Riding Schoolsin WA

Horse riding is a great activity for all ages, and can be enjoyed Children can form life-long friends at riding schools and often at all levels from weekend recreational to Olympic levels. become a part of the ‘helper team’, mucking out stables, filling However, getting started in the world can be quite waters, saddling, unsaddling and hosing , all of which difficult. There is so much to learn before a beginner is capable are important aspects of learning about horses, and always lots of taking care of a horse or , and so few places to learn of fun with friends. the skills required. Pony Clubs and other equestrian clubs only Different schools can offer varying levels of involvement with cater for people who already have a horse. the school horses. Some may offer a lease/share of the horses, If a child, or an adult, wants to learn to ride and manage horses where two or three people share the use of one horse. The or prior to purchasing a horse, one of the few available option is sometimes available to take one of the school horses options is to enrol in a riding school. to pony club, or a competition, or sometimes a whole group Riding schools specialise in teaching beginners to ride, from the riding school will be taken to an event. along with imparting general horse knowledge, and initiating Riding Camps are a holiday activity, enthusiastically the new horseperson to the camaraderie of the horse world. anticipated by students, where they can spend a few days to

Centura Riding School Roz Tippett Each new student is assessed in a lunge lesson at Centura and begins with a minimum of three half hour individual lessons to ensure they are proficient in the very basics of riding before they join a group lesson. The welfare of the horse and the safety of the rider is paramount. Roz herself is on the property teaching higher level riders in another arena while the riding school students are being instructed by qualified instructors, who also continue to improve their equine education. Roz is the only NCAS Level 3 Instructor in WA.

WA SHOW SCENE April/May 2015 - Page 22 a week at the school, riding daily, and usually with a few non-horsey activities thrown in. Obviously adult supervision should be present at all times, and accommodation should be clean, with plenty of nutritious food, but sometimes half the fun of the camp is the bunk beds all stacked close to one another. When choosing a riding school there are a few points that should be considered.

All instructors should be qualified, and patient. Ask if the riding helmets provided meet the Australian standard, are in good condition and are not older than five years. The horses or ponies should appear healthy and in good condition. Equipment, and etc should be clean and in good condition. The arena, stables and yards should also be in good condition. Staff should be well dressed – this simply reflects on the standards held by the school. Can block lessons be purchased for a discount, or are they available only one at a time. Do the lessons involve trail riding on occasion, and if so there should be two helpers with a mobile phone accompanying the group. Does there seem to be a happy atmosphere? Does the school have adequate insurance? Visit a few schools to enable a comparison before a decision is made on which one suits best.

Wexford Park Tanya Croker Set on a stunning property at Darling Downs, easily accessible from the Freeway, Tanya is the main instructor at Wexford Park, utilising many registered Welsh Ponies in the riding school, which the children then ride at shows as part of the Show Team. Lessons finish with the ponies being un-tacked, brushed and put away by the riders. Fun days are held every couple of months where students spend the whole day with the ponies and participate in various fun activities. Centura Riding School Roz Tippett Each new student is assessed in a lunge lesson at Centura and begins with a minimum of three half hour individual lessons to ensure they are proficient in the very basics of riding before they join a group lesson. The welfare of the horse and the safety of the rider is paramount. Roz herself is on the property teaching higher level riders in another arena while the riding school students are being instructed by qualified instructors, who also continue to improve their equine education. Roz is the only NCAS Level 3 Dressage Instructor in WA. Continued WA SHOW SCENE April/May 2015 - Page 23 Forge Farm Wendy Dodd Three beautiful Gypsy Cobs, part Riding Schools Percheron and part Clydesdales are on the riding school team and these valuable horses are kept in the very best of condition. Trail rides can now be taken to the new property - about one and a half to two hours away - and can include friends or family as part of the group on a bike or on foot, perhaps with an overnight stay, then breakfast in Chidlow on the way back next morning. Brockman’s Riding Centre Jenny Brockman As a training facility for Equestrian Australia (EA) Introductory Riding and EA courses, there are all levels of riders, both with the school horses and private horses, which are agisted at Brockman’s Riding Centre. Holiday residential camps include five day or just one day camps. As the oldest riding school in WA, they have had many successful horse/rider combinations grace the competitions in every discipline. They also cater for birthday parties, school groups, functions and corporate groups. APSB All ten breeds under the Australian Pony Stud Book (APSB) registration umbrella should be eminently suitable for childrens’ mounts in a riding school or private ownership. Utilising a quality registered APSB pony allows riding schools to expose their students to the annual Stud Show, which is strongly geared to the child rider. Oriel Park Alisa Dodds Our youngest riders, the under fives, are RIDING CLUBS well catered for at Oriel Park, with 30 minute private sessions on small, well schooled ponies. Lessons include balancing exercises, posture awareness, core strength development and of course lots of giggles. Horse riding for young children is a fun outdoor activity, that helps your child improve their self confidence, awareness and develop focus and concentration. Tuesday and Thursday mornings are dedicated to our adult riders with groups available at 9, 10 and 11 am, with positions available during these hours for half hour and 1 hour private lessons. CONCLUSION Horse riding is a sport and like all sports there are risks involved, however chooseing a professional and well run riding school can reduce those risks. Consideration should always be given to safety, while retaining the ‘fun’ part of riding. WA SHOW SCENE April/May 2015 - Page 24 Forge Farm Wendy Dodd in WA Three beautiful Gypsy Cobs, part Riding Schools Percheron and part Clydesdales are on the riding school team and these valuable horses are kept in the very best of condition. Trail rides can now be taken to the new property - about one and a half to two hours away - and can include friends or family as part of the group on a bike or on foot, perhaps with an overnight stay, then breakfast in Chidlow on the way back next morning. Brockman’s Riding Centre Jenny Brockman As a training facility for Equestrian Australia (EA) Introductory Riding and EA Horse Management courses, there are all levels of riders, both with the school horses and private horses, which are agisted at Brockman’s Riding Centre. Holiday residential camps include five day or just one day camps. As the oldest riding school in WA, they have had many successful horse/rider combinations grace the competitions in every discipline. They also cater for birthday parties, school groups, functions and corporate groups. Jan McQueen photo APSB Robyn Endersby photo All ten breeds under the Australian Pony Stud Book (APSB) registration umbrella should be eminently suitable for childrens’ mounts in a riding school or private ownership. Utilising a quality registered APSB pony allows riding schools to expose their students to the annual Stud Show, which is strongly geared to the child rider.

W estern australia Club REGISTRY

Our youngest riders, the under fives, are RIDING CLUBS WA Team Penners Association BREEDS President: Leah Broderick Ph: 9574 2464 well catered for at Oriel Park, with 30 Australian Trail Horse Riders Assoc. (WA) Secretary: Alyson Fleming Ph: 0427 611 114 Andalusian Horse Assoc of Australia - The Society of WA (Inc) minute private sessions on small, well Contact: Anna Sheehan Ph: 9525 4014 [email protected] WA Branch- President: Larry Lockyear Ph: 9641 2680 [email protected] Western Australian Cutting Horse Association President: Margaret Cala Ph: 9525 1112 Secretary: Helen McIntyre Ph: 9398 5525 www.donkeywa.org.au schooled ponies. Lessons include balancing www.athra.com.au President: Scott Lawrence Ph: 0409 782 068 Secretary: Karen McLean Ph: 0408 074 488 [email protected] exercises, posture awareness, core strength Collie Association Inc Secretary: Bianca Lawrence Ph: 0439 545 668 The Pinto Horse Society (WA) Inc development and of course lots of giggles. President: Heath Whiteaker Ph: 0435 376 567 [email protected] Australian Pony Stud Book (APSB) Society President: Pat Pope Ph: 9664 3032 Secretary: Liz Tresidder Ph: 0408 933 825 President: Secretary: Michelle Michan Ph: 0478 255 412 Zamia Adult Riding Club [email protected] Horse riding for young children is a fun [email protected] President: Maria Duncan Ph: 9295 1456 Secretary: Sue-Ellen Kiesling Ph: 0402049624 outdoor activity, that helps your child Treasurer: Vicki Weis Ph: 9295 5614 [email protected] The WA Connemara Action Group Greenough Western Riding Club www.zamiaarc.org.au President: David Strickland Ph: 9574 6524 improve their self confidence, awareness President: Karin Christie Ph: 0400 449 053 Secretary: Australian Horse Association Secretary: Victoria Strickland Ph: 0429 202 092 Kris Feddersen Ph: 4038 649 492 President: Marjorie Radford Ph: 0434 466 137 [email protected] and develop focus and concentration. [email protected] HARNESS CLUBS Secretary: Gabby Adams Ph: 0403 322 991 Tuesday and Thursday mornings are [email protected] West Australian Buckskin Association Magenup Adult Riding Group Avon & Hills Carriage Club Inc Registrar: Jenny Brett Ph: 9824 1137 dedicated to our adult riders with groups President: Sue Tighe Ph: 9574 1420 Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society - Secretary: Sue Davey Ph: 9887 1025 President: Helen Elston Ph: 0439 799 530 www.buckskinswa.com Secretary: Rena MacFarlane Secretary: Barbara Thomas Ph: 9572 6026 WA Branch- available at 9, 10 and 11 am, with [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] President: Greg Coffey Ph: 9574 6623 positions available during these hours for Secretary: Skye Coffey Murray Districts Carriage Driving Club [email protected] half hour and 1 hour private lessons. Natural Horse Players Secretary: Rowena Bathgate Ph: 0429936737 Treasurer: Teresa Schwaiger Ph: 0400 983 988 [email protected] Secretary: Samantha Soltoggio 0417 990 301 CONCLUSION [email protected] WA Harness Driving Society All the WA Club Contacts you will need..... President: Margaret Langan Ph: 0418 902 036 right in front of you! Horse riding is a sport and like all Pinjarra Equestrian Association (Inc) Secretary: Janet Barton [email protected] sports there are risks involved, however President: Myra Currie Ph: 0407 478 924 chooseing a professional and well run Secretary: Emma Allin Ph: 0402 561 206 List YOUR club now! ONLY $44 for 12 months [email protected] GENERAL standard listing ($11 per extra line) riding school can reduce those risks. WA Horse Trekkers Club Inc WA Horse Council

Consideration should always be given to President: Richard Threnoworth Ph: 9497 4297 Chairperson: Diane Bennitt Ph: 9293 3577 Ask about web promotion on www.washowscene.com.au Secretary: Anna Sheehan Ph: 9525 4014 Secretary: Marg Langan Ph: 0418 902 036 safety, while retaining the ‘fun’ part of www.watrekkers.info [email protected] or [email protected] Email: [email protected] riding. WA SHOW SCENE April/May 2015 - Page 25