MT Barker Riding Club

Always looking for new members.

Club days are held once a month on a Sunday and we do a mixture of things, mainly flat work in the am and jumping/novelties/fun stuff in the arvo.

Yearly membership is $80 and $30 per rally or if space is available on the day then it is $50 per rally for non-members.

If you would like to see what we are all about, our next rally is being held this Sunday at Hazelmere arena (Sands Rd Echunga). This rally is already filled but you are more than welcome to come for a meet and greet and put your name down for the next which is scheduled for later this month due to missing last months.

We are all a great bunch of horsey gals who have great funny riding and gossipping, much to our instructors disgust (Noel Vears) so if you would like to join or want more info you can either contact me via PM or email our president Freya on mountbarkerarc@gmail.com

You have to pay to join and then to attend the rallies as well?

A few of our pony club members whinge about paying $80 a year for two rallies a month with no extra fees...spoilt brats!

So Hills Chick - how does a riding club differ to a Pony Club? Asking as I've never really been to anything bar pony club

Yeah the riding club I go to is $80 for a year and they have stuff on nearly every weekend.
You only have to pay extra for instructors or judges.

Yeah we're thinking of upping our cost...so that we can get more instructors up, don't have many and it's so far from anywhere =/

That or just have more 'pay as you go' clinics. We've had/having three clinics within two months (Wendy Schaeffer, Rosie Heath, John Patterson) just recently.

crazychickmia wrote:A few of our pony club members whinge about paying $80 a year for two rallies a month with no extra fees...spoilt brats!

So Hills Chick - how does a riding club differ to a Pony Club? Asking as I've never really been to anything bar pony club

we pay double that at mountain for one rally a month!

Hey Hills Chick, what time is the rally this Sunday??

As for the cost...someone has to pay for the insurance, or no-one gets to ride! In this day and age, its lucky there are any clubs around at all.

You pay extra at Mt Barker cos you get a qualified instructor each rally. So you know you are going to get good instruction by someone who makes sure you have fun......and gives you a bit of stick at the same time!! AND without any bitchiness!!!

I was a member at MVRC (like you mustang_dani) and that is great fun and good value if you want variety. I'm a bit older now and not really interested in novelties, jumping, etc, (yeah I'm a dressage snob, but only cos I'm old and too chicken to put myself in a situation where it increases my chances of falling off!!) so I found myself only attending about one a month anyway, whenever there was a flatwork session. It might be different if I had a horse that liked that sort of thing though!! Maybe I should get a pony to fang around on!! Dont think OH would be too happy with that though!! haha

It depends what you're after really.

Ah ok. I didn't realise there was an instructor there each rally. That's a pretty good fee then for a whole day.

Ooooh I wish I'd read this earlier, I really want to come see what the mt barker ARC is all about
Is Hazelmere generally where its held each month?

mustang_dani wrote:Ah ok. I didn't realise there was an instructor there each rally. That's a pretty good fee then for a whole day.

???

Do you mean you didn't realise there would be a qualified instructor, or didn't realise there would be an instructor at all?

Can a riding club have a rally without an instructor present?!

*eventer* wrote:

crazychickmia wrote:A few of our pony club members whinge about paying $80 a year for two rallies a month with no extra fees...spoilt brats!

we pay double that at mountain for one rally a month!

Couple of questions about Mountain. I've been told that:

There is a fee if you miss a rally
Miss a certain number without a good reason, loose your membership
Don't take riders under a certain age, riding ability etc
Really long waiting list

Just asking because the last year or so PAPC has had a heap of members...and I would really love to see 'quality not quantity' because some of our members are whackos...so if we brought in new regulations that caused them to REALLY throw a hissy fit and leave and never come back, I would not shed any tears. In fact, I may just throw a party.

Just put your yearly fees up! That will sort the wheat from the chaff.

As for your other questions... No, No, Yes but I don't know what the age limit is but they must be off lead reins and Absolutely no waiting list, despite rumours!

Sorry to high jack HC - MBARC is a great group though!

crazychickmia wrote:

mustang_dani wrote:Ah ok. I didn't realise there was an instructor there each rally. That's a pretty good fee then for a whole day.

???

Do you mean you didn't realise there would be a qualified instructor, or didn't realise there would be an instructor at all?

Can a riding club have a rally without an instructor present?!

Didn't realise there would be one at all.

My rc doesn't have an instructor every weekend. Sometimes there are lesson days where an instructor comes to the club, but most of the time the people who run the club organise the activities.

Hey HC is that this Sunday or the one gone??
Count me in on the next one for sure!! Bringing my boy back into some work this weekend so will eb looking for something to get him out and about too hope your well sweet xo

Sorry for the lack of reply guys, my computer got sick and had to go to hospital, still not 100% so is off to the specialist next week!!

Anyway to answer questions, even if I am a week late.

Yes we pay a yearly fee and a day fee.
Noel Vear is usually our instructor but the committe is planning on changing it up a little ever now and then so that we can get some fresh blood in.
Our riding club is mainly for the 18 and overs but there have been some exceptions
Rallies are normally held at Tiling Hill (Echunga) but due to it's sale we were unable to organise it for the last rally. Should be back there next time though.

I will post the next rally times and contact when I get them so that those who wish to come join the fun can.

Last rally had my poor little Oscy leading the group with the absolutely huge 'Darbonaire' thundering along behind us. Darby is over 17H!!