NORTHALLERTON Riding Club held its first camp on Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14 at the Yorkshire Riding Centre at Markington.

Members were privileged to be able to have a go on Christopher Bartle’s invention “Rock on Ruby”. This is a seesaw mechanical horse he invented to teach the three-day event teams balance and core strength.

On Saturday morning the members had tuition to improve their flat work from Will Joyce and show jumping lessons from Jan Brown. In the afternoon there was a lecture and demonstration from Jane Bartle-Wilson on improving your horse’s transition. This was followed by a drill riding.

In the evening there were quizzes and a talk from Hayley Meeking, a sports physiotherapist, with fitness and stretching exercises for the member to practice.

Dressage and showjumping competitions were held on the Sunday when members put into practice all the new techniques they had learnt.

This was followed by a guided walk around the cross country jumps used to train the international three-day event riders. Members found themselves very relieved that they were not allowed to jump these obstacles due to the size of the fences.

Pauline Newcombe, chair of the club said: “Everyone had a fabulous weekend and has learnt something new to take away with them. The whole weekend has epitomised the ethos of the riding club movement which is to ride together, train together and have fun together.