Country matters for young riders (From Worcester News)

Country matters for young riders

12:08pm Monday 26th September 2011 in Equestrian By Sara Pawsey

A NEW NFU scheme to teach pony-mad youngsters more about agriculture and the environment should be warmly welcomed in Worcestershire.

Maureen Costello, pony club representative for Area Nine – that includes Worcestershire and Herefordshire – said “Many members are from farming backgrounds and they will be really enthused by this.”

The NFU teamed up with the Pony Club and launched its new achievement badge.

Judy Edwards, the Pony Club’s chief executive, said the existing achievement badges are a well-proven way of training youngsters.

The club has a range of equine and non-equine badges and the new NFU sponsored badges will give an added dimension by helping to teach young members about farming, wildlife, bird watching, trees and flowers.

Ms Edwards said: “The important countryside topics covered in the NFU badges will be of great educational value and interest to our members of all ages.

“They will help members identify a variety of crops such as potatoes, wheat and barley, different breeds of cattle and a variety of farming methods. I am sure they will be enthusiastically received.”

Each of the five cloth badges are achieved following the completion of related ‘badge buddy’ booklets that contain facts, puzzles and sketches. In order to complete the farming badge young riders will have to demonstrate a working knowledge of harvesting and how to make hay and silage.

Area Nine of the Pony Club includes the Clifton upon Teme Hunt, Croome Hunt, Ledbury Hunt, Worcestershire Hunt, North Herefordshire Hunt as well as children from Malvern and Wyre Forest.

Centres for members without their own ponies include Guinness Park Farm at Leigh Sinton, near Malvern, and Bretforton Equestrian, near Evesham.