Why do you belong to a riding club?

I belong to two riding clubs both have many events/training within hacking distance of the yard, there are quite a few yards in the area and plenty of people without transport.

Both RC clubs have different prices for helping and non helping members. I would like to be a helping member but I don't have a car and I commute to central London every day so I don't get to the yard till quite late in the evenings. If there was something I could help out at that was within walking distance or I could get a lift then I would offer my services.

Most people who have joined have done so because we have committee members on the yard and they have encourage people to join and publicised the training and events. Both clubs have been very welcoming and encouraging to those who want to learn or compete weither it be first timers doing the work trot test or those wanting to do the teams. The training also caters for those wanting to do beginners jumping at 60cm to more experienced people wanting to jump over 90cm.

I like being part of the clubs as they are so encouraging, when I started out at the club I was so nervous about doing dressage that I almost passed out and was mainly coming last and then gradually becoming more confident. Eventually I won an intro and the club was so excited to tell me I had won and now I have even won an open prelim test on my pony. Neither club treat me any differently as an adult on a native pony to those who compete at the higher levels on competition horses. Both clubs support everyone's achievements at what ever level they ride at and try and cater for all levels.

One of the clubs also has a points system for member and lots of members trophies as well, in fact I have decided to donate a new trophy to the club as I feel I have got so much from being a member.
 
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onmybreak said:
So what motivates you to take part in club activities? If you are a member and don't take part why don't you/ what stops you?

Many thanks for your help :)
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The fact they have changed the day of their events to saturdays instead of sundays - I work so I can't go to events. Very disappointed.

Also regarding teams, I don't do these activities as I am not a good enough rider.
 
I would like to see more people realise how much work goes into organising events, even quite small ones :eek:
I am yet another RC committee member, with a demanding full time job, a commute, horses at home and other 'adult' admin and house stuff. I too am not a lady who lunches. Our entire committee are getting a bit fed up of being the idiots who shift jumps, get no chance to take part in events etc. because the members seem to have the view that it all happens by magic! I am also on a local bridleways committee, which we also struggle to get people to attend!
I do feel better for that rant :D
 
I have 5 affiliated RC's to choose from in my local area, so I'm quite lucky. I know people in most of these clubs, and some people are members of several clubs. 3 out of the 5 local clubs are very competitive - I'm a member of the least competitive of them. Compared to the other clubs the one I'm a member of offers more out of the saddle activities, and that's what I really like about it, especially as I have nothing to ride at the moment (One too creaky, one too young).

Our club has a monthly meeting at a designated pub and a horse related guess speaker. I usually manage to get to most of the meetings through the year, as it only involves leaping in the car and getting to the pub, so its do-able with heavy work commitments (no horse catching, cleaning, loading, traveling etc that takes more time than I have). Our club organisers a coach to Olympia each year and a few other non ridden activities, say a showing workshop for example. Our club is very friendly, and supportive and is not full of people that look down on others or think themselves to be the next Pippa Funnell! There enough of those types in the other RCs!

My club also hold mounted events: runs a dressage series in the winter and a show in the autumn, and also organisers a summer camp as well as usually a monthly training session/rally.

I was on the committee myself for a few years, and I'm very aware that the success of our club is down to a few key people that work relentlessly to keep it going and sort things out. It is always the same people and the same faces helping out at events. I think this will always be the case as there are people who like to do and people that don't! I also think (based on folks I know) that the more competitive people are actually out competing more, be it RC, or other and therefore have less time (but more likely less inclination) to be helping out doing the unglamorous, thankless stuff.
 
YorksG said:
I would like to see more people realise how much work goes into organising events, even quite small ones :eek:
I am yet another RC committee member, with a demanding full time job, a commute, horses at home and other 'adult' admin and house stuff. I too am not a lady who lunches. Our entire committee are getting a bit fed up of being the idiots who shift jumps, get no chance to take part in events etc. because the members seem to have the view that it all happens by magic! I am also on a local bridleways committee, which we also struggle to get people to attend!
I do feel better for that rant :D
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Absolutely! I'm just the same - on the main committee and our Show Jumping sub committee and we set up courses the night before then spend all day running the bloody thing and I don't get time to compete either!

We set up a duty rota for our members and its their responsibility to find another member if they can't help at that show. Its not much to ask - only half a day at most, but you'd be amazed how many can't be bothered. Then eveyone moans that we don't organise enough stuff!

That said, our Club is pretty busy with the shows and training we run and we always do teams (with some success) so its not all bad, and although I do get fed up sometimes, I do enjoy the club, both as a member and as a committee member. I've also made lots of new friends through it - that can't be bad!
 
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