Horse riding instructors from across the country met at Bishop Burton College for the Pony Club Annual Instructors’ Conference.
On Wednesday 3 April over 350 instructors joined the day of talks and demonstrations, led by Eric Smiley FBHS and Chris Bartle FBHS.
International coaches presented a day of demonstrations using Pony Clubs riders and horses, with sessions including flatwork, dressage and jumping.
Jenny Yates, training officer for the Pony Club, said: “Our aim is to inspire. We have two Olympic coaches here and hopefully all the instructors will take away what they learn today to their separate areas and pass it on even further.”
Christine Freer, freelance Pony Club instructor and examiner attended the conference and said: “It has been a very interesting day. The two instructors have been excellent, with a depth of knowledge and I’ve got more and more into it as the day has gone on.
“The challenge for us as instructors on the ground is to find ways to translate what we’ve been shown to the riders we teach. We pick up tips here that we can use and adapt to our own situations.”
Eric Smiley has represented Ireland at all levels of international competitions throughout Europe, the World Equestrian Games and been on four Olympic Teams. He was also coach to the 2012 Belgian Eventing Team.
Chris Bartle has competed internationally in both dressage and eventing, including as a member of medal-winning teams at Olympic and European Championship level. He is national coach to the German Olympic Three Day Event Team, as well as coaching many individual British riders.