Capitalising on a good feeling

Having read an article in Horse and Hound today regarding people taking up riding following the incredible success at London 2012, it got me to thinking. Many non-horsey people regard the sport as elitist and exclusive, a hobby of the rich (but that's a whole other post that I've already shared), and in a time when people are scrimping and saving to even afford the essentials, it's hard to convince people to take up a sport that could potentially cost them an arm and a leg.

From a personal point of view, since I began working following my graduation, I found I was surrounded by people who neither rode nor even cared about horses. I was happy to share my hobby with people if they asked, but never spoke about it unless prompted. When I made good friends with some of my colleagues, they took to asking how my last riding lesson was, but that was as far as it went - until the Olympics. Having had my BBC Olympics app going on my phone on every break, people gradually began to watch the eventing, and then the dressage, with me. Suddenly, before I knew what had happened, people who had never been near a horse in their lives were asking me how we were doing, what our chances of getting in the medals were. When I came back off my break to (rather dramatically) announce that Charlotte Dujardin was a double gold medallist, people were unexpectedly enthusiastic. Even those that I hadn't spoken to that day came up to me a couple of days later to tell me they had watched 'the dancing horses' and thought of me, asking what it was all about and how the riders got the horses to do what they did. My friends began coming to watch my riding lessons, asking if they could come back week after week and actively enjoying it (although a couple were more scared than they would admit!).

The problem with all of this, as far as I can see, is that people already in the sport perhaps haven't done enough to encourage this influx of interest. Take my riding school for example - I haven't seen anything encouraging people to start up lessons, to find out more about the sport, and I consider this a wasted opportunity. Why not offer half price taster lessons, or open days? Why not encourage existing riders to bring partners or friends for a go to see what all of the fuss is about? I appreciate that there is a mountain of red tape to get through at equine businesses, but without new customers, how can places like this survive? Offering half price introductory lessons for a period of a month would hardly set them back a lot, especially if only 50% rebook future lessons at full price. Or if half price is too much to stomach, how about an introductory course of five or ten lessons at a slightly discounted price? Encouraging people to come back whilst making them a good offer - win-win! Lessons at my riding school cost £22 for an hour, and whilst I am willing to go without other things to afford these lessons, people new to the sport aren't likely to tolerate it, as they don't have the passion and enthusiasm already there to want to pay it.

I have felt, at times, like a one-woman publicity machine in my place of work for riding as a sport, and I'd like to think that my passion for horses encourages people to want to give it a go, but it's not up to me to convince them to take that final leap - it's up to the businesses that need the custom to find ways of making them do it. Many places have seized the moment and got more people on the books, so if they can do it, then why can't the others? Bringing more custom and money into the sport is only going to be beneficial, so what are they all waiting for?

Charlotte Dujardin: World Number One

London 2012 left the world in no doubt as to the brilliance of Charlotte Dujardin and the wonder horse Valegro, but now FEI has confirmed her status at the top of the sport with her sitting on top of the world individual ranking - the first British combination ever to do so.

Charlotte and Valegro at London 2012 (image: telegraph.co.uk)

The latest rankings put her 107 points ahead of Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival, who of course came second in the individual in London. Other Brits in the list include Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris in fourth, Carl Hester and Uthopia in 18th, and Team GB's individual pairing, Richard Davison and Artemis in 22nd. Other Brits such as Emile Faurie, Michael Eilberg (more than once) and Emma Hindle also feature in the list.



This news continues to add to what has been heralded as a new era in British dressage. With brilliant young riders such as Charlotte and Laura, and the eminent presence of the superb Carl Hester who appears to be as good a trainer and mentor as he is a rider, things look as if the rise of this sport in our country will only continue. Although the news that Valegro and Uthopia may well be sold is a blow, their current riders are talented and dedicated enough to not be without a top ride for too long.

There is, of course, top young horses such as Woodlander Farouche (ridden by Michael Eilberg) coming up through the ranks, and with the Olympics encouraging more people than ever to turn to the intricate, fascinating sport of dressage, it seems that these golden days are here to stay...

Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Farouche (image: horseandhound.co.uk)

Olympics Retrospective: Some impressive yet terrifying jumps

Now that the post-Olympics closing ceremony hangover is beginning to retreat, the gaping hole in my life that the Games filled is suddenly glaringly obvious. What did I do with myself before the Olympics started?! How did I spend my lunchbreaks at work before I had the joys of the BBC's Olympics iPhone app to watch the equestrian events live? What did I do in the evenings before I had an afternoon of grand prix dressage to catch up on?

Perhaps talking about the Olympics isn't the best way to find new things to occupy my time, but it is so much easier to appreciate the things I didn't have the chance to notice the first time around as I was far too busy biting my nails or getting everybody at work hooked on the showjumping (I have turned into a one-woman equestrian spokesperson, in my distinctly un-equestrian workplace). Watching highlights of the Games during the closing ceremony, I was suddenly struck by just how awe-inspiring the showjumps were. I am far more used to leaping over a block, a couple of poles or the odd barrel, so what could be more exciting than jumping a London bus?! So without further ado, here is a small selection of the best fences London 2012, and the course designer Bob Ellis and his team, had to offer...

1. St. Paul's Cathedral

I have often commented that the mare I ride feels as if she could clear a house on a good day, but jumping over a cathedral has to rank as pretty impressive



2. The Postbox



The iconic red postbox, the stamp...quintessentially British. Incidentally, I am almost positive my mare could clear a postbox, if not quite a cathedral



3. Tower Bridge

I absolutely love this fence, I think it may well have been my favourite on the course, if only for brilliant pictures like this

4. The London Bus

This fence looks so flimsy, as if it would topple at the slightest touch. I love the technicality of it, as well as the novelty value of jumping a double decker

5. Houses of Parliament

Actually, I believe this may be more of a Westminster-themed fence, with the London Eye in it, but all the same, how impressive would that be to see out of the corner of your eye?

I might be gutted that the Olympics are over, but the wonderful thing about pictures like this is that they really will last a lifetime.