News and Events

WTRA news bulletins and some handy dates for your diary

Save the Swansea Cork Ferry

The Swansea Cork ferry which ran into financial difficulties at the end of September 2010 is seeking loans of up to 1 million euros to enable it to relaunch the service in March. It is estimated that the service brings up to £35m of tourist spend to both South West Wales and the west of Ireland.

Of course, much of this goes into the coffers of the big companies like Tesco and M&S but will they contribute?

Even if they don't the investment with a 5% return looks a better bet than putting it on a horse at Ffos Llas! Contact the vice chairman of West Cork Tourism Coop John Williams on ejwmac@me.com for further details or the website of Fastnet Line

Humping bales? TidyTryc could be made just for you!

Twenty-nine-year-old Telor Edwards from Tyddyn Ronnen, Llanuwchllyn near Bala has
come up with an exciting new product for easy transportation of big square bale
wedges.

He came up with the idea a few years ago (after a few bad experiences with
manually lifting wedges onto a wheelbarrow!!) and, using his knowlage gained from a
Mechanical Engineering degree in Cardiff University, Mr Edwards developed the
TidyTryc.

'It enables individuals to move up to around 6 wedges of hay or straw easily around
confined feeding areas without any handling requirements, therefore wedges stay
intact' said Mr Edwards.

There is also an option of being able to attach and detach a draw bar on the device
to be towed behind a quadbike. A TidyFork is included, to keep the rest of the bale
wedges from falling after you've taken a few.

The TidyTryc makes portion control easy, and saves time and labour. For further
information, and also a video of the TidyTryc working, go to www.tidytryc.co.uk or call 01678 504 557.

WTRA International Championship - time to get your entry inries

If you're looking for a great show for you and your trekking pony then get along along to Usk on 10th September for the WTRA International Championship. There's still plenty of chance to qualify.

Dates for qualifying shows for 2012 to be published but will follow approximate dates of 2011 shows as below.

September 2011 Beulah and District - date TBC
18th September 2011 Llanafan Fawr
8th May 2011 St Davids Charity Show
28th May 2011 Kingsland Horse and Pony
19th July 2011 Royal Welsh
30th July 2011 Gwenddwr Show
24th July Gelli Gaer Hunt Show
3rd August 2011 Nevern Agricultural Society
6th August 2011 Llanthony Valley and District
6th August 2011 Capel Bangor Show
13th August 2011 Haycastle Show
13th August 2011 Llanigon Show - date TBC
27th August 2011 Erwood and District -date TBC
29th August 2011 Leominster and District
10th September 2011 Usk Show
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 when Valentine's Day is?

Oh no you don't! And I 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 in 2010 February is going to be a month where special course will run each day of the month even though they are billed as Valentine's Day!

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, that reminds me - I need to buy a Valentine's Day card!

Bethan's North to South Trek for Lluest Trust

Intepid Brecon 16 year old Bethan Matthews will trek across Wales in aid of the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust. The aim is to start at Prestatyn on 13th August and end at the Sennybridge show on 3rd September.

The charity has had a challenging time in the past year as more and more people abandon hourse and ponies because of the economic climate.Bethan's pony Suzie came from the trust and is now happily settled in on her farm.

Bethan is giving a limited number of people the chance to join her with the small fee going to the trust fund. There is more information on North to South Ride and there is more information about the Trust here

A great cause to support

Good luck!

Ffos Las Racecourse Programme

Britain's newest racecourse at Ffos Las near Trimsaran in West Wales has a full programme this year including flat and jumps evennts

For a full list of meetings see Ffos Las website

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 Visit Wales in a more down to earth event than the more lavish Visit Wales offering - good sound advice was 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."

Become a WTRA Member!