Take Back The Reins
Whether its a year, a decade or feels like a lifetime, the BEF is encouraging riders to 'Take Back The Reins' and rekindle their love affair with the horse.
Have no fear, you can rediscover the freedom, the fitness, and the faith you had in the horse thanks to an initiative being brought to you by the British Equestrian Federation.
Whatever the reason for your lapse - work, family, finance, or fear, the Take Back The Reins initiative is timetabled and designed to work around those issues so your first ride this year, can really be the first of many and give you the chance to meet new friends - returning riders and horses too.
Much may have changed since you last rode - to you and to equestrian centres - so you'll be offered a free induction at a specially selected equestrian centre, chosen because of their excellence with not a sadistic instructor, excruciating saddle, or humiliating horse in sight!
After your induction you'll then be able to 'Take Back The Reins' at your own pace and that means friends with no previous experience can join in too and share your experiences over a coffee and cake or champagne and strawberries as takes your fancy.
When you are ready - and that might be straight after your induction - you'll then be invited to participate in Take Back The Reins riding routes or hacks in your region or across the country - going with your training group or meeting up with other Take Back The Reins riders.
Read a case study from Mary Morris
With socialising a core component, you'll be able to share in your stories and enter a world away from washing up, computer screens, wailing children (or grandchildren), community or cultural commitments.
And, if you've already got an inkling that you'd like to amble on a horse in the open air, keep your feet on terra firma and join volunteering groups, use Take Back The Reins to get riding fit to take an riding holiday adventure or have no idea of the modern day Olympic and non- Olympic disciplines and specialities from team to individual sports available, Take Back The Reins can give you the lead you need.
- Participating Centres
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Ham House Stables
Ham House Stables
Richmond
Surrey
TW10 7RSTel: 0208 948 6201
Mobile: 07711 422 307
Email: minette@art-of-riding.com
www.art-of-riding.comMount Mascal Stables
Mount Mascal Stables
Vicarage Road
Bexley
Kent
DA5 2AWTel: (020) 8300 3947
E-mail: mountmascal.stables@virgin.net
www.mountmascalstables.comPark Lane Stables
Park Lane Stables
Park Lane
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 0HYTel: 07796 842 328
parklanestables@googlemail.com
www.parklanestables.co.ukTrent Park Equestrian Centre
Trent Park Equestrian Centre
East Pole Farmhouse
Bramley Road
London
N14 4UWTel: +44 (020) 8363 8630
info@TrentPark.com
www.trentpark.comWoodredon Equestrian Centre
Woodredon Equestrian Centre
Woodredon Farm Lane
Waltham Abbey
Essex
EN9 3SXTel: 01992 714312
Mob: 07506 465320woodredon.ec@virgin.net
woodredonec@btinternet.com
www.woodredonec.co.uk - How Take Back The Reins works
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At Take Back The Reins we know being too busy is likely to be your key reason for not riding.
But if you've let your commitment to the gym lapse or felt guilty for taking some 'me' time, why not combine the two and, in choosing Take Back The Reins you can set the pace to suit your current and aspiring fitness levels and discover how 'me' time might be the freedom of a hack or taking on a new challenge with your old best friend, the horse.
The course is flexible too with sessions being staged to suit lunch breaks, school runs, and work stresses - midweek, midday, weekend or evening - the choice is yours.
Our approved centres are those that are proven at delivering excellent customer service - we don't want anyone's heart racing on account of being greeted by a barking dog (or instructor).
Instead they'll have the facility for your group to socialise - and scrub up - after your ride and have coaches that are committed to training you as an individual, tailoring training to suit your needs, motivations and goals.
If you want to ultimately ride with your family, or let your more junior or senior members join in on the ground or from the gallery, this can be accommodated too.
- What to expect at your induction
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We'll get the embarrassing bit over with first - your age, height and weight and any medical conditions and then it's over to you. You'll be invited to share your first equine experience, your last, and everything in between (if any at all!). We'll try and identify what you enjoyed most about being around horses, riding and discover what you would like to achieve, your motivations and goals, fears, hopes and dreams.
Depending on those, you'll then be invited to meet your horse and let your intuition take over and allow any fears or excess adrenaline to subside.
If that's as far as you'd like to go at first, you can try out the centres horse-mastership courses but, as soon as you feel ready and it could be that same day, you'll be in the saddle, taking back the reins.
- What do I need to wear?
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Thankfully fashions have changed but before you embark on expensive outfits, our centres can provide you with a safety hat of the correct standards for this century and some even provide boots and body protectors.
Otherwise comfortable leggings and boots with a heel are all that you'll need straightaway.
- Fear you are too rotund to ride?
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Most centres have horse that can carry up to `15stone but don't let that put you off. Our centres are aware of the health benefits and weight loss just working around horses brings and may be able to invite you to take part in carriage-driving, yard duties or equitation-specific fitness classes. You'll be amazed how much you can learn from the ground and once back in the saddle you'll be coming on in leaps and bounds.
- But I haven't ridden for half a century!
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No worries. Riding is one of the few sports that suits all ages - from 3 to 93! Your muscle memory will likely kick in fairly quickly and while your fitness, balance and coordination will all improve in time, you'll be able to enjoy yourself right away because, while riding hasn't changed much, the coaching style has. It's a dragon free experience these days and, better still, no matter what your age or ability you'll likely be an inspiration to all in your new 'take back the reins' team.
- I'm not sure I want to come alone
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That's not a problem - bring a friend and, if they aren't ready to ride, they can watch from the gallery or avail themselves at the refreshment area available nearby. You'll also soon be meeting your fellow new or returning riders and there's a whole new equine family for you to share your experience with too. For the cyber-savvy there's also a Take Back The Reins facebook page so you can keep in touch with the group even if you miss a session.
- Sign up
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Sign up for a free induction and you won't be saddling up for a series of Take Back The Reins sessions. While we expect you'll be wanting to pick up the reins as regularly as possible, you can join in whenever suits you, with Take Back The Reins sessions timetabled at least once a week at your centre and hacking at regular intervals during intervals.
Contact Jodie Maile at jodievm@aol.co.uk
- Benefits
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As a Take Back The Reins rider you'll also have access to
- TBTR facebook page
- TBTR days out - a chance to meet other riders at events inspired by equestrianism be they theatre, art, shows or events
- Access to discounts and promotions as we access them
- Notification of new sessions and new hacking routes.
Remember last time?
Perhaps its your first time?
Saddle up to Take Back The Reins
Fall in love with the horse all over again
Take Back The Reins; An initiative designed to get you confidently on track, riding or driving free in the open air, healthier, happier and having fun with horses.
- Fits around family, career or other commitments
- Empathetic coaching
- Fabulous facilities
- Free induction
Whether your aim is Hyde Park or a horse safari, to relive your youth or discover the latest team horse sports suitable for all the family to play, Take Back The Reins is for you.
Winston Churchill said, "No hour spent in the saddle is ever wasted" so rediscover what riding can do for your health, happiness, fitness and freedom.
If your first best friend was a pony, find out how falling in love with a horse can change your life!
Imagine all the freedom, riding everywhere. Take Back The Reins offers you the chance to discover your country, around the corner to another county.
No such thing as a Free Ride?
Sign up for a free induction to Take Back The Reins and you could get more than you bargained for;
Fun, friendship and fitnessContact Jodie Maile at jodievm@aol.co.uk
