BYRDS / BD - costs?

Sol

Sol

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What are the costs like for joining, training & competing?

I've had an offer for transport - someone I know says her daughter would also like to do the BYRDS stuff, and I've thought about it for a while.

Is it only really worth it if you have money to be out every weekend though?

Also, I'd be a bit worried about turning up at any training with Dante... we haven't actually been 'to' any comps/training really, and he can be a bit of a nutcase.... he can also work nicely but often takes about 40mins for him to even begin 'working' though the cold is making it bad right now, I don't remember him being THIS bad :o

I don't want to end up paying for membership for something that is going to be a waste, so if anyone has any info I'd really appreciate it! :)

Ideally I'd like to aim him at elementary dressage to start... but really I want to go as high as he will :) He can move well and is very clever, but is rather like a clever, moody teenager - if he isn't being entertained somehow, he starts being a twit or destroying things, then if you tell him off he will be very dramatic and 'storm off' to the best of his abilities ;) :D When he's good, he's lovely though, honest!

Sol x.
 
I think joining is in the region of £120 for rider and horse

Competitions and training are extra, BYRDS training is from basic Prelim upwards so wouldn't worry about him being naughty.
 
Well, I'd recommend BD over BYRDS.

I did talent spotting with my old pony which was quite good (as far as I can remember). Then I went to a training session with Dela and it was AWFUL. The main thing the trainer (wont mention names on here) kept telling me was "Kill her, kill her." Needless to say, we haven't been back since :o

BD I love :) We don't compete every weekend. You don't need to really, it only takes a few outings to qualify usually, although the new rules might make it take a bit longer. - On a separate note, I dread to think what the warm ups will be like at the regionals with these new rules.

:)
 
I think you can do a couple of BYRDs training sessions before you have to join BD. If you are a PC member you can get a cheap membership that allows you to do BYRDS training and prelim tests. The BYRDS trainers I know are happy to work with all different types and standards of horses and ponies.
 
Chloe - think that's one thing I worry about, I like trying different trainers, but if most training was offered by someone I disliked I'd be disappointed!!


Maybe I will aim to do some training & clinics, then look at simply affiliating & finding dressage clinics that you don't HAVE to be a member for??
 
Check your region - but a good way to experience BYRDS is to go to a residential training camp - here you should find the BYRDS rep and meet other mums/riders and have a bit of fun

I dont know about the other regions for BYRDS, but the BD NW region run 3 x camps a summer at somerford park and non members do go and are made welcome!
 
Ooh, Somerford is only around the corner (5mins away pretty much!) so anything going on there is always good news! :) I'll look into that, thanks! :D

The more I think about it, the more I think I need to just get on with it! Pottering about hoping that one day the penny drops and he turns 'sane' may be rather pointless...! Perhaps when he learns that his brain has a (positive!) use the pennies shall indeed drop... I hope :rolleyes:
 
I would join BD and do the comps etc and go to some of the training days your RDO will organise.

I did BYRDs when i was younger went to the BYRDs Nationals a few times but it is SO snobby and full of children whos ''mummy and daddy'' have bought them ponies that cost more than my house!!

BD is much more friendly as are the training days :)
 
Tempi said:
I did BYRDs when i was younger went to the BYRDs Nationals a few times but it is SO snobby and full of children whos ''mummy and daddy'' have bought them ponies that cost more than my house!!
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There are different levels of BYRDS though! The basic training clinics often have 'normal' ponies/horses and are worth doing. Our region also runs BYRDS dressage shows which anyone can enter and we have found them to be friendly competitions again with a wide range of horses/ponies and riders.

However, from what I have heard, once you get to the stage of being 'on the teams' it all gets a bit more like you have described!
 
I did quite a few BYRDs training days and also did the talent spotting 3 times - its definitely all about who you know and how much your horse/lorry cost :(

I found the BD training days were much more productive and everyone was a lot friendlier.
 
Tempi said:
I did quite a few BYRDs training days and also did the talent spotting 3 times - its definitely all about who you know and how much your horse/lorry cost :(
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I would say that was Dressage U21's, I found it was all about the posh southerners horses.

Sol, you are under BYRDS northwest and I can tell you it's not about the horse and it's about the person.

You don't need to join anything, but if you are a BD member then clinics are £5 cheaper it also opens you up to represent NW BYRDS in more comps than if you're not.

Just find the clinic you would like to goto, email the rep and book yourself in

it's as simple as that, they hold the regionals in april which you can enter or not, your choice.

If you do want to get picked for the NW BYRDS team, then you have to do 3 clinics in a year and you need to keep them upto date of all comps you have entered and what score. but you don't have to do that, just start off with clinics and take it from there.

PM if you want more info
 
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