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Pony Club is a great way to be
involved with horses and other kids who love
horses.
Not only will you will learn a lot
about horses at Pony Club, you'll have a lot of fun and make
some great friends along the way.
If you are
interested
in joining Pony Club, contact
the Pony Club Association in your area (see
links below), and they will
tell you the Pony Club nearest to you.
Pony Club is an international
voluntary youth organisation for those interested in ponies
and riding.
It was founded in England in 1929
and is now represented in 18 countries and has a membership
exceeding 110,477 world-wide.
If you don't already have a
horse, your local Pony Club is a great place to start
looking. The people there will be able to give you good
advice and there are often ponies for sale, lease or on loan
through club members.
Some Pony Clubs even have non
riding
members!
*Activities
Besides the regular instruction
program provided by the local club, there are many other
activities a Pony Clubber can enjoy. These are part
practice, part instructional, and all fun! Each club is
different, and some may have personnel and facilities for
just a few activities.
To supplement local instruction,
clubs and/or regions often sponsor special clinics with
"outside" instructors and experts. These clinics are offered
at a nominal cost, or the fees are covered by the club
through a fund-raiser.
Throughout the year, clubs have the
opportunity to participate in local, regional, and national
rallies in events covering training, dressage, show jumping,
etc. Championship rallies attract club teams from all over
the country.
Camps are another popular activity
that the members enjoy. These invariably combine instruction
along with other fun activities.
Pony Club also promotes both
competitive and noncompetitive exchanges with Pony Clubs in
other countries.
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*What to Wear to Pony
Club
Pony Clubbers are required to wear an authorized riding
helmet and approved riding boots.
There are dress requirements, (your club uniform), for
certain events, Pony Club competitions and rally days.
*Pony Club's
Objectives
* to provide instruction in riding
and horsemanship -- with emphasis on safety procedures --
and to instill in members the knowledge that will enable
them to properly care for and enjoy their horses.
* to promote good sportsmanship and
to help each individual Pony Clubber develop as a
well-rounded, self-disciplined, and responsible
citizen.
* to support the ideal of a
thoroughly happy, comfortable horseman, riding across a
natural country, with complete confidence and perfect
balance on a horse or pony equally happy and confident and
free from pain or bewilderment.
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*Club
Membership
Generally, Pony Club members
are ages about 7 or 8 to age 21. There is no absolute
minimum age, although a child must be old and mature enough
to safely ride and participate in activities and
competitions, and some clubs do set minimum membership
ages.
You must pay annual club membership fees, as well as a
compulsory annual insurance premium.
On December 31 following a Pony Clubber's 21st birthday, he
or she becomes a graduate. Often those graduates become
volunteers whose knowledge enables them to provide sound
instruction for the next generation of Pony Clubbers, who in
turn will become happy riders on happy horses and
ponies
*Mounts
(Horses)
Ownership of a horse or pony is
not a prerequisite for membership in many Pony Clubs.
Requests for leasing or borrowing a suitable mount should be
made to individual clubs. Often an older member may be
leaving Pony Club and may be happy to have their horse
continue.
Many Pony Club families are reluctant to sell their beloved
horses to strangers and would rather keep their pony "in the
club".
Stallions are unsuitable for Pony Club activities. Horses
and ponies should be at least five years of age for Pony
Club activities. The first year is considered to be Jan. 1
following date of foaling.
*Ratings and
Certificates
A child joins Pony Club as an
unrated member and progresses through the lower-level
ratings within the local club and later through national
ratings.
D
Rating
The "D" Rating is an introduction to the fun and challenge
of riding, establishing a foundation of safety habits and
knowledge of the daily care of a pony and tack. The D-1
through D-3 Pony Clubber learns to ride independently, with
control, maintaining a secure position at the walk, trot,
canter and over low fences. All D ratings are awarded at the
club level.
C
Rating
The "C" Pony Clubber is learning to become an active
horseman, to care independently for pony and tack and to
understand the reasons for what he or she is doing. The C
shows development towards a secure, independent seat, and
increasing control and confidence in all phases of riding.
The C-1 and C-2 ratings are awarded at the club level. The
C-3 is a regional rating and reflects a basis of competence
in riding and horse care that will make possible a lifetime
of pleasure with horses.
B
Rating
The "B" rating is for the active horseman and Pony Club
member who is interested in acquiring further knowledge and
proficiency in all phases of riding and horse care. The "B"
is able to ride experienced horses with confidence and
control on the flat, over fences and in the open and should
be able to ride and care for another person's experienced
horse, maintaining proper mental and physical condition
without undoing any of the horse's education. The "B"
understands and is able to explain the reasons for what he
or she is doing and contributes to the education of younger
members.
H-A
Rating
The "H-A" covers horse management, teaching and training.
The "H-A" has the knowledge, experience, and maturity to
evaluate and care for a horse's needs efficiently and in a
variety of circumstances, and to teach riding and horse care
to others.
A
Rating
The "A" is able to ride horses of various schooling levels
with judgment, tact and effectiveness, to train young horses
and retrain spoiled horses.
*(From USPC)..........
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