See NEWSLETTER
for updates - NOW UPDATED WITH NEWS FROM THE AGM - including
new classes to be added for 2011.
Results
for MAY Show Can be viewed HERE
Full
Colour Version
of the
Schedule can
be downloaded HERE
Shortened Version
of the 2011 Schedule can be downloaded HERE.
2011 Membership
forms can be downloaded HERE.
Ribble
Valley Riding Club has been established
since 1947, making it one of the oldest Riding Clubs in the Country.
Initially mainly a Club for local farmers families, there was
no fixed Showground and members used to meet four or fve times
during the summer in whichever field a farmer had just collected
the hay off in an area which covered Preston and the Ribble Valley.
Indeed some old silver trophies still bear the legend "Preston
& Ribble Valley".
There
is no record of the date when the Riding Club became established
at Witton Park, but it is over 30 years ago. The first regular
showground was off Longsight Road in Blackburn. Mr W Nicholson
was a member in those days and he has memories of Ben Harwood
meeting his wife at one of Ribble Valley's early shows, when he
borrowed a saddle from her. It was not unusal for a horse to pull
a milk cart in the morning and go and jump a round of showjumps
in the afternoon. Very few animals were kept purely for pleasure
in the early years just after the end of World War II.
Today's
Show has grown to 70 classes, which include Show Ponies, Show
Hunter Ponies, Working Hunters, In-Hand, Coloured, Cobs, Mountain
& Moorlands, Handy Pony, Young Handlers, Novelty classes and
a range of Dresage Tests from Preliminary to Elementary.
Witton
Country Park is one of the best grounds to be found. Situated
on either side of the River Darwen, the showground has lovely
level, well drained and tended grassland surrounded by woodland
areas of an outstanding natural beauty. The Working Hunter classes
include a grassy bank, lightly wooded and the chance to enter
out Working Hunter Clear Round, early in the day.
Browse
through our pages which you will find both informative and enlightening.
Most of your queries should be answered within these pages. Any
further questions may be sent through our Contacts link or by
e:mailing or telephoning a committee member.
We
look forward to welcoming many new members to our Riding Club
this season. Our classes are of a high standard and it seems that
both horses and riders get better every year. That does not mean
to say that if you are a new pony owner there will be nothing
for you at Ribble Valley. There are many classes to suit a wide
range of ponies and horses and all newcomers are welcome. All
riders are novices at some point in the lives and if you have
never competed at a show before, do ask a committee member for
advice, which will be willingly given. For younger children, come
and try our Handy Pony classes, one of them on the Lead-Rein,
or the Novelty classes for which you do not even have to ride,
but just lead your pony into the Ring. Or try our Beginner's Working
Hunter class, where the jumps will be very low indeed and may
be ridden on a Lead-Rein for parents or relatives energetic enough
to run round with your jocky and pony.
VICTOR
LUDORUM WINNERS
We
are completing our Roll of Honour of all past Victor Ludorum Winners
Will anyone with knowledge of names of winners from previous years
to those shown,
please let me know.
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