Barnard Castle and Teesdale Riding Club (BCTRC) has grown by 60 members in the past year alone and chairwoman Lezley Aldrich was thrilled with how the last 12 months panned out.
The junior ranks have been decorated with rosettes from competitions the length and breadth of the country.
Mrs Aldrich said: “We had Sammy Morgan at the Lincoln Qualifier. Polly Nicholson came first in the individual at Lincoln; we had the Horse Trials qualifier which our junior team won and the Festival of the Horse qualifier which we won as well.
“We won the North Regional Championship at Bishop Burton and our junior team won the dressage there as well.”
The team did qualify for three other championships but Mrs Aldrich explained how logistical difficulties could stretch the club’s resources to the limit.
She added: “They were all four hour drives away by car – one was an individual so it was just too far to travel and the qualifier for Dressage to Music was held on a weekday.
“One is four hours 15 minutes by car so obviously that’s even longer with a horse box on the back.
“The Festival of the Horse is in Aston Le Wall, which is another four-hour drive away, but because it’s a team I think they are going to try to make the journey down.
“It’s a little bit different when they are four of you.”
A trip down to Daventry in May will mean another long trip for the team.
Southern clubs are reluctant to travel and event organisers are reluctant to stage many events in the north.
It’s something which grates with Mrs Aldrich.
She added: “We had the British Riding Clubs up but they wouldn’t bring the qualifiers up north because the people from the south would not travel up. They say there is not enough people up here to make it pay.
“It’s not very nice but never mind – we travel all the way down there because we haven’t got the option.
“Surely they could do alternate years to make it fair but I doubt that will ever happen.”
Despite the regional glass ceiling, there is still plenty to be positive about at the riding club at both ends of the generational scale.
Its young horse and returner riding lessons have proved popular.
Mrs Aldrich added: “If you have just broken in a horse and it’s never done anything we have provided instructors to do flat work and pole work.
“It’s proved popular because there are not many places you can work your young horse where it’s not going to be frightened by more experienced horses.”
She also said older riders returning to the saddle have increased in number during the past 12 months largely thanks to another riding scheme.
Mrs Aldrich added: “It attracts those who maybe rode in their youth, had children and they’ve decided to go back to riding.
“Or they’ve taken up riding their children’s horses.”
At the younger end, the juniors are showing their mettle as they clamber through the competition ranks.
Emily Barningham, Hannah Straughan and Pippa Morgan claimed all the podium places in the junior dressage at the BRC National Grassroots League.
Young Jessica Straughan took the top rosette in the junior showjumping category.
A successful last couple years has laid the foundation for more recent successes.
Mrs Aldrich added: “They are young juniors but they’ve come up through the ranks to do extremely well.”
New manager Kelly Clack has entered the club from Weardale to offer the club some fresh blood.
And BCTRC is also trying to do its bit to support the neighbours.
Mrs Aldrich is a member of Hamsterley Riding Association – a group trying to rejuvenate its fortunes and its numbers.
She added: “We open all our events and lessons to Hamsterley and they reciprocate – it means the small clubs can keep going.
“They get the opportunity to attend anything we put on and they put on hacks and rides in the forest which we can go to for the same price.”
Much is made of the BCTRC’s ethos of fun and inclusivity regardless of experience or skill level.
A wet summer didn’t dampen that spirit despite the loss of a few pleasure rides.
Mrs Aldrich added: “It’s not been too bad at all – we have always been able to find alternative venues or go on an all weather surface.
“Our riders are notoriously tough – we’ll ride in all weathers if we have to.”
The club will take part in an area two dressage qualifier on January 28 with one junior team, three junior individuals and four senior teams entered.
For the 2018 Grassroots competition the club has also entered four junior teams.
BCTRC’s horse and return to riding clinics will be held on January 27, February 10, February 25 and March 3.
Showjumping clinics will be held on February 11 and March 25.
For more information contact Mrs Aldrich on 07891 660317 or go to www.bcandtrc.co.uk
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