Our Level 3 equine management students have been running some amazing events as part of their events management module.
The latest, held this week at our equestrian centre, was an inter-college event which attracted teams from across the region. Students from Burrows Lane Equestrian Centre in Merseyside, Coleg Cambria in north-east Wales and South Staffordshire College accepted the challenge and we also entered our own team.
The competitors either rode dressage tests at preliminary or novice level or took part in a practical stable management session followed by an equine knowledge quiz. Once the overall marks had been added up the Reaseheath team of Holly Ryan, Cerys Thompson, Alex Parsons, Lucy Lloyd-Brown, Suzannah Offley and Liv Billinge was top of the leaderboard with Coleg Cambria just one point behind. South Staffordshire College was third and the team from Burrows Lane Equestrian Centre, one of our partner training centres, came fourth. Reaseheath’s Alex Parsons and Suzannah Offley were individual dressage winners.
Organisers Katie Lloyd, Grace Simcock, Pia Chambers and Emily Lawless were delighted with the level of support from the participating colleges and from fellow students in what proved to be a hugely enjoyable event.
The money raised from entry fees and a cakes and drinks sale will go to The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre (BTRC), a charity close to our students’ hearts as we have several BTRC horses here on loan.
Proud Course Manager James Rayner said: “The event was very successful, with all competitors well turned out and showing a high level of sportsmanship. It certainly achieved its main aim, which was to foster good relationships between colleges while encouraging the students to gain knowledge and have fun. We are hoping to develop a regional league between colleges in the future, and this has been a great start.”
A week previously another group of Level 3 students ran an equally successful event – a public lecture demonstration with Ernest Dillon FBHS, international showjumper and coach to riders up to Grand Prix dressage and four star eventing level.
Ernest is one of few Show Jumping Specialist Fellows of the British Horse Society. He is also a UKCC Level Three Showjumping Coach, an Accredited British Showjumping Coach and a British Eventing Master Coach.
This highly prestigious equestrian instructed some of our staff members in front of an appreciative audience, with the emphasis on how to develop their horses’ techniques over fences.
Ticket sales and money raised from a raffle again went to support the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre.
Holly Ryan, who organised the event along with Libby Southerton, Caitlin Linton-Taylor, Sophie Gannon and Liv Billinge said: “Ernest is a legend and we couldn’t believe it when he agreed to do the lecture demonstration for us. His appearances are like gold dust.
“It was a group decision to invite Ernest here. We wanted someone who was a personality and who had never visited the college before. We were so pleased when he agreed to support us.”
Said Ernest: “I’ve enjoyed my first visit to Reaseheath. The facilities are fantastic and there’s a nice friendly atmosphere here.”
- The final student run event is a Family fun day at Reaseheath Equestrian Centre on Tuesday April 3rd which includes a freestyle dressage to music demonstration with competitor and judge Kerry Dembey, a fancy dress dressage class, a dog show and children’s entertainments.
