Membership Contact:
Lloyd Fletcher
Email: lcfletch@bigpond.net.au
Ph: 0400 668 020
As our name implies, we’re a social club and welcome members from other clubs to join us. We also partner with other clubs to run joint rides. In a normal year we average approximately 60 trail rides per year. We conduct low key “Nervous Nellies” midweek rides at least once a fortnight to cater for nervous horse and rider combinations. The ride days vary according to circumstances and can be run at short notice. The Club also conducts rides on Saturday or Sunday, at least once a month, to cater for advanced riders, or those unavailable during the week. Each year the Club also hold a number of camps ranging from weekends to 10 days in duration, visiting such iconic places as the Victorian High Country and the Snowies.
We describe our group as laid back and easy going and cater for riders who are maybe coming back to riding, or are building skills and confidence, or maybe working with a green or inexperienced horse. We offer a range of rides to sustain members’ interest, varying the length, speed and topography according to rider skills and horse fitness etc. Most of our rides are conducted within a 1-hour radius of the Ballarat district, but we travel further afield when the opportunity arises.
Our main aim is to promote, encourage and foster trail horse riding in the Ballarat Region. We have a culture which promotes recreational riding, horse riding skills, horse welfare and participation.
Club social evenings / general meetings, held every second month, are very popular. Usually held at a local pub, the usually short meetings are preceded by drinks, socialising and a meal. The social aspect of our club creates a genuine feeling of connection and belonging, making it great fun to be part of. The friendships and comradery carry over to our trail riding. There is always good-natured banter along the way and a sense of support and understanding for new or nervous riders. There is a broad range of experience, skills and abilities, older and younger riders, and horses of all shapes and sizes. We even welcome members who join us with harness horses and vehicles, where the terrain is suitable. We average about 14 riders per ride, usually about 18 on weekends, and between 8 to 12 on weekdays. Camps are more popular averaging about 30.
The Club is always striving to add rides to our calendar and welcomes suggestions for new rides and locations.
The Club was established in 2015 to cater for those wishing to return to riding after having a family etc, as well as encouraging others of any age to take up trail riding.
