Porthleven, Waterloo Road, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, BH21 3SP
Tel: 01202 603601

"I have been a member of Wimborne and District Riding Club for over 20 years and this is my second time as Chairman. I have seen the Club grow from the days when there were about 100 members and the Club field was a small paddock cut in half by a ditch situated by Walford Bridge in Wimborne. Now we have in excess of 350 members and are extremely lucky to lease a fabulous field at Higher Merley Farm where we also have the use of a superb 60x30 all weather arena. I have lived in this area all my life and have had a lifelong love affair with horses, although I wasn’t lucky enough to own one until I was an adult. I currently own a Danish Warmblood called Mel, who is now in his mid twenties and retired, and a 9 year old Dutch Warmblood called Swing who is starting to excel at Dressage. As a teenager I loved to compete in Gymkhanas and in those days most horse shows held a variety of Gymkhana races as well as jumping and showing classes. I have also competed in Affiliated Show Jumping classes but more recently I have developed a passion for Dressage. Unfortunately my body isn’t as supple as it used to be due to a number of sporting injuries over the years so Swing is now being competed in BD events at Novice level by my instructor Louise Downing and I am involved behind the scenes. I actually quite enjoy this as I do not get so nervous as when I was competing myself. I live on a smallholding and when I am not involved with the horses, my other hobbies are gardening and rearing rare breed pigs. My life is always hectic but I very much enjoy running Club events and meeting all our members."

11 Winston Park, Branksome, Poole, BH12 1QD
Tel: 01202 738066

I have been a member of the club since 1990, joining with my fantastic Fell pony Ladybird. If the riding club ran it, we had a go! There wasn’t anything that she couldn’t turn her hoof to. We have both learnt so much with the help and support of the club over the years. She still makes the occasional visit to the club field to watch rather than compete these days. My other pony is Julie-Anne, who has on numerous occasions provided the entertainment for those watching with her antics! As Julie-Anne has decided that jumping is not her thing, these days we compete mainly in dressage, and the occasional showing class.

3 Branksea Avenue, Poole, BH15 4DW
Tel: 01202 670680

If you don't know me I'm also the dizzy one running some of the Evening Clear Round events and the Annual Fun Dog Show. I own a cheeky New Forest X pony called Harvey who at 19 years of age still acts like a loveable rogue and am often seen hacking around Corfe Mullen with my faithfull black and tan terrier cross called Tillie at our heels. I hope that you enjoy looking around our much improved website and if you have any questions relating to old or new memberships, please conatct me.

33 Sydling close, Canford Heath, Poole, BH17 8SY
Tel: 01202 606636

I was born in Huddersfield which is an industrial town in West Yorkshire and am the eldest of six children. I attended Colne Valley High School and Huddersfield Technical College in the 1960's. I have always had an interest in horses , spending every weekend and all the school holidays at my local riding stables where I would muck out and groom the horses in return for rides. I moved south in 1970 and my daughter Lynne was born in 1973, I used to take her to Sybil Whittles riding stables where she started riding at the age of 4, this is where I first met Linda Kerridge who is also a committee member of the club. By 1980 Lynne had her own pony and I joined the WDRC. I have been involved with the club ever since either as a member or on the committee in various roles and hope to continue for years to come.

48 Queens Park West Drive, Bournemouth, BH8 9DD
Tel: 01202 394707

To follow......

Pipers Hill Farm, Uppington, Hinton Martell, Wimborne, BH21 7HA
Tel: 01258 840486

To follow.....

29 Laurel Close, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, BH21 3TD
Tel: 01202 601929

I started riding at the age of 3, and have been involved with horses in some capacity or another, since then. When I was aged 6 I moved to Saudi Arabia, for 4 years (as my Dad was in the Army), and was lucky enough to experience riding desert bred Arabs, in their natural environment. When I was 16, I started riding injured racehorses for a friend of mine, and what I lacked in technique, I made up for in stick-ability! I bought Rolo in 2008, as 17.3h, underweight, bald, odd looking, ginger giraffe (technically ID X TB!), who would go backwards at 100 miles an hour for no particular reason, and I wondered what I had done. However, he has turned into an absolute angel, and tries his best for me, regardless of how nervous he is, or indeed, I am. We started Dressage last year, and did some showing classes and hope to continue to build on our confidence going forward.

25 Edwina Drive, Poole, BH17 7JG
Tel: 01202 388956

As a family of happy hackers we were looking for a family friendly riding club to join and a friend suggested WDRC, we joined nearly 3 years ago, with our first year gently having a go at all the various events that take place at WDRC. I joined the committee in December 2009 and thoroughly enjoy being involved in the events, even nagging people to return the trophies! My children have great fun at the gymkhana’s, showjumping, dressage and showing events. During the winter months we have attended the training sessions that the club run and have found these to be very helpful. This year I am also going to have a go at Dressage as Anne Bish has organised the It Takes Two Competition, we thought it would be fun to compete as a mother/daughter team. What really makes WDRC a fun club to be a member of is the warm and friendly atmosphere at all the events, it always makes for a great day out. We are looking forward to taking our ponies, Cherry, Sassy and Tarquin to as many events as we can this year and having a family fun day out.

1 Gibbs Green, Lytchett Matravers, Poole, Dorset BH16 6ND
Tel: 01202 940965

I am 51 years old and divorced with 2 Daughters I am a self employed training consultant which keeps me very busy and am present working on a payment protection project for Lloyds Bank and will be for the next year. I love my job but it is long hours. I have been riding since I was six but it is only the last 2 years that I have manage to actually be able to afford my own horse, Pluto, who is adorable, very genuine, but a good all round horse who I hope to do some competitions on this year My hobbies tend revolve round my youngest, Lydia and my horse. She has lessons and hopefully I might be able to get her a pony soon so she can start to do all the things she wants to do. I have all the vices – which means I drink and smoke – but obviously in moderation !! lol That’s me – I enjoy life and tend to live it as full as I can for as long as I can.

216 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset BH22
Tel: 07738 488190

48 Heights Road, Poole, Dorset BH16 5QW
Tel: 07989 245091