Joining A riding club in Ireland

Riding clubs, affiliated to the Association of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC) are one of the biggest amateur sport organisations in Ireland. Riding clubs provide a friendly and affordable environment for amateur riders in Ireland to compete across all disciplines. If you have never joined a riding club before the information and process might seem daunting so the aim of this blog post is to provide help and encouragement to anyone thinking of joining for the first time. 

In Ireland each affiliated riding club belongs in a region. There are over 100 affiliated riding clubs in Ireland. Our club, Dunbyrne Riding club is based in the Kildare area and falls under the West Leinster region. Riding club members compete representing the club that they choose to join and can compete in local shows run within their own region, in competitions held by other clubs and regions and in National championships. 

Why would I join a riding club?

Riding club brings together like minded amateur riders to learn and compete in a welcoming and enjoyable environment. It is the perfect way to meet new friends and build up experience. 

How do I join a riding club?

You must be aged 17 or over to join. To join a riding club you simply need to contact the club secretary and request to put in an application. All riding clubs and their details can be found at www.airc.ie. Our own club can be reached at dunbyrne@airc.ie / 0858144739 To apply to join a club the secretary will need you to provide your contact details, your competition and riding experience and details of any previous riding club members you may have had. They will also need your date of birth and some passport photos. 

You do not need to be on livery at a yard or living close by to join a specific club. Most riding clubs will base themselves around a yard or equestrian centre in order to enjoy facilities but riders can base themselves where ever they choose. Our riding club is named Dunbyrne Riding Club after our equestrian centre but membership is open to all and members do not need to be on livery with us to join and enjoy the club. 

How much does it cost?

Riding club is a very affordable sport as membership is simply paid annually for the rider. There are no extra charges for registering horses and owners. Membership to a club will vary from €65/70 + depending on the club. Membership runs from January to December with a discount usually offered to anyone joining in the autumn months. For example membership from October to December is available now at just €30. 

What level do I compete at?

If you have never joined a riding club before the club grading officer will asses your riding and your competiton record with other associations (if you have any) in order to advise you on the correct grade for you. In riding club the emphasis is about grading the rider rather than the horse. Riders can upgrade as they progress through the levels. Riders receive a grade for dressage, showjumping and cross country and there can be some level of variation between the grade for each. Beginner riders would be graded at the lowest level for dressage and showjumping and would not do cross country. 

If you have competed before your competition record will be assessed by the grading officer in order to advise on the best grade to start out as. A rough guide is below:

Dressage:

Dressage Ireland preliminary - Riding Club Advanced primary / Intermediate, Dressage Ireland Novice - Riding Club advanced intermediate, Dressage Ireland Elementary - Riding club open, Dressage Ireland Medium + - Riding club advanced open

Jumping:

SJI 80cm - riding club advanced primary, SJI 90cm - Riding club intermediate, SJI 1m - riding club advanced intermediate, SJI 1.10 - riding club open, SJI 1.20 - Riding club advanced open

Cross Country:

Eventing Ireland intro - riding club intermediate, Eventing Ireland pre novice - riding club advanced intermediate, Eventing Ireland novice / 1* - riding club open, Eventing Ireland 2* - riding club advanced open. 

Are there many shows?

We are very lucky in the West Leinster region as there is a dressage and showjumping league which runs in the spring and autumn which has approx 5-7 legs of competition in each. There are also a number of other shows run throughout the year in West Leinster or neighbouring regions including one day events and showing. OUr own club run 3-4 shows a year in the West Leinster region at Dunbyrne Stud in Kilmeague

What about the social side?

Riding club is known for its great social opportunities and outing as well as competitions. Most clubs run social events for members with and without their horses and the West Leinster region also organises a number of social and training days which club members can join. 

Our Case study:

Michelle Davitt started riding lessons at Dunbyrne Equestrian when she and her horse Zono joined us on livery in the Summer. In Michelles first lesson she was asked about her goals for herself and her horse. She stated that she would love to be able to join a riding club and compete at some point but wasn't sure how long it would take her. Michelle joined Dunbyrne riding club during the summer and worked during her lessons towards her goal of competing in the West Leinster autumn league. Michelle was ready to start competing on time for the autumn league and had an amazing riding club debut winning the primary showjumping and taking sixth place in the primary dressage. She and bay gelding Zono are looking forward to continuing to compete through the league and working towards their next goals. Michelle was nervous about competing for the first time but was supported and encouraged by our other riding club members including Susanne Walsh who competes successfully at primary herself and mum and daughter Clare and Orla Harrington who compete at dressage. 

How can I apply to Join Dunbyrne riding club?

You do not need to be on livery with us to join our riding club. We have a number of clients who keep their horses at home or with friends and who join us for lessons, competitions and training. To apply all you need to do is contact our club secretary Charlotte on dunbyrne@airc.ie / 085-8144739

15 Things you might not know about livery at Dunbyrne Equestrian

We love discussing options and needs with potential livery clients and as part of this there are a number of questions we regularly get asked. This has made us realise that there are a few things about our livery packages that you might not know and that you might like to know if you are looking for a new home for your favourite four legged animal. 

1. What are your opening hours?

The great thing is - there are none. At Dunbyrne Equestrian you don't need to panic about getting home from a competition before the yard closes or getting access for an early start. We are family run and live here 24/7 so our livery clients can come and go to their own timetable. 

2. Do you do discounts for ponies?

Our full livery costs €120 per week. That includes top quality haylage and feed twice a day and daily muckout, turnout and use of all our facilities. We can offer this full livery for just €90 a week for ponies 14.2 and under. We have lots of clients with ponies who take part in activities such as interschools, pony club and SJI. All liveries can take part in free group lessons in our AIRE approved riding school. 

3. Do you do DIY?

We offer assisted DIY. This means that we look after the feeding and haying daily for you and you look after your own turnout and mucking out with us providing fresh bedding for you to use when mucking out twice a week. The turnout provided is individual turnout paddocks. We carefully and mantain and rotate the use of these paddocks so that they all have grass in them year round.

4. is the riding school seperate?

There is no need to worry about having to share arena space with riding school lessons. Our AIRE approved riding school is housed in it's own 20 * 40m outdoor arena and stable block. Our main livery arena is a separate 70 * 50m, floodlit all weather arena with a huge amount of space for everyone. 

5. Do you offer lessons?

All of our livery clients can avail of free group lessons in our onsite AIRE approved riding school. However we have three BHS and HSI trained coaches on our team one of whom is also a BHSI and BHS Exam Assessor. These coaches are available for private lessons at competitive rates and work with clients to create individual training plans. 

6. Do you offer grass livery?

In the Spring and Summer season (April to October) we offer a limited amount of grass livery at just €50 a week. In the Winter we offer a choice of assisted DIY livery at €80 a week or full livery at €120 per horse / €90 per pony. This allows us to maintain our grassland to a high standard over the Winter to ensure that all of our horses can enjoy fresh grass in the Spring and Summer seasons. 

7. Can I have a flexible livery plan?

We offer flexibility to our livery plans at short notice to meet clients needs. if for example you are on assisted DIY and need two days of full livery a week or you are on full livery and need a week of coaching or you want to switch to schooling livery while you go on holidays we can accommodate these requests by adding the extra services to your basic plan for a reasonable fee. 

8. Are there any hidden extras?

We don't believe in charging our livery clients for any reasonable ad hoc requests for routine needs. So if you need a rug changed or  to have your horse held for the vet or to park your horse box etc you wont have to worry about any surprised on your bill. Understandably if our team need to do something extra on a regular basis this would incur a small charge. Our livery rates also include vat / taxes. 

9. What is coaching and schooling livery?

Coaching livery is full livery with 4-5 coaching sessions from our BHSI per week. It is ideal for anyone preparing for competition or wanting an intensive course of sessions to improve them and their horse. Schooling livery is full livery with your horse exercised by a member of the team 5-6 days a week. This ideal for busy clients who want to keep their horses fit while handling their own busy lifestyle and / or competing at the weekend. Both options are available as needed so if you want full livery with your horse exercised twice a week we can organise it. 

10. Have you any hacking?

Dunbyrne Equestrian includes a 1km all weather sand gallops which leads on to a wooded hacking trail with cross country fences with the backdrop of the hill and bog of Allen. 

11. Are there any competiton or schooling venues near by?

We are a ten minute drive from Coilog EC one of Kildare's premier competition venues. We are within an hour or Killossery and less than half an hour from several local competition venues for riding club / pony club / schooling / cross country. 

12. What are the stables like?

We are not a fan of colder, sparse stables with rubber matting and not much else. We manage our stables with the comfort of the horse in mind. Each stable is very spacious (14 * 14 feet) and includes a deep litter warm shavings bed with good banks for optimum comfort. (straw also available if required). Our stables are built in a courtyard formation allowing full ventilation and allowing horses to see each other. 

13. Do you take horses in for schooling / breaking / sales prep?

We are happy to take horses in for schooling, sales preparation, competition preparation, breaking and handling and any other work needed by the owner. 

14. What is holiday livery?

If you are heading away and want to keep your horse fit and well schooled we will happily take them in on holiday livery while you are away. You can enjoy your break and come home to a horse that has been well looked after and is not fresh. We can even give your horse a makeover while you are gone if you like. 

15. Do you run any competitions?

Dunbyrne Riding Club, affiliated with AIRC (association of Irish Riding Clubs) is based onsite at Dunbyrne Equestrian. Membership is open to anyone 17 and over. We run at least two riding club shows a year at Dunbyrne Equestrian and enjoy social outings. Our members compete at AIRC competitions locally and nationally. 

To talk to us about any aspect of our yard or livery packages, drop us a private message or call 086-2222440/ 087-9244385

Success all round for Pippa at Punchestown

It was a red letter day for Pippa Durham, pupil of Ross O'Hare (BHSI), at the Kildare North Leinster IPS show last Sunday at Punchestown. Pippa was competing in the show ring on board Jim Delaney, Monsieur Frederico and grey mare Sky Dolly where she put her training into action and delivered consistent top performances. 

Pippa won the 153cm open working hunter on board bay gelding Jim Delaney and the pair went on to take reserve working hunter champion. They went on to win the 1.10m performance class as well as the 158 open working hunter. 

Up next was Ciara Durham's grey Connemara mare Sky Dolly who took second place in the metre performance class. Monsieur Frederico was third in the novice 153cm working hunter, winner of the over 16 Connemara working hunter and finished the day awarded reserve Connemara champion.

Well done Pippa!