Young people aged 14-25 who want to get into a variety of different sports can begin by joining the new Young Equestrians Club at Bourton Vale Equestrian Centre, Gloucestershire, thanks to funding from Active Gloucestershire.
The Young Equestrians Club is not just about horse riding; it enables teens to connect and re-engage with sport through a fun and informal social environment and participants don’t have to be able to ride to join in. The sessions, which run every Sunday, provide the opportunity to take part in a range of sports such as swimming, fencing, running and shooting and, thanks to Active Gloucestershire, participants who join will only have to pay £5 per session in their first term.
Proprietor, Leanne Launchbury, who applied for funding to set up this initiative with the help of the British Equestrian Federation and is providing her facilities and horses, is passionate about giving people the chance to get active:
“Gaining funding for our Young Equestrians Club has given us a vehicle to keep young people interested in sport as they grow older, re-engage those that might have drifted off, and encourage 14 – 25 year olds to get active and try lots of different activities, including riding, swimming and even fencing, for the first time!”
Alex Martin, 14 “I wasn’t really looking forward to the running, but I actually enjoyed it and was much better at it than I thought I would be! I can’t wait to try the shooting and swimming is planned in the next few weeks”
Those who would like to get involved can contact Bourton Vale Equestrian Centre: bourtonvale@gmail.com, 07910 138465
Young Equestrians Clubs provide participants with the choice and freedom to try different sporting activities as well as the opportunity to develop their equestrian skills and have time to socialise with friends.
There are currently over 90 Young Equestrian clubs in the UK, with new ones opening every month. The clubs can be set up by riding schools accredited to a British Equestrian Federation Member Body, such as The Pony Club, or within Pony Club Branches. Thanks to Sport England Funding, organisations that sign up will be given support with their Club through marketing materials, session ideas and audience insight.