University team / riding club

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ngrace

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9 January 2010
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Is anyone on/in one?

I'm going to uni in October and I want to join the club and hopefully make the team..although I know I used to be quite good/competetive, I had a 4 year break, now i'm back into it and not a bad rider but if the team consists of people who have had a few years competing experience then well i'm probably not going to cut the mustard.
I have the advantage that i'v ridden alot of different horses since I came back to riding, (at the moment I school someones horse once a week, and ride another horse once or twice a week) but I dont think that will be quite enough to beat people who have been out eventing or other for a good few years.

I want to make the team because I have been dying to get out and about competing again since I came back to riding, I always used to love it (and have a bag full or rosettes and little medals and trophys!) - I had to give up a lovely 6yo I had on loan last year because I couldnt afford to keep and compete him.

I looked at the lists or riders that have won/been placed in university team champs, and they all have a BE record, I wont be expecting to get that far or even win, but it would be nice to make the team.

Anyway I would like to know what the standards like on your team, is it a nice atmosphere, etc...
 
My daughter is team captain for RVC and she doesn't have a BE record if that helps! What she does have, and so do you, is a lot of experience riding lots of different horses, and this is really valuable, as the competitions work on the basis of how well you ride a particular horse you have never ridden before compared to how others ride that same horse.

So be encouraged, and put yourself forward for the team trials ... and good luck!!!
 
I'm in the Edinburgh uni team! And i love it, I've always been very competitive, and this is the perfect way to keep it up :) I've had the advantage of competing a lot, but have been very lucky with the horses I've ridden, haven't ridden many different horses, but still made the team and wow its improved my riding! My position is fine on my horse, but any other I struggle. Such a good way to keep riding at uni. Not everyone in our teams has a BE record or anything, a girl on my team this year lives at a riding school (parents own it) so she's ridden loads of different horses, and done PC stuff, but not so much affiliated things, but has been great on the uni teams :) Basically what I'm saying is give it a go definitely, most are very competitive (Edinburgh is if you're coming here!) and it will give you so much experience, and even if you haven't ridden recently, you will never forget! Even if you don't have a team do they do lessons? Are club has beginner to adv lessons so gives a chance for riders who don't make the team to still ride over the year and get another chance the next year to get into teams. What uni are you going to?
 
Thanks for that! Thats one thing that i'm glad I have..and something I remind myself when I feel jealous of all my old mates out eventing their lovely (expensive) horses..no disrespect to them I know they still have to work hard for it!
Anyway i'm going to ride and school as many horses as I can over the summer as possible, get as much practice in as I can.
 
I am :D although i am not on the team as i couldn't afford to train every week i am on the committee as of next year our team is made up of people with BE records and other competitive riders and they have great fun competing and training is it essential that you do really well or just the have fun with the team and the horses? either way you usually do a trial for the team so it is based on your riding then not your record etc. and if you ride lots of different horses you will definitely be an asset.
Other benefits: great social outings and other horses things to get involved with organising gymkanas, pony games, beach rides, hacks, jump judging with lots of equally horsey people whether they have had horses all their lives started at university or just getting back into it all are welcome and i think it makes it much more fun that way much less 'elitist'. Join up and do as much or as little as you like :)
 
I'm going to Oxford Brookes:) I sent an email but they havent got back to me yet (about prices and standards and things) so if anyone has any info about them i'd love to know more!

Another thing is that some people will be taking horses to uni, and although I probably wont be able to make financial contributions, hopefully someone will want some help with the work in return for excercising, and maybe the riding club will be the way to advertise myself and meet them.
 
Sorry missed that last post - its not essential that I win but i'd love to make the team - I just want to get out and compete, and failing that just ride as much as possible! How much do you guys have to pay then, for training, clubs, competitions etc?
 
I pay a lot tbh, we're very lucky to get good trainers up here, and very good venues, so I pay £23 a week for training, and people who have a car pay less, so they can pay for fuel. Competitions don't cost us anything, it is all subsidised by our Sports Union, you will have to pay for fuel for whoever is driving and if you're staying away for a night you may have to pay. Food is always provided. It is so much fun, the social side as well, we have some pretty crazy team nights out!! Hope you make the teams!
 
If you do get onto a team, you'll only be competing 4 times an academic year (1 at home plus 3 away) and possibly some friendlies but that'll depend on what they have organised.

I was on the B team for RHUL but we didn't get any comps in the end due to no funding from the SU. The A team had a BYRDS rider, someone with a BE record and two others who were very very good. Have to say the whole club was veryyy clique though :(
 
teapot said:
Have to say the whole club was veryyy clique though :(
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I found that aswell with my uni team. I only went to the team trials and didnt get on (and I have a BE record so it doesnt mean anything!) I was dissapointed at the time, but in hindsight I realised that I didnt get a good vibe from it, training didnt seem to be that great and wouldnt have enjoyed it anyway plus it was very expensive. However, I have friends at other uni's and they love theyre riding teams so I think it just depends on the particular uni and what you want out of it. Best thing is just to go along and try :)
 
Does anyone know if chichester has a riding club, can't find anything about it on their website?
Is there some kinda database that lists all the unis involved with the teams?
 
seadog said:
Does anyone know if chichester has a riding club, can't find anything about it on their website?
Is there some kinda database that lists all the unis involved with the teams?
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I believe there's a small group that go off for lessons, but not official club and teams. A lot of it comes down to money/funding from the SU and lack of decent yards in the area who could provide the competition base for Chi :)
 
i was very pleasantly surprised with my uni club as had heard bad things from friends at different uni's about clubs being cliquey but ours is not at all every one is lovely :D
if you can't afford the riding every week (i couldn't either) i advertised to exercise horses in the area and have never ridden so much :)
 
teapot said:
I believe there's a small group that go off for lessons, but not official club and teams. A lot of it comes down to money/funding from the SU and lack of decent yards in the area who could provide the competition base for Chi :)
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o thank you, that's a shame but it's good to know, I'm despirate to get out and compeating again but will just have to put it on hold until uni is over.
 
ngrace said:
Oh thats good, did you need transport to do that? Was it mainly students horses?
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i used the bus which at 1.50 was cheaper than lessons lol i was quite lucky there re so many yards close by it wasn't students horses as such but i did meet students with horses for hacking on weds afternoon :P did get offered ride on one students horse so its a good idea but at the time i had a bit of a waiting list if you get a good reputation you will have your arm chewed off. i find it quite nice to get to know none student horsey population in the area the lady who owns the horse i ride atm takes me to the local mart, out to shows in the summer and other local events with her other horses etc.
 
seadog said:
o thank you, that's a shame but it's good to know, I'm despirate to get out and compeating again but will just have to put it on hold until uni is over.
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I know they tried in the past but the only yard close to the uni that would be suitable for uni comps weren't prepared to do it! Plus, under BUCS rules, uni teams can't share the same home competition venue I believe so it's not like they could go further afield.
 
It was definitely the best thing I did during my time at uni!! It was a lovely way to meet lots of horsey people, along with getting some cheap tuition on some lovely schoolmasters.

I went to Leicester, but we competed against Ox Brookes so they definitely have a team, although I graduated a couple of years ago so the people running it will be different now.

I would definitely recommend, even if you don't make the teams first year, the club is a fantastic way to meet lots of people, although the fact you have ridden lots of different horses is a very positive thing, I'm sure you'll do great!! :)
 
libbyandblue said:
I'm in the Edinburgh uni team! And i love it, I've always been very competitive, and this is the perfect way to keep it up :) I've had the advantage of competing a lot, but have been very lucky with the horses I've ridden, haven't ridden many different horses, but still made the team and wow its improved my riding! My position is fine on my horse, but any other I struggle. Such a good way to keep riding at uni. Not everyone in our teams has a BE record or anything, a girl on my team this year lives at a riding school (parents own it) so she's ridden loads of different horses, and done PC stuff, but not so much affiliated things, but has been great on the uni teams :) Basically what I'm saying is give it a go definitely, most are very competitive (Edinburgh is if you're coming here!) and it will give you so much experience, and even if you haven't ridden recently, you will never forget! Even if you don't have a team do they do lessons? Are club has beginner to adv lessons so gives a chance for riders who don't make the team to still ride over the year and get another chance the next year to get into teams. What uni are you going to?
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My uni B team competed against your uni B team this year :)
 
brightmount said:
My daughter is team captain for RVC and she doesn't have a BE record if that helps! What she does have, and so do you, is a lot of experience riding lots of different horses, and this is really valuable, as the competitions work on the basis of how well you ride a particular horse you have never ridden before compared to how others ride that same horse.

So be encouraged, and put yourself forward for the team trials ... and good luck!!!
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I've probably met your daughter then. My daughter rides for UEA and they are in the same league. I helped out at the UEA home comp.
 
libbyandblue said:
:) Are you from England or Scotland? Our B team competed in England against Newcastle, Teeside and Sunderland. Newcastle were very good though and beat us every time!
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Sunderland :D
Newcastle are good - apparently most of them all have their own horses and hunt/event/compete a LOT whereas our team mainly only ride at university. Had a few run ins with Newcastle as well with them often querying scores.. ah well!
 
ok my daughter is team captain for her uni - she loves it tries to give something for everyone not just competing team - she doesnt compete for them now - did last year - but membership of the "team" is brill - what uni you going to - def get involved as even the social side of team is fun to :) pm me an will give you equestrian team face book site :) x
 
Hi

I am also looking into trying to get onto the teams when I go to RVC in September!

I was wondering, can anyone tell me if you can compete in a single dicipline or is it a combination of jumping and dressage?

I am very experienced with riding all types of horses, I ride alot of young/green horses for other people. But I mainly do dressage and showing as I am not a very confident jumper and feel this may let me down if i have to jump too!

Thanks for your help

Emily
 
I captained the Uni of Birmingham A team many moons ago. As a club we were fairly successful then and as a result got really well funded by the University, from memory annual cost was in the £100-150 region. Our club was competitive, there was also a non-competitive equestrian club on a pay-per-go type of basis. We trained weekly at a local riding school and had additional team training at a better establishment/trainer in the run up to comps.

Obviously things may well have changed over the years but back then, due to it's structure we were a small club of 24 members (kept small deliberately to ensure everyone managed to ride/compete as much as possible). This meant that there were relatively few places available to freshers (in the 8-10 region) which meant that we held trials. We would get a wide variety of people try out from complete novice-experienced competitors and everywhere in between. I am sure that we came across as clicky - mostly from those riders who considered themselves good (from memory we had a BYRDs member and a BSJA junior team member try out and not get in), simply because they were not effective on bog standard riding school horses.

You don't have to be an all-singing all dancing affiliated rider. I wasn't, all I had done was some PC on unsuitable ponies for the most part. But you will be faced in early rounds of competition with bog standard riding school horses that you need to perform a novice dressage test on and jump 2'6/2'9 courses on. Horse quality does improve (thankfully) at regional/national level.

I had a wonderful time and learnt loads doing the Uni riding team so I would say go for it!
 
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