THE region's first UK Chasers course is celebrating its success with a drive to encourage more riders to join the organisation to promote off-road riding, writes Peta King.

The course, at Ruskill Bank Farm, near Masham in Wensleydale, has recently been extended from 40 fences to 50, providing an unrivalled opportunity for riders of all ages and abilities to test and improve their skills.

UK Chasers is a national organisation which has more than 30 courses open throughout the country and two under construction, including one at Caldwell, near Richmond.

We tested the Ruskill Bank course on a beautiful autumn day when the views across the dale to Jervaulx were breathtaking. Our party was certainly diverse in ability and experience.

We were Mark Cunliffe-Lister, a capable if out-of-practice rider, experienced horseman Peter Farnaby, with 20 seasons of riding to hounds under his belt, and myself, a long-time rider who needs a bit of encouragement to tackle more challenging fences.

Mark, who owns Swinton Park Hotel and whose company has built the course in conjunction with farmer Joyce Yates and her son Simon, acted as our guide around the four-mile course, which has some stamina-building climbs.

After the recent rain, the going on the well-grassed hill land was near perfect and there was even a bit of soft going in the wood, just to give our horses a taste of hunting days to come.

The track, built by professional course builder Tom Mould, of Masham, and Simon Yates, takes in most obstacles you would expect to encounter out hunting, or at a hunter trial, and includes a water complex, a V combination, a coffin, ditches, timber and brush fences. The height varies from 2ft to 3ft 3ins.

Most fences have a height alternative and every obstacle has a way round, so you won't get stuck if you don't want to jump.

You can go at your own speed, school over fences as often as you like, or even take time out to admire the views. It's entirely up to you.

Joyce Yates says: "There's no time limit, people can go round as many times as they feel fit enough.

"Some people make a day of it, stable their horses on the farm after they've done the course and have a picnic."

The Yates family offer farmhouse hospitality and wash-down and livery for horses.

Accommodation for riders is available at nearby Swinton Park, a 4-star castle hotel.

Ruskill Bank Farm is situated in the village of Ellingstring, near Masham and is ten miles from the Leeming Bar junction on the A1.

The course is open all-year round and is monitored and inspected every year for safety by UK Chasers.

Riding the course costs £10 per horse. Livery at Ruskill Bank costs £10 per horse per day. Tel ephone 01677 460074 or 07759 255 243 for details.

Membership of UK Chasers costs £12 per year. Telephone 01865 351688 for details or visit www.ukchasers.com.

For accommodation at Swinton Park visit www.swintonpark.com