About the Yarra Valley Dressage Club
Our Mission - To advance the Art of Dressage and to encourage and foster horsemanship in all its forms.
Past History of the Yarra Valley Dressage Club
The Beginnings of the Yarra Valley Dressage Club:
The Yarra Valley Dressage Club was formed in March 1979 when a group of friends joined together keen to share their interest in dressage with other like minded people in the Yarra Valley Victoria. 61 members paid $3.00 to join the club. Judges were paid $10.00. The club ended the year with a profit of $180.15.
Often during those early days members competed on ground where the arena was drawn on the ground with lime or usually at Hutton Lodge or in a paddock on a member’s property. Riders paid $3.00 to ride a test and competed for prize money of $5.00/ $10.00. Some of the earliest members are still members of Yarra Valley Dressage Club today
The Yarra Valley Dressage Club was incorporated in 1984 and the mission, as it is today, is to advance the art and sport of dressage and to encourage and foster horsemanship in all its forms.
During the 1980’s, the Club’s regularly used the grass car park at the Yarra Glen Racecourse. Unfortunately in 1986, the club was prohibited from using this area as patrons attending the races had complained about stepping into horse manure as they alighted from their cars.
1990 was the bumper year for memberships, with over 230 members. Usually the club has around 100 members at any one time.
The Club has used many venues around the Yarra Valley over the last 29 years, Seville Pony Club grounds, Flowerfield, Wandin Park and the Lilydale and Yarra Glen Hunt Club.
The Yarra Valley Dressage Club Today
Glenbrae Indoor Equestrian Centre is the main competition venue of Yarra Valley Dressage Club.
YVDC has a strong history of raising funds to help others, donating to the Olympic fund, Project Hope, the CFA and St John’s, The committee was certainly pleased with its efforts when its members raised over $5000 at the Yarra Valley Keeps Abreast of the Competition fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research in 2006.
If you share our passion for the Dressage and would like to meet with others in the Yarra Valley, then please check our event calendar and make a date with the Yarra Valley Dressage Club.
