By Hayley Wild, an instructor at Saddleworth and District Pony Club
A LOCAL equestrian mum of two has taken her keen love of horseback adventure to a new competitive level as she recently won the national TREC championships.
Liane Robinson made her way home from the Stratstone Land Rover English TREC Championships as the national level three champion.
This followed success the previous weekend in Irvine, Scotland, where her daughter Alex, a Saddleworth Pony Club member, came third in the level three Scottish Championships.
TREC has its origins in France where it was first used as a test for tourist guides on horseback but has developed into an international sport which tests the all-round horsemanship skill of the rider and willing aptitude of the horse.
There are four levels of competition: level one involving a simple test and then graduating to more demanding competitions where top riders compete internationally.
Three phases make up the competitions: at each level riders first follow an orienteering course at a set pace by following a route marked out on a map.
Liane and Alex have ridden across some outstanding areas of Britain and the Scottish championships had a particularly beautiful beach section.
The second phase, known as control of paces, went equally well for Liane and Star – the lead by the end was hers to lose as she gained maximum points for her canter.
This phase tests riders’ ability to canter their horse as slowly as possible out along a track and return at a fast walk without breaking pace, and it is timed.
The obstacle phase is the third and final one and involves negotiating gates, steps, jumps and water crossings and points are awarded for each one – Alex and her horse Warrior’s favourite phase.
Liane said: “Both horses have come such a long way and both enjoy the competitions,” while Alex concluded: “Everyone should try it; it’s amazing fun!”
A combination of the love of horses and the countryside runs strongly in Liane’s family as her mother Jean Tennant was awarded an MBE in 2006 for her volunteer work to the countryside.
She is still tirelessly committed to maintaining and creating the fabulous and diverse network of footpaths and bridleways the Pennines are famous for
You can get involved with riding locally at Friezland Arena: http://www.odrc.co.uk/friezland-arena/or Saddleworth and District Pony Club: http://branches.pcuk.org/saddleworth/
Find out more about BHS TREC on their website: http://www.bhs.org.uk/
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