Horse riding in schools in Warwickshire has received a boost with the formation of four new leagues due to start this October.
Susan Burgham, a science teacher at King’s High Warwick, an independent day school for girls, has started the four leagues.
The series, open to all pupils in Warwickshire will be held at four Warwickshire venues — Weston Lawns at Bulkington, near Coventry; Morton Morrell in south Warwickshire; the Solihull Riding Club and the Swallowfield Equestrian Centre, also in Solihull.
The four classes of competition are junior show jumping (2’6”); senior show jumping (3’0”); junior dressage (prelim); and senior dressage (novice).
Mrs Burgham, a competitive horse owner herself with a 16.1hh Irish draught-cross thoroughbred said she is starting the leagues because she felt there was a need: “due to the success of our school team, which I run, we’ve been asked if we could hold our own event.”
Mrs Burgham said there aren’t many horse-loving teachers and most of those are very busy. The King’s High Warwick team won the Gawcott schools teams cross-country event this year and the Princethorpe and Kingsley schools team show jumping for two years running.
Each of the venues will hold two of the classes every half term and each league will have two shows per half term. Horse and Country TV, the official sponsors of the event, have donated money towards the rosettes. Schools wishing to enter should contact Susan Burgham at s.burgham@kingshighwarwick.co.uk
