BYRDS

[LottieandMaisy]

Just wondered how many on here do or did BYRDS? I do South West BYRDS and the training is fantastic and the people are lovely, much nicer than Pony Club people, but I can find some of the rider tests negative and I am getting very confused about what each squad requires? Does anyone else have this problem? It's just really strange to me because I'm competing Elementary, will be at Medium next year, but I still haven't made the B squad!! So I'm trying desperately to improve but confess to being confused!!

 

[airedale]

byrds is like showing - it's who you are (or are trained by) and not how good you are

get a 'name' as a trainer and you'll be on the squad tomorrow ;-)

 

[beh]

Heya

I joined the Eastern C squad for the first time this year. I really like it and have had great tuition from the one clinic I went to (with Bananaman of course!

) I dont really know about what is required for each squad.

Jess

 

[amycrellin]

You are competing elementary, what are your results like, could these be holding you back? Sounds like a pain. Is your populated by mini laura and carl's??? How have your results been at Ele?
x

 

[Bananaman]

From my involvement with BYRDS it would appear that there are no hard and fast guidelines laid down as to the requirements for each squad.
Each region seems to have it's own take on the matter and so I can only speak from what I've seen in the Eastern region.
Riders come to a 'squadding' day where they will be assessed on their riding ability whilst riding a test.......NOT on the actual test itself. So if you were riding a Medium test but the assessors considered your position, effectiveness and the way that you rode the test were not up to B squad then you would be put in the C squad. However, if you rode really softly with exceptional feeling and ability, you could have been put in the A squad.
We have introduced a C+ squad as each group covers a wide range of ability and a little Fledgling rider just off lead rein can be a world apart from someone who is very nearly B.

There are a lot of our riders that I feel should be in the next squad up, B_B_B included, but what I was told is that some of the other regions have a much larger pool of little Lauras/Carls and so put their PSG,and above, riders in the A squad, the Adv Mediums in the B squad and then everyone else in C.
As far as I can see the Squad you are in is only relevant if/when you are competing in the Inter Regional Team Comp and what was happening was that in the C squad test you had true Prelim level riders against those successfully competing at Elementary/Medium and often on downgraded horses.

In fact I was told that the Pony Talent Spotting winner of one year subsequently competed in the C squad comp.

So I don't suppose that has helped much! However don't be despondant about not getting into the B squad yet. If you compete in the teams it is an advantage to be in a lower squad!
However I do understand that you want to improve yourself and to get recognition for your efforts so keep your head down, work hard and keep putting your face in front of those assessors.