New scheme allows riding school clients to join British
Riding Clubs
Riders are now benefiting from the successful roll-out of
a scheme allowing those who ride at riding schools to join
British Riding Clubs (BRC).
The 'Riding Club Centre Membership' scheme was launched in
January 2007, to make British Riding Clubs available to the
wider riding community in the UK. There are now more than
30 Centres being set up or established across the UK.
These new Riding Club Centres give non-horse owning riders
all the opportunities of valuable training, examinations,
competitions and social benefits offered by being part of
the BRC movement.
Laurie Punnett, BRC Chairman, said: "We are delighted
with the uptake so far. It is always a challenge launching
something new from scratch and we have had to learn quickly,
but the scheme has been really positively received by riding
schools and their clients. We plan to significantly increase
the number of Centres across the UK as we head into 2008."
The very first establishment to join the scheme was Lavant
House Stables, in Chichester, West Sussex. Their Riding Club
Centre has been a great success and they now have 16 active
adult members.
Lucy Thomson, Proprietor of the BHS Approved Lavant House
Stables, said: "The Riding Club has been a huge business
success for us. We now run a very popular programme of regular
instruction and competitions in dressage and show jumping
for our club members. They have been thrilled with this new
opportunity and really enjoy being part of the Riding Club
spirit."
Currently the Riding Club Centre Membership scheme is only
available to BHS Approved riding schools. The individual riding
school becomes a British Riding Club affiliated to The British
Horse Society. The individual club members then join the Riding
Club Centre, paying £25 for a full 12 months' individual
membership.
All those who sign up can benefit from improving their riding
and horse care knowledge through BRC examinations and competitions
in all the riding disciplines. They can also enjoy a fun and
supportive club atmosphere with a wide range of social activities.
Members receive special discounts and BRC's quarterly magazine,
Rider®.
The development of the scheme has been supported by funding
from The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and Sport England
alongside advice from The Pony Club, which operates a similar
and very successful scheme offering Pony Club Centre Membership
through riding schools in the UK.
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