It can be hard being an equine enthusiast and a student; the difficulty of funding once we leave home, let alone the often daunting prospect of finding an adequate school that we can trust in a new area, and the possibility of having to leave our own beloved horse at home means that for many, the sport has to be put on hold. My own experience of riding since I started at York University in October 2007 has been more fortunate and I owe this, in no small amount to my decision to become involved in the University Riding Club.

The backbone of the Club is its lessons. While to be sure this is not the only aspect of the club: we have two highly successful competing teams and an extremely eventful social calendar; it is the tuition that most of our 150 plus members come for and it is this availability of regular, affordable and above all top class instruction that has convinced me to remain in the saddle for the past year.

The Club has a remarkably large number of active members, from seasoned riders to those who have never been on a horse before, all wanting to get in as much time as they can and it would be impossible for everyone to train at the same school, so over the past few years we have developed strong relationships with three separate schools across North Yorkshire.

The school at Naburn has three classes divided by ability and experience ranging from those who have never ridden before to those who are comfortable to walk, trot and canter and who want to begin jumping. Our classes at the Yorkshire Riding Centre are for the more experienced riders who want to work more comprehensively on their technique in both flatwork and jumping. And at the school at Snainton, our two teams train in earnest for events and competitions such as the BUSA Nationals.

It is with no small sense of pride that I talk about our teams; indeed the girls have surpassed themselves this year and exceeded all our expectations. Not only were they victorious over our rival Universities in both the annual Roses and Varsity competitions, but they performed staggeringly well at the BUSA National Finals, the B Team finishing sixth overall out of 54 competing teams. 

It must be said however that it is not all work and no play as some of this might suggest, far from it. The club boasts one of the most active and vibrant social calendars of any in the University, with socials, house parties and bar crawls taking place every Wednesday night during term time with an always sterling turnout and a wide variety of unusual themes and locations around the City of York. Furthermore each year we put on a weekend holiday for our members which has always been a great success.

So what does the future hold for our club? Well of course we aim to continue to provide the high level of tuition and the lively social life that we have become known for, that goes without saying. Our two teams, spurred on by their recent success have hardened their resolve and have the BUSA Nationals up ahead with victory firmly in their sights. And in the spring term we hope to introduce our members to a new school at Hillcroft where those who have excelled at Naburn can begin to further their skills in a new setting with more personalised tuition. With these goals firmly set in our minds we will certainly be busy over the coming year, but if we are able to maintain this incredible momentum that has brought us so much success, surely there is nothing we cannot achieve.

Gemma Johnson

Position: President

Degree: Business Management Systems

Year: 3

Horseography: I loaned an Arab called Flicker; learnt to stop.  Then owned a Thoroughbred x Fell called Rocky; learnt to sit up.  Owned Oscar, a 15.2hh grey cob.  He might not have wone every competition, but he was a joy to ride...A genuine trier of a horse, we enjoyed one-day-events and hunting on a regular basis.  Unfortunately I had to give him up due to acamedic demands. 

UYRC has given me the opportunity to compete at a national level, captain a wonderful group og girls, enjoy a full social calendar and help those who share a passion for horses and riding.  Enabling other students to develop their riding skills, and working alongside a dedicated committee, have been my greatest pleasure at uni.

Likes: Enthusiasm.  Sticky toffee pudding. Tequila.

Dislikes: Selfishness. Aubergines. Sambuca.

Toni Newman

Position: A Team Captain

Degree: Joint Honours BA English Literature and History of Art

Year: 3

Horseography:  I first started riding when I was very young.  Since then, and serveral horses down the line, I'm currently eventing my 16.1h TB x Cob called Copper.  Copper and I have been a partnership now for nearly six years.  When we are not competing, Copper and I enjoy hunting regularly with the Worcestershire Foxhounds.

Likes: Cross-Country, Point-to-Point, pick-n-mix and student loan.

Dislikes: Needles and sprouts!

Ellie Pendred

Position: Social Secretary

Degree: Sociology

Year: 2

Horseography: My horse is called Maisie and she is a novice intermediate working hunter pony, with an amazing jump! Although I now face a four-hour drive home to ride her.  I have been riding ever since I can remember and have enjoyed being able to continue my hobby at uni, especially the social side!

Likes: Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares' and Kings of Leon.

Dislikes: Spiders and parking attendants!

Jay Taylor

Position: Treasurer

Degree:  Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Year: 3

Horseography: I've riden all my life - started riding on friends' horses and then went through riding schools.  Got a weekend job when I was 15 working on a livery yard for event horses and spent most weekends trying to calm down crazy young race horses that were being re-schooled into eventers.  Most of my experience is in dressage, however I love to jump.

Likes: Chinese Food.

Dislikes: Computers - and the fact they always break on me!

Philippa Clare

Position: Naburn Representative (arranging weekly lessons for advanced/intermediate/beginners)

Course: History and Politics

Year: 2