BRC Presents - September 28 Training Day

Because we had to cancel the Derby Day, sadly, we are offering members the opportunity to still come down and use the grounds and some of our equipment.

This is a low-key training day which will be guided by Committee members at particular areas. 

There may be an opportunity to also use some obstacles, but this will depend on the numbers of available folk, entries on the day and the condition of the grounds.  (Arena 2 can be water logged and may need to be closed).

We will be setting up one dressage arena so that you can get a taste and have a practice of the Derby Tests we were/are using for the Derby Day Competition.  You may use a caller and you may ride it as many times as you like on the day.  This will also give you the opportunity to try something a little different and give some feedback on the flow of these tests.  The tests are available for downloading below.

You may also just bring your horse down to use the grounds (NOT the XC course) and hang out with your BRC friends.  Great opportunity for floating practice and young horse exposure.

Committee member, Helen Blain, will be setting up some poles/cones exercises for groups of four riders in one of the dressage arenas and will guide you through their placement.

Honorary member and former President, Helen Locke, has kindly offered to provide some guidance in horsemanship required for out on the trail. 

Helen needs no introduction to most of you, having been involved with the club since it's inception.  However, if you do not yet know her, Helen’s main interest for over 30 years has been trail riding, and she also competed in endurance riding for more than a decade. Helen has also ridden extensively overseas and would be happy to provide information about endurance riding and great places for overseas riding holidays, having been to Europe, South America, Canada and Africa.

Details below:

Horsemanship for trail riding with BRC Honorary member Helen Locke

Trail riding requires lots of skills and training of your horse to enjoy a safe ride.   These sessions will cover some of the main skills that can be useful out on the trail as well as general trail etiquette.

We will start with a bit of ground work moving the front end and the back end of your horse, halting (ground tying) and backing up – all useful skills to have on the trail. We will then do these exercises ridden. We will then head over to the water jump area and practice riding things you commonly find out on a trail – low lying branches, puddles, water crossings, small logs, small banks.  If there is time each rider will ride a course of the trail obstacles to finish up.

Sessions will be maximum 4 riders and go for ~ one hour and 15 minutes.

Come saddled and ready to ride (including a bridle for the horsemanship trail).

A draw will be provided in the week prior to the training day so that people know which groups they might be in.

Please note that registration is required for compliance with emergency contact details, numbers and catering.

You only need to register for one activity, but you will be asked if you would like to be put in a poles group for both registration options.  This is for scheduling.  The Horsemanship for Trail groups will likely fill quickly, so do not dither!

Cost for registering is $10 and includes lunch of cold meats, salads and bread rolls.

No refunds will be offered for scratchings or cancellations of this training day, but we still ask you to let us know, via email before the day to [email protected] or on the day via text to 0487 299 539.