Agreed, BSJA and BD do run schemes. BUT - how big is their membership compared to WES? What % of members get any sort of subsidy? THe bigger organisations also pay their staff - WES is run entirely by volunteers who give their time for free, and in some cases incur costs themselves. In effect there people are already subsidising members.

If there are gripes, then these should be addressed with WES officials at area meetings or the AGM.

It is true that the membership of BSJA and BD far exceeds any of the western organisations. However, British Reining has been holding subsidised clinics for Green as Grass and Rookie riders for some years as part of the training grant received from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers via the BEF.

Affectionately known as Saddlers Clinics, these offer a full days training from around £25 - £35 per person. This must make them the best value western riding clinics in the UK plus they are open to any western rider, not just British Reining members. Ten clinics have been planned for 2008 and clinicians include David Deptford, Susie Anderson, Shane Borland and specific youth clinics at John Calder’s Mendip Stud. There are many more planned for next year and any western coaches who wish to apply for a grant for a Saddlers Clinic should contact David Brimson at British Reining. Additionally, any riders who wish to take part in these highly subsidised clinics can find details in FreeRein, the British Reining website and via the trainers themselves.

In addition, British Reining are in the process of evolving a new subsidised youth and adult rider training programme based on the successful World Class programme used by British Show Jumping Association, British Dressage and British Eventing. Applications to join this Talent Development Scheme will also be open to non-British Reining members but if accepted onto the scheme you will be expected to join British Reining at your appropriate level. The scheme is designed to support and encourage riders in the long term with funded clinics by UK and foreign coaches, assistance at shows with warm-up strategies and calming show nerves, advice and support from specialist nutritionists, physiotherapists and sports psychologists and sessions with Judges to learn more about ring craft and what the judge is looking for in the show pen. This is an extremely exciting and accessible programme that hopefully will have a big impact on raising the levels of performance in the long term through truly ‘rider centred’ training. Details will be announced in FreeRein and on the website.

Mejopa is right that members have the opportunity to air their views at the associations’ AGMs and British Reining Council hopes that it has taken on board what the members have been saying in using their funding to provide affordable training across all levels of rider.


Pauline Brimson