South Staffordshire College students help international equine event to success

Students from the Rodbaston campus of South Staffordshire College performed so well as the Arena team at the British Open show jumping championships this April that they have already been asked to help at the Horse of the Year Show this coming October.

The event was held at the NEC Exhibition Centre and the 34 students, a mix of National Diploma in Horse Management year 1 and 2 and some First Diploma Horse Care learners, were split into 4 groups, each with responsibility for one corner of the arena.

Duties included set up and break down of the courses, numbering the jumps and pole picking during the rounds.  They were also responsible for setting up the scurry (two ponies pulling a carriage) driving course plus preparing all the props and equipment for the displays which included a quadrille ride, the Knights of Middle England and some stunt riders.

The work is hard and the discipline intense over the 2-day set-up and 4 days of the show.  The students must be fit, responsive and above all work as a team that is sympathetic to the needs of rider and horse.

Kerry Nunns, Equine lecturer responsible for selecting and organising the team has worked with Grandstand Media, the organisers of British Open and Horse of the Year Show, for the last two years.

"The students were outstanding", she says, "a total credit to themselves and the College.  This is one of the country's top equine events and to be selected as the arena team means that we are considered as an exceptional college".

The students had the excitement of working for top international course designers Bob Ellis and Alan Wade.  Bob Ellis was more than happy with his team.  "It has been a pleasure to be working with the students.  They are an extremely hard working, enthusiastic team with the ability to get work done quickly and efficiently.  In my capacity of International Course Designer I have now worked with South Staffordshire College's Rodbaston students for the last two years and look forward to doing so again."

Rodbaston Campus is set in 1600 hectares and specialises in providing further and higher education courses for construction-related industries and land-based activities such as fisheries and aquaculture, animal care and equestrian pursuits.

A number of high profile equestrian events are held at the campus and the College's own riding teams have won a number of top trophies over the past years.