Horse Shoe Awards are a series of awards which can be completed within the Pleasure Ride sphere.

The aim is to introduce junior riders to skills and experiences that will prove useful to them as they progress within the sport – or indeed as they progress on to other equine sports.

There are 4 riding awards and 2 other awards.

At the most basic level a ‘Pleasure Horse Shoe’ is awarded for the completion of 3 rides of more than 5km (3 miles). This award allows the youngest members (who are often led by dedicated parents on foot) to achieve an award early in their career.

The next 3 Awards - Horse Shoe Levels One, Two and Three - must be taken in sequence and are for the completion of 3 rides each, of more than: 8km (5 miles); 16km (10 miles); and 24km (15 miles) respectively. While riders may ride up to 32km (20 miles) for any Horse Shoe ride, they will be encouraged to build their fitness and distance gradually. Other skills, such as time keeping and riding to CTR speeds are also introduced through the 3 levels.

A Vetting Award will give junior riders practice at taking their ponies through the vetting procedure. To achieve this award they will get their pony vetted on three separate days within half an hour of completing a ride. (Vets are not present at all rides – please check with the organiser.)

Finally, a Ride Assistant Award encourages younger riders to learn more about how rides are organised. Riders will attend 3 rides without their pony to spend some time helping an adult to do various tasks – eg Taking entries/giving out rosettes; writing vet slips; manning checkpoints or crewing for a CTR rider.

Over the past few months, many of our juniors have known that these awards were being planned, and as the adults pondered the logistics of each award, so the youngsters started to champ at the bit! Now finally, at the start of the 2005 season we have launched the Horse Shoe Awards! The package includes a Junior Rider Logbook, and certificates and badges for completion of the various awards.

Horse Shoe Logbooks will be available at ILDRA rides in the New Year. The logbook gives more detail about each of the awards and has spaces for ride details and signatures. It also explains the minimum ages for starting each award, and details the necessity for adult supervision of young riders while they complete these awards. We are looking forward to an enthusiastic response.

Contacts: Anyone who wants to know more should contact Sally Burch on 9081 2368 or Kirsten Catterall on 3752 7049.

Memberships:
Junior membership of ILDRA costs £15,
Adult Pleasure Rider - £25,
Adult CTR Rider - £32.50,
OAP - £10,
Family membership - £65.

ILDRA runs 20-plus rides in Northern Ireland each year, and membership also covers rides held in the South. All new members (junior or otherwise) are welcome.

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