Horsing around at Sunderland Uni

The University of Sunderland has a brand new Equestrian Club.

The Equestrian Club has been set up this year thanks to an enthusiastic student and the support of the new sports officer.

When he arrived to Sunderland  from Nottingham Uni the first thing that Richard Hudak noticed was that there was no club or society to serve equestrian loving students. Having made enquires last year into interested students and the sports office, Richard then set about looking for a riding centre for the club to train if the club should form.

Richard said, “ The main problem was actually finding somewhere to train…. We found this little yard at Bolden that has only been set up for about four months so we managed to get in there and everything has been going well there since.”

Gavin Barnes, University of Sunderland Students’ Union Sports & Activities Officer, who is no stranger to horses himself as his parents own some, was keen to introduce new Clubs to the Uni when he took over his post.

“The University Equestrian club hadn’t ran since the academic year 2004/5, and when I got voted in as the new sports and activities offer i wanted to be able to offer the students more variety of sporting and non sporting activities rather then the “norm” activities, I had planned to start equestrian, archery, futsal and finally pole dancing.”

By the beginning of this academic year the club was formed and it even has it’s own team ready to compete in the British University Sports and Colleges league.  BUCS equestrian competitions are not all about who has the best horses on their team but more focuses on the talents of the rider as Richard explains.
“You have to ride a horse you have never sat on before and you have seven minutes to get to know the horse and get him working for you.Testing the skills of the riders.  Seven minutes to ride a horse that you have never ridden before and then compete it is a task for an accomplished rider so it will be a good challenge on the day I think.”

The Club train every week at Field House Riding Centre under the watchful eye of the owner and instructor Donna Lillie. Donna herself is no stranger to competitions having competed at a high level in showjumping during her twenty three years of riding experience.

She gives lessons to everyone in the club and feels that the arrangement is working. “It has been a successful arrangement and their are some very talented riders amongst the group, which is nice to see.”

Donna’s experience is invaluable when it come to training the team for the BUCS events. She says: “My competition experience will definitely benefit the team because there’s nothing like first hand experience, that’s something a book cant teach you! The team are willing and enthusiastic and most importantly want to listen and learn. I have high hopes for them.”