Riding Clubs - what to expect

[southerncomfort]

Over a month ago now I filled in a membership form and paid the fee to join one of several local riding clubs.

I chose this RC because their is a strong social element and an emphasis on having fun.

After not hearing anything for several days, I emailed to check they'd received everything. They replied to say that they had and that the membership secretary would be in touch. Never heard back from her.

Fast forward to last week, and I saw them advertising a clinic I fancied attending, so I emailed again to ask how I book (no info on FB page or website) and if I need a membership number. Had a reply to say that someone would be in touch, and again, I've heard absolutely nothing and now the clinic is full.

I've never joined a RC before and can't say I feel particularly welcome. I get that they are run by volunteers, and that they will mostly have jobs too.

Am I expecting too much? Is this normal? Or should I ask for my money back, as at this point I'm thinking this isn't the RC for me ?

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Over a month ago now I filled in a membership form and paid the fee to join one of several local riding clubs.

I chose this RC because their is a strong social element and an emphasis on having fun.

After not hearing anything for several days, I emailed to check they'd received everything. They replied to say that they had and that the membership secretary would be in touch. Never heard back from her.

Fast forward to last week, and I saw them advertising a clinic I fancied attending, so I emailed again to ask how I book (no info on FB page or website) and if I need a membership number. Had a reply to say that someone would be in touch, and again, I've heard absolutely nothing and now the clinic is full.

I've never joined a RC before and can't say I feel particularly welcome. I get that they are run by volunteers, and that they will mostly have jobs too.

Am I expecting too much? Is this normal? Or should I ask for my money back, as at this point I'm thinking this isn't the RC for me ?

So I am membership secretary for our riding club and I think this is pretty poor. I work and have a toddler so sometimes it does take me a while to respond to people but at my worst I'm still within 24 hours of the message.

If you're in North Yorkshire I'd say sack them off and come to us instead

 

[lottiepony]

That is such a shame and I think a bit of a poor show on their behalf!
I'm on the committee for a riding club and any new members get a personal email from our membership secretary on joining, usually within a day or 2 at most and then we are very active on Facebook advertising our shows, training etc.
All our booking is done via a system called Web Collect and is done on a first come first served basis. We can do it so only members can enter or have first dibs.

 

[Peglo]

I would be put out too I think. We only have one RC here but even before I renewed this year I was still getting emails of all the events coming up. I’ve not entered anything this year yet but I’m kept up to date on everything coming up.

 

[Vodkagirly]

For our riding club, everything is advertised on Facebook and entered entered via equo.
Most our events/training is open to non members so only real difference is that you press the discount option if you have paid membership.

It's a good point though that people may not automatically know that and maybe we need an email to explain

 

[LEC]

I think that’s crap - ask for your money back and join another one. It’s takes minutes to process and in answering your email twice they could have processed your membership and helped you out. Riding clubs are completely independent in how they run so their own mini dictatorships with over little oversight From BRC

 

[Maryann]

Over a month ago now I filled in a membership form and paid the fee to join one of several local riding clubs.

I chose this RC because their is a strong social element and an emphasis on having fun.

After not hearing anything for several days, I emailed to check they'd received everything. They replied to say that they had and that the membership secretary would be in touch. Never heard back from her.

Fast forward to last week, and I saw them advertising a clinic I fancied attending, so I emailed again to ask how I book (no info on FB page or website) and if I need a membership number. Had a reply to say that someone would be in touch, and again, I've heard absolutely nothing and now the clinic is full.

I've never joined a RC before and can't say I feel particularly welcome. I get that they are run by volunteers, and that they will mostly have jobs too.

Am I expecting too much? Is this normal? Or should I ask for my money back, as at this point I'm thinking this isn't the RC for me ?

I would persevere. Don't write off the whole club just because someone has messed up your membership application.

 

[teapot]

Ask for your money back and join one that values new members; if that's how they treat newbies, I'd wonder how everything else is done!

 

[southerncomfort]

Thanks everyone for confirming what I was thinking.

It just didn't feel very welcoming.

Their is another RC covering my immediate area (West Yorkshire unfortunately @ownedbyaconnie )which has a lot of similar activities but seems a lot friendlier, so I think I'll be joining them instead.

 

[J&S]

There can be a surprising difference between two clubs in the same area. Well worth having a reccy and perhaps going to a social and/or mounted event to feel the atmosphere. One of our local clubs when i first came here was very welcoming where as the other you practically had to have an audition to join!

 

[Glitter's fun]

My OH is now membership secretary of a non-riding related club. When he took over he found dozens of unanswered emails and literally hundreds of facebook group joining requests. Most of those people will have gone elsewhere , thinking what an unwelcoming club it is. Actually its a very friendly , active club that gave a job to a very lazy person.

If it were me I'd turn up (without your horse, just to spectate) & see if people are friendly in person. You'll know within 5 minutes if you like the atmosphere. If so ask someone to point out the membership secretary.

 

[Squeak]

That’s a shame and I can understand why you’re not feeling very welcomed. I actually had a relatively similar experience where they forgot to add me to the private FB group (I didn't realise as it was private and they had a public one where I could see they were active and doing things I was just missing out somehow) where I could join the clinics and events so I heard nothing from them for a month or so except I did get sent my membership card from the BHS after a couple of weeks. They're a great club and I'm glad I stuck with them.

You can be a member of two clubs, I am and enjoy both of them for different reasons, so maybe join the other club as well for the time being and see if it changes with the other club?

 

[McFluff]

That doesn’t sound ideal, or the sort of intro that any club sets out to provide.
However, it may be that the membership secretary is ill or otherwise incapacitated. Not good, but also not impossible.
it’s maybe worth asking how they deal with bookings (our club uses horse monkey). That way you can book as soon as you see the FB posts. Hope you can get a solution soon.

 

[southerncomfort]

That doesn’t sound ideal, or the sort of intro that any club sets out to provide.
However, it may be that the membership secretary is ill or otherwise incapacitated. Not good, but also not impossible.
it’s maybe worth asking how they deal with bookings (our club uses horse monkey). That way you can book as soon as you see the FB posts. Hope you can get a solution soon.

I did. I was told someone would be in touch, but I never heard back.

I've kept asking for info and all I'm told is someone will be in touch.

 

[Quigleyandme]

That simply isn’t acceptable. I’m treasurer of a fledgling club here in Ireland. Most of our members are “West Brits” who find AIRC too competitive and no craic at all. Even if a club is run by volunteers I believe you should perform your role well or don’t do it at all. I used to be a member of the Sidesaddle Association when I lived in the UK. The annual sub was over £50, and this is decades ago, and the country was divided into Areas. My Area was so inactive to be practically moribund and I never felt welcome. They reproduced the same tired, failed, paltry programme year after year and their social media was always years out of date. I got the impression the core members had a WhatsApp group or something similar and bypassed everyone outside their cabal and the parent body just let it happen. I hope you get your sub back and use it to join a club where you will feel welcome.

 

[southerncomfort]

Thanks.

I've just double checked and it's 5 weeks today I sent in a membership form and paid the fee.

I've now had contact from people from other RC's in the area saying I'd be very welcome, so it's good to know that they aren't all run like that.

 

[southerncomfort]

Well I've requested my fee be returned to me and sent them my BACS details.

My request was met with another 'I'll look in to it'.

 

[tda]

West Yorkshire Horse Play seem quite active,

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Well I've requested my fee be returned to me and sent them my BACS details.

My request was met with another 'I'll look in to it'.

Thats terrible

 

[Nicnac]

Gosh that's very poor. Hope the other one is more welcoming and organised. Do push for your money back - hassle them.

 

[southerncomfort]

Well to give them their due, they got back in touch today and apologised, and explained the reasons for the delay.

They also explained fully where to find event lists and how to register for events.

They actually seem like lovely people, and I think it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances.

 

[Squeak]

Well to give them their due, they got back in touch today and apologised, and explained the reasons for the delay.

They also explained fully where to find event lists and how to register for events.

They actually seem like lovely people, and I think it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances.

Really glad to hear that you've had some positive contact with them. Are you going to stay with them now?

 

[southerncomfort]

They were so nice and apologetic that I think I'd like to give them a chance.