10 Sporting Schools This year we changed our focus and decided to actively promote Sporting School (SS) programs that involved introducing “the horse” to as many participants as possible either by a visit to schools by a horse, or school groups visiting riding schools to have their first ride and learn some stable skills onsite. With the new Love of the Horse focus, our SS bookings have doubled and return bookings are growing due to the participants enjoying the interaction with the horse and the schools wanting to offer the same to another group of students. We are also happy to be able to report a growth in the uptake of Ready Set Trot (RST) riding programs at our delivery centres by students who were part of a SS program that included interaction with or their first ride on a horse. “The students loved it. We have done the program twice now … Our Year 7’s are begging us to do the program with them, we are hoping to organise this soon. A lot of the students are interested in pursuing this sport during the holidays.” Erin Wyatt – Sirius College. Ready Set Trot This beginner riding program was designed as a follow-on from the Sporting Schools introduction to the sport. As an entry-level riding program into our sport, it has been gaining momentum and is now being used to start up new riding programs and introduce new clients to riding centres nationally. After an initial struggle to be accepted from within the coaching community, its delivery model was revised and it has since been growing in popularity, with many new Coaches registering to deliver the program to their students. Many participants are staying in the program and moving up through the levels, gaining valuable riding skills, horse management and stable skills. This means that our next generation of riders are gaining valuable horsemanship knowledge right from the beginning of their equestrian journey, and ensuring that have the knowledge to be safe and well educated in the sport and look after their future four legged partners. There has been less focus on RST from our team in the second half of the year, with the focus turned to the development of the missing pieces in the EA athlete pathway. Follow on programs for current RST participants are well under way, as are beginner riding programs for teenagers and adults. Further education and horsemanship skills for our competitive riders is also a focus. Check out the new EA Pathways Educational Website www. rideahorse.com.au to see what we have in development. ATHLETE PATHWAY 2017 saw one of the largest contingents of riders make the journey all the way to Queensland for the Interschool National Championships