ideas needed to show our club isnt all about competing...

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Samantha008

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Im president of a university riding club and wondered if anyone on here might be able to give us some ideas on how to show that our club has diversity.

I want people who love horses to join, not just people that want to win rosettes. I didnt join in my first year as was worried i wouldnt be good enough as all the people spoke to me about was competing. Back then i wasnt good enough to be competing- i was a hacker that used to jump 10 years ago. I dont want to make the same mistake- i want everyone to join that wants to. We have lots for everyone- not just people that compete!

However, our display for the day, so far, consists of many pictures taken competing and rosettes! One of our riders last year won the individual champion of the country for the univeristy leagues and has some very flashy rosettes and trophys. But we also have a holiday in wales, go out on socials, have riding lessons, play gymkhana games etc.

How can i make our stand appeal to all people in the horsey world, not just ones that want to win?!!?! Any ideas?!?! Thanks
 
Is it possible to organise nights where you invite a speaker to come along and talk about a special area of interest?

Non-horsy activities? Pub crawls, pub quizzes, food nights, movie nights etc.

Trips to horsy events?


ETA oops didn't fully read post.. so sleepy.. anyway I'll leave these here
 
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Show pictures of the holiday, or just of someone having a cuddle with a horse, or done up for a hack in high viz.

Organise lessons and hacks as well as competitive stuff and get photos. Organise fun competitions, the uni riding club that trained where I used to ride used to do games at christmas and get done up in tinsle and santa hats. You could also do fancy dress sometime - our yard have some fab photos of a fancy dress competition.

Trips to places like HOYS or YHL would be a good thing for people who don't want to compete and again you could get photos of people in the seats or the shopping area or infront of the coach to show what you do.

Also what about a trip to have a lesson on a mechanical horse and things like a talk by the lady that paints the muscles on the horses or equipilates?
 
Fun rides
Beach rides
organised group hacks
support/join local hunt
xc training for all abilities
equine table top sales
trips to lectures/demonstrations/olympia
stable management courses through BHS
social events, bowling etc non horsey events for horsey people so all standards can meet up.
 
Would having the chance to do the BHS horse owners certificates appeal to your members? I've been wondering whether to contact my local uni riding club and offering to do them at a cheap rate for members.
 
I ran the BUCS side of my uni riding club, but the vast majority of our members just wanted lessons or fun events - we were one of the largest sports clubs at the uni, and only 12 were in the teams so it was really a small part of what we did :)

Are you setting up for bunfight (or AU fair - whatever you call it)?
Our stall just had a load of photos up behind a table - we had them in sections, Teams, Friendly Leagues, Lessons, Hacking, Events (like beach rides, holiday to Wales etc), Socials... Then we got three big helium horse balloons flying 15 feet above us which meant that anyone could spot our stall in a very crowded hall :D We often had over 100 turn up for our welcome meeting and many more join throughout the first term.

Take it from what you said about your BUCS success I assume you're Reading? I graduated 2 years ago but was at the champs supporting a friend who got qualified as an individual (same league as Reading). Do you still do friendly leagues? I know you used to as I competed there in 2006! They always go down well for those who are good but don't want to take it as seriously as BUCS?

Do a 'Try It You Might Like It' event - we did subsidised rides for beginners, £5 for half an hour, and always got a huge take-up. Lots joined the club after for beginners lessons.

See www.surc.co.uk - might give you more inspiration :) I miss uni riding club!!
 
Do you know anyone who can draw cartoons? - Some large funny cartoons of the sort of things you do might show a lighthearted view of your varied activities especially if the message is that "ordinary" riders are "having-a-go" and enjoying it.
 
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