EQUESTRIAN students from Wiltshire College & University Centre were given a crucial role behind the scenes of the world famous Badminton Horse Trials.
Thanks to a long-standing relationship between the college and the prestigious five star equestrian championships, 32 students from the Lackham campus helped build the show jumping courses and helped in the arena where riders and horses battled for trophies.
Equestrian lecturer Ria McLean said every student on the course is offered the chance to work over the week of the event, which takes place at Badminton House in Gloucestershire. The students help build the show jumping courses for the Dubarry Young Horse event and the LeMieux Grassroots event earlier in the week and then a group are selected to stay on and build the show jumping course at the main championships.
“We chose nine this year to come back on the Friday and they camped out until the event ended on Sunday,” said Ria. “They worked under the instruction of the course designer, Kelvin Bywater, to build the show jumping course for the final day and also assisted in the main area, which can be everything from clearing up after the Shetland Grand National hurdles to painting and washing down poles.”
She said the work is gruelling and requires strength and teamwork. “The students we choose have to be resilient enough that they can stay away from home and can deal with people under enormous pressure,” said Ria.
“It is hard, physical graft because some of these jumps are big and bulky to lift. They need a can do attitude and the temperament ability to deal with a complex, fast-paced environment. It is a fantastic experience that prepares them for working in a professional environment and it is a great thing to have on their CV.”
The icing on the cake for the students was being a part of the arena team on the nail-biting final day of competition, when the eyes of the world were on the show jumping arena when it was beamed around the globe on live TV. They were on hand to replace any fence poles knocked down, keep the arena tidy and deal with any repairs.
“They’re in the main arena watching the cream of the crop of five star event riders,” said Ria. “Being there is something anyone interested in horses would want. The fact they are there on site, eating alongside the trainers and riders, gives them the ability to network and get their foot in the door with some of the biggest names in eventing.
“It shows them what the real life working world is like because we start work at 8.30am and won’t get finished after 7pm. They have to show up, be professional and maintain that professionalism throughout the week.”
Even after the last rider completed their round on Sunday afternoon, the trophies presented and the crowd headed home, the students were still working. “They had to break the whole course down and help pack it up,” said Ria. “It’s a very long but exciting weekend and I think they were all quite exhausted and relieved by the end of it.”
She said the students, who are studying the Level 2 Technical Certificate in Equine Care and the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Equine Management, acquitted themselves well.
“They really pulled together as a team,” she said. “Even when we arrived they created their own conveyor belt to move the equipment from the bus into their marquee. They showed they were dedicated and had smiles on their faces throughout, even when we were cold, a bit hungry or a bit hot and bothered. They maintained their professionalism.
“Kelvin the course designer thanked them and said it was one of the best Badminton Horse Trials yet, so I think coming from him, if that’s how he found it, that’s a pat on the back for my students, without a shadow of a doubt.”
