Don’t leap over Warwick’s Riding Club

Would you like to play a sport which gives you a full body workout, fresh air and time in the countryside, opportunities to represent your university, the chance to meet medal-winning Olympians and weekly opportunities to hang out with people who share your passion?

Then it’s about time you tried the University of Warwick Riding Club. This club has been the highlight of my time at Warwick so far – I’ve competed for my University since my first year and enjoyed my second year as team captain, as well as joining in every social event I could.

Now I’m delighted to steer the development of the club in its entirety in my role as President, especially as we gear up for one of our most exciting years yet.

Our club represents a sadly often overlooked sport, and this year we’re keen to introduce as many people to horse riding as possible. There’s no need to feel put off if you have no prior horsey experience – even if you’ve never had so much as a donkey ride at the beach, with our carefully designed structure of lessons you’ll soon be riding confidently without assistance at walk, trot and canter.  For those of you who are already at ease in the saddle, there’s a place for you on our successful teams. The competitive record of UWRC is glowing and only set to improve.

Team captain Benjamin McClatchie reflects on the highlights of last season and predicts another great year ahead: “There’s something pretty special about captaining such a small club. It’s a role which offers a unique potential to feel keenly each loss, and to share in each victory. If last season is anything to go by, the latter will be my greatest privilege.

“A growing commitment to the most under-represented of university sports culminated in a groundbreaking margin of victory at Varsity (241 points). Surely it’s a sign of things to come.
“However, my hopes will amount to little without the ongoing dedication of Warwick’s equestrian community. We need you on our teams! Major competitive experience is hardly a prerequisite – passion is.

“If you can jump, and perform a straightforward dressage test, you’re in with every chance. If you want to laugh as you do it, I’ll see you at trials.”

Riding club socials have always had a really friendly feel – the welcoming, inclusive nature of everyone there is what made me really feel a part of the club from my day one as a fresher.

Social secretries Kate Bamford and Eliza Harris have a lot planned for the year ahead. “Social events organised by the riding club are designed to be welcoming to all; if you like riding, think you might like it, want to date a horse rider (trust me, you do), or just want to have a laugh, we want you there,” they said.

“Don’t worry if drinking isn’t your thing – we love to have chilled out meals, go bowling, and obviously trips out on horsey excursions.

“This year we have plans to go to the races to try your luck on choosing the prettiest horse (that’s how you do it right?), going to Your Horse Live just down the road, and other horse-themed events to get you chomping at the bit for more.”

As well as the riding itself and the social side, the club has always worked to give back to the community and this year we’re making it a top priority, as vice president secretary Heather Barton reveals.

“I coordinate our charity fundraising – this year we’ve chosen to fundraise for Spinal Research who do a lot for rehabilitating riders who have had very severe falls, so Halloween will see the launch of some skeletal t-shirts,” she said.

UWRC is a club focused around a thrilling sport with endless opportunities for beginners to learn and progress, an active and varied social side, and many links to the sport outside of the University.
We’ve seen a demonstration by the world’s best dressage rider, Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin; chatted with Team GB Equestrian Olympic co-ordinator Will Connell; gone to the pub with race jockeys; and counted a top national carriage driver amongst our own.