News and Events

WTRA news bulletins and some handy dates for your diary

WTRA International Championship - last call for entries

If you're looking for a great show for you and your trekking pony then get along along to Usk on 11th September for the WTRA International Championship. There's still a chance to qualify at the Erwood and District Show on the Bank Holiday or the Leominster and District on theh same weekend

These are the qualifying shows for 2011

13th September 2010 Beulah and District
19th September 2010 Llanafan Fawr
16th May 2011 St Davids Charity Show
29th May 2011 Kingsland Horse and Pony
19th July 2011 Royal Welsh
25th July 2011 Gwenddwr Show
31st July Gelli8 Gaer Hunt Show
4th August 2011 Nevern Agricultural Society
7th August 2011 Llanthony Valley and District
7th August 2011 Capel Bangor Show
14th August 2011 Haycastle Show
14th August 2011 Llanigon Show
28th August 2011 Erwood and District
30th August 2011 Leominster and District

Scroll down to find out just what is involved in taking part in a trekking class at a show

Contact Cheryl for more details by email or phone

Pony Trekking Classes - Advice for Entrants

More and more shows have trekking classes so if you are contemplating entering a Pony Trekking Class run by the WTRA, here are a few tips that may help you.

The pony/horse will be 4 years old or over, ridden in tack that is appropriate for trekking and the trekker suitably dressed and equipped for a twelve to eighteen mile trek.

After the initial parade, all competitors will be drawn in and the judge will then invite you to ride your individual show.

Next you will be asked to dismount and unsaddle, placing your saddle in the front of your pony/horse. You should use the lead rope and stand, as if tied at lunchtime, whilst the judge checks you, your pony/horse and equipment.

When the judge has finished his/her examination, you will be asked to replace your tack and remount. It is important that your pony/horse stands still whilst you remount.
Finally, the judge will ask all competitors to parade before placing them in order of preference and presenting rosettes.

Horse Agility - not quite a dog's life!

So you think you know all there is to know about horses?

Oh no you don't! We bet that you haven't heard of Horse Agility - just like do dog agility but with horses! This is a fun way to get involved with your horse and great for the non-rider as all events are non-ridden.

Sheila and Rosemary at Bitless Bridle Equestrian Centre have just launched a series of events at their Talsarn base near Lampeter where you can hire one of their horse or bring your own

Following the highly successful Horse Agility Training Day held recently, we are holding another one on Tuesday 31st August which we hope you'll be able to attend. Again we will be concentrating on refining Starter & First Level, but everyone who wants to will have the opportunity to have a go at freestyle before the end of the day. We shall have some new objects too. All good practice for the mini-competition we'll be holding on 5th September as part of the Fun Day.

The Training Day will start at 11am to give everyone time to get here comfortably & finish around 4pm. As before, reduced prices of £25 for participants and £5 spectators. You must be a member of Horse Agility GB to join in, however we can arrange membership (day £5 or full £25) on the day. Horse Agility website www.horseagilitygb.com

Then, on September 5th we are again holding a Fun Day (although we called it a show last year!!) - poster attached, so if you are able to print out and distribute that would be great. Laminated posters are available from the office.

Entry to the show is £2.50 for spectators; each class will be £2.50 to enter, with £5 entry fee for the Horse Agility mini-competition. Schedules for the show to follow shortly. As usual our horses & ponies will be available to regular clients to hire on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact them on 01570 471541 or school@bitlessequestrian.co.uk but if you want to learn more have a look at Horse Agility website

Now where can I take my elephant for a bit of exercise?

Emma's Jordan Trek for Marie Curie Cancer

Intepid Swansea student horsewoman Emma Kerslake is off on a new adventure with a five day trek across the Jordanian desert with the aim of raising £3,000 for the Marie Curie Cancer Research Fund

With over a 100 people taking part it promises to be quite a gathering. Emma has been training at Clyne Farm Centre on her favourite horse Dylan. If you want to add to the fund there is an online link at Just Giving

Head for the hills - new Preseli Hills Route Guide

A new booklet giving details of five riding routes in and around the Preseli Hills will be of help to local riders and visitors who wish to ride their own horses. Bed and Breakfast for horses is a market that has been slow to take off in Wales as riders who are unfamiliar with an area often do not want to risk a trip into the unknown. The five routes have historical themes and include a beach ride. The booklet is available from Planed priced £7.50 plus £1 pp.

WTRA to link to Visit Wales website

Olive Edwards, the hard working Chair of the WTRA, has secured a committment from Visit Wales that Riding Wales will link to their website following the withdrawal of funding from the Wales Equine Council (see Archive link below.

We will look to expand the site based on the former Wales Tourist Board's Marketing Plan for the Equine Industry. Olive is well placed to guide this forward having built up a thriving trekking and hotel business at Parc-le-Breos House on the Gower Peninsula.

Says Olive "The WTRA has proved itself to be the representative body for tourism related riding businesses with members involved in riding, trekking, carriage driving, trail riding, livery and a host of related activities. In West Wales the new Ffos Las racecourse has added a new dimension to the riding scene and we are investigating clinks with Ireland untilising the good ferry links in the north and south and Cardiff Wales Airport.&quo

If you have an item of news or an event you would like to let the public and other members of the WTRA know about, please get in touch.

Visit Wales Road Shows

The Visit Wales Roadshows are a victim of the credit crunch - but don't despair and look out for local versions. For example, Tourism Swansea Bay held a South West Wales Region event at the LC in Swansea called Marketing Mix.

Over 300 attended to hear a keynote address from Jonathan Jones of Vist Wales in a more down to earth event than the more lavish Visit Wales offering - good sound advice wqas o offer with the most popular being the Google Guru.

website or phone 01792 403339.

These events are a great opportunity to meet with other operators and perhaps make links to bring you new business.

Look out also for Tourism Awards - there are national ones (Visit Wales) and many tourism associations run their own or link up with the local Chamber of Commerce. They are a great way to network and spread the word.

If you are a customer then it is a great boosts to know that the centre you choose is not only WTRA approved but an award winner as well.

Charity Rides are big attraction

Charity Rides are big business at the moment.

The Lluest Horse Sanctuary stand to gain from a ride by a Swansea student Emma Kerslake to Morocco later in the year.

last year SCOPE ran a successful four day charity horse ride across the Pyrenees. SCOPE is the charity for people with cerebral palsy and many of the sufferers gain very much from riding at schools in this country.

Gayatri Cook from Llanpumsaint took part and says "The money raised from the horse riding across the Pyrenees will allow SCOPE to continue running vital services which are designed to support disabled people in every aspect of their lives from birth through adulthood. SCOPE's aim is that disabled people achieve equality in everyday life."

Gayatri has pledged to raise a total of £3,600 and any sponsorship woud be very welcome.

Donating through the Justgiving website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor people raising money for charities. Scope will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Visit www.justgiving.com/gayatricook

WTRA bid for Wales Tourist Board marketing scheme

2 November 2004

The WTRA failed to win the bid for the for the two year Wales Tourist Board marketing programme for the equine tourism industry in Wales.

The money went to the pre-pitch favourites - the Welsh Equine Council (WEC). WTRA are members of WEC which is such a new body that it is still in its embryonic stages of formation.

WTRA's bid was fronted by marketing consultants Vibe of Cardiff and partners British Activity Holiday Association and Pembrokeshire Farm Holiday Group. Vibe came up with the concept of A Beautiful Ride are were proposing to use Miss Wales 2004 Amy Guy as the front for the campaign. Amy is an accomplished horsewoman who taught Blue Peter presenter Katie Hill to ride.

WTRA will decide whether to press on with the campaign on a limited basis to build on the success in marketing the WTRA over the past forty years and merge it with proven marketing techniques from one of the leading tourism marketing companies in Wales. If it is successful WTRA will bring others including operators and equine support services to make the Saddling Up for Success a major boost to equine tourism in Wales.

WTRA Trekking Classes at Local Shows

Look out for the WTRA Trekking Class at a show near you. There are some in England making this a truly international competition. See news item above for 2011 dates

Secretary for WTRA

Cheryl Hyde is the secretary of the WTRA and the person who is the first point of contact for many visitors to Wales.

Cheryl is from a country background and lives near Brecon. For her this is a new challenge "I've been around horses since an early age and I enjoy the challenge of matching visitor to centre."

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