Coaches work together for riders progress

Equestrians hold regional three day work shop

Twenty young riders and nine coaches from Golden Bay, Motueka, Nelson Bays, Waimea, and Murchison came together recently to enjoy learning more about the care and welfare of their horses and to develop their riding skills. The riders, who are all working for their pony club certificate  at ‘C’, ‘C+’ and ‘B’ exams in riding and horse care. The coaches where sharing their coaching ideas and gaining ‘current updating’. Most where camping onsite at Motueka A & P show grounds.

The full cross country course was used to enable the riders to practice over a wide range of fences – banks, drops, water and fixed wooden jumps. Other practical sessions included show jumping, jump training exercises, dressage and how to work on fitness and conditioning of horses doing faster events, gaining a feel for pace, speed, rhythm and kilometers per hour.

The horse care theory sessions where based on ‘interactive’ fun methods for learning, included effective grooming, equine health and nutrition, caring for stabled and grazing horses, conformation and structure of horses and much much more. The most popular session was building a course of toy show jumps and then using ‘shrek’ horses to jump them – this produced much fun and laughter with learning remembered!!

The three days gave young riders, parents and coaches an ideal opportunity to make new friendships as well as gaining a new understanding for what pony club exams are all about.

Ongoing training for all equestrian coaches in the top of the south region will be in the form of 2 evening sessions for an ‘Effective Equestrian Coaching’ course with ‘Sports Tasman’, Richmond  April 24th and May 8th.


Thanks to Ray White Motueka not only supplied the tent the came and put it up and took it down afterwards!!!