding Clubs movement only started in 1953!
We cater for a range of abilities from those with young horses, or novice riders starting out, up to those who are already competing on a more serious level.
Annually we organise a varied programme of events to suit most tastes from beach rides to dressage clinics and team competitions.
There are many benefits associated with membership of our riding club, some of which are listed below:
- subsidised training clinics with recognised trainers
- subsidised team qualifier competitions
- third party insurance at riding club events
- Rider magazine delivered to your door quarterly
- social events e.g. barbeques, quiz nights etc
WFRC aims to send newsletters every two to three months and will also endeavour to keep members up to date via email. If you see anything in the newsletter that interests you please phone the person responsible to find out more!
We look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon.
Our aim is to promote riding as a recreational sport and offer help and support to riders in the area. We offer training for all levels and hold clinics every month in all disciplines with top level instructors. We also hold a variety of social events, lectures, demonstrations and offer the opportunity to compete for the club at a local, regional and national level.
We were originally two separate clubs but amalgamated in 1999 to form one stronger more active club. Since then we have grown in strength and now offer more events, send more teams to the championships and have more fun than ever before.
Our club is run by 10 members, who are all volunteers. We are a mixed bunch riding at all disciplines and levels. We are always looking for ideas, suggestions and feed back. For more details about us and ways to get in contact follow the link to the committee page.
We run a number of different events for our members from dressage training to cross-country schooling. We also run organised hacks in venues such as Windsor Great Park. The club also runs a number of social events from barn dances to lecture demos.
In addition to the activities for members we also run a couple of events a year open to non-members such as a combined training and dressage competition. If you wish to join the club, please contact our membership secretary, Sarah Gee on 0118 932 6377.
Benefits of Joining a British Horse Society Affilliated Riding Club
British Riding Clubs has more than 430 clubs with over 38,000 members. British Riding Clubs is legally and financially a department of the British Horse Society. Clubs affiliate to the BHS, and as a group form BRC.
Outlined below are the main benefits of being a member of an affiliated club.
BRC Membership Card
Simply quote your membership number, or produce your card, to get discounts for BRC members.
BRC Official Rule Book
This contains rules for all the disciplines of BRC Qualifiers and Championships. Your club receives two complimentary copies each year. You can also buy it from the BHS Book Shop.
Competitions
BRC offers a wide range of Area Qualifiers and Championships. Affiliated Riding Clubs also offer further competitions, training and Area points/inter club competitions.
Guidelines for Organisers of Official Competitions
This is a comprehensive guide to running competitions, including health and safety. Your club will receive two complementary copies each year. Also available from the BHS Book Shop.
Examinations and Examiners Handbook
Syllabi for BRC exams and a contact list of examiners. Your club will receive two complimentary copies each year. This is also available from the BHS Book Shop.
Insurance
BRC members have Third Party Insurance cover while competing at affiliated BRC events. For further information contact South Essex Insurance Brokers on 0845 4500634.
If you require 24 hour insurance cover this is included in BHS membership for just £50 to BRC members as the £5 joining fee is waived for BRC members. For further information please contact the BHS membership department on 08701 202244.
Rider Magazine
Our quarterly magazine keeps all BRC members up to date with news, information and articles.
Training
BRC offers comprehensive training including Senior Horse Welfare 1-4, Equitation 1-4 and Junior Equitation & Horse Welfare 1-4.
Horse Welfare Sheme
Horse Welfare Advisers offering equine management advice and support to BRC members.
Discounts for BRC members
Further benefits include social gatherings, team atmosphere and knowledge sharing. You do not need to own a horse to become a BRC member as most clubs welcome non-riding members.