Trail Awards
Rewards for the hours you spend out on the trail. More milestones, more awards, and a focus on keeping horse and rider safe, all for a one-off £40 sign-up fee.
- £40One-off sign-up fee
- 6Milestones to celebrate
- 1,000Hours for the challenge
The Trail Awards have a new structure, in place with immediate effect, shaped by the feedback from our member engagement survey. There are more milestones and more awards, with a focus on keeping horse and rider safe on the trails, and no increase to the one-off £40 sign-up fee.
You need to be a WES member for the whole of your Trail Awards.
Every milestone rewarded
When you sign up
A hi-vis tabard, sponsored by Western Tack Trader.
50 hours
A certificate and first aid kit, sponsored by Pauline Norton.
100 hours
An SOS saddle tag, sponsored by Garrabeg Western Horsemanship.
250 hours
A special rosette and water bottle, sponsored by LR Western Horses.
350 hours
A WES-branded softshell jacket.
500 hours
An inscribed silver belt buckle supplied by Montana Silversmiths, sponsored by Cowgirl Like Me Media.
Existing participants also receive a hi-vis tabard, wherever they are on their Trail Awards journey.
Open to more riders, and more horses
The 1,000 hours challenge
If you have already completed a 500-hour Trail Award, you can enter the 1,000 hours challenge at any time for a one-off sign-up fee of £25. Record your hours each year, and stay a WES member for the whole challenge. At 1,000 hours you receive a WES-branded Clique Idaho jacket, with your name or your horse's name and 1,000 hours on it.
Tack
You no longer have to ride in western tack for the whole award. We accept non-western tack, including stock saddles and English tack, for up to 50 hours of the challenge (or 50 miles if you have entered the special 40th Anniversary 500 miles award). We want riders at the start of their western journey to take part, even if they do not have all the gear yet.
In hand
Horses are sometimes exercised on the trails in hand rather than ridden: they may be young or old, coming back from injury, or it may just be fun. Up to 50 hours (or 50 miles on the 40th Anniversary 500 miles award) of your Trail Award can be done in hand.
Stay safe
Put your safety and your horse's first at all times. We recommend:
- a hard hat that meets the current year's BHS Assessments Hat Rules when riding (rule book section 5.1)
- good-quality, well-fitted tack
- a hat and gloves when working in hand
- sturdy footwear
- hi-vis for you and your horse
- carrying a mobile phone, hoof pick and first aid kit