Club history was made yesterday as WORC’s first ever quadrille team took to the grand arena at The London Olympia International Horse Show. The Red Arrow Equine Display Team responded admirably to the special atmosphere to put on their sharpest performance to date, just missing out at winning to Saffon Waldon by four measly points! To quote Olympia’s write-up on the competition, “The judges were also impressed with the smart red outfits and consistency of the runners-up”. And so WORC are very much on the quadrille radar now – the one to watch for future years. Many spectators were also struck by the strength of support the team received from the audience. All day friends, family and fans of the Red Arrows were proudly sporting their Beewear official hoodies and gillets, some meeting each other for the first time at Olympia. Members of the public often approached those of us donned in red to express how much they had been impressed by the routine and supporters’ enthusiasm! Perhaps the spirit of the day is best summed up by the British Riding Club ethos - Ride Together • Train Together • Compete Together • Have Fun Together 

The WORC Red Arrow Equine Display Team had their final full dress rehearsal at The Unicorn Trust on Saturday evening (13.12.14). The run through went really well despite some rather fresh ponies (Marnz's felt canter was needed for the whole routine - apart from a couple of sections in counter canter)! Our club photographer, Jon, was in attendance so do go check all the photos out in the gallery! Next stop is Olympia on December 21st.... EEK!!!

Check out these great stencils our endurance team had had commissioned by Stencilbum. That should give our teams a distinct and cohesive look next season!

It was another successful outing at Hartbury on 1st November for our area 18 junior winter dressage qualifier team. The young’uns picked up team third, with individual thirds for Georgia and Morgan, as well as second place to Jasmine and her delightful mare, Diamond (photographed). Well done to WORC’s senior team too, who represented the club well despite not being placed against some tough competition!

Wrap up warm and join in the fun with Cotswold Endurance GB who will be Running a Pink Charity Ride of 10 miles on Sunday 7th December 2014. More details and entry form on the Endurance page!

Best of luck to our teams competing at Hartbury tomorrow in the Area 18 Winter Dressage Qualifier. We have a junior team of Georgia Amer, Morgan-Beth Crockford, Chloe Phillips and Jasmine Athwall, as well as a senior team (Marnie Long, Yvonne Lay, Lisel Phillips and Sandra Neale). Great to see WORC so well represented at our area comps! Go get 'em ladies! 

Good effort by the juniors who represented the club today at the area qualifiers - unfortunately no team placing but a 1st individual for Georgia and 3rd for Isabella - well done everyone who participated

Thank you to all involved in the 5th (and final for 2014) dressage series competition at Worton Equestrian on October 12th 2014. There was a great turn out despite a clash with Isis Dressage’s champs, and everyone seemed to have a great time! There are lots of photos now availible in the Photo Gallery from the day. Special thanks to all that gave up their time to help run the event – be it stewarding the warm up, organising the lorry park or keeping on top of the scores during the day! And so we are finished with the dressage series for another year… Keep practising though as the 2015 series will be upon us before we know it!

The dressage divas had a great weekend but meanwhile in Wales our Endurance Riders were also holding their own at the British Horse Feed's Red Dragon Festival of Endurance! A last mintue team combing riders from three Riding Clubs bought home 6th place! Read Natalie's report and enjoy a few photos on the Competition Reports page

What an incredible weekend it has been for West Oxfordshire Riding Club!

We had two individuals representing the club at the Verdo Horse Bedding Dressage to Music and SEIB Quadrille as well as a quadrille team for the first time in WORC history!

Lewis and Abi did a lovely Novice test to Vivaldi's Four Seasons and although they were not placed there were big smiles and a few tears to mark one of the best seasons this combination have ever had! Meanwhile Georgia Amer and Rupert were very Happy that their decision to dance to Pharrell Williams' music netted sixth place in the junior prelim section!

But wait... there's more!!!

After a very busy six weeks our wonderful quadrille team's hard work was fully rewarded. The West Oxfordshire Red Arrow Display Team fired up their engines to truly wow the audience with their imaginative costumes, intricate floor plan, and up beat music from the film Top Gun! The judges were also flying high after the performance awarding WORC a whopping 75.33% to take third place!

The riders, mums, costume designers and many many supporters now turn their attention to the 2014 London Olympia International Horse Show (eek)… lists will be written, emails requesting support sent, needles threaded and glitter and streamers purchased! We hope to get a gang together to spectate and cheer, and with that in mind we are looking into hiring a coach. More info, videos and photos to follow (but do check Facebook in the meantime if you just can’t wait).