Sep 28
2008

Pony Club was formed in Great Britain in 1929 when the Institute of the Horse formed a youth branch of their organization, “The Pony Club.” It was formed to encourage children to start riding, while providing them with opportunities in the field that they would not be able to reach on their own. The group grew rapidly, with 300 members in 1930, to over 10,000 in 1935. When the Institute of the Horse joined with National Horse Association of Great Britain to form The British Horse Society, Pony Club was incorporated in the new group.

The success of Pony Club in Britain sparked the formation of Pony Clubs in other nations, such that there are now over 100,000 Pony Club members worldwide. Australia has the largest pony club membership in the world with just under 55,000 financial members.  Note they also ride horses.

The Pony Club Association of Victoria, commonly abbreviated as PCAV, is the controlling body for Pony Clubs in Victoria where young people can ride and learn all disciplines of equestrian sports. The Association co-ordinates, develops and promotes horsemanship inVictoria and is committed to providing a high standard of instruction for its members.

Children and young adults to the age of 25 learn the skills of riding and general horsemanship and compete in local events, but can also go on to compete at state, national and international events, including the Olympics. Pony Club is one of the few sports were males and females compete on equal terms.

Victoria is divided into 10 Zones currently comprising of 210 Clubs. Each club is organized and arranged separately, but the Zone also has an organizing Committee. Each Zone also has a Chief Instructor whose duty it is to supervise and encourage the instruction policy within the Zone. Each Zone sends Councilors to Association meetings to determine general policy.

In each Zone there are as many as 30 different Pony Clubs.

Aims and Objectives[1]

  • To encourage young people to ride and to learn to enjoy all approved types of sport connected with horses and riding
  • To provide instruction in horsemanship and riding and to instill in the members the proper care of their animals.
  • To promote the highest ideals of sportsmanship, citizenship and loyalty, thereby cultivating strength of character and self-discipline.
  • To coordinate Clubs affiliated with the Association and to act in affiliation with the Australian Pony Club Council (APCC), the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA), and the Youth Council of Victoria.
  • To establish Zones for close contact and liaison between the Clubs.
  • To operate and control the policy of the Clubs

Membership

Membership is open to anyone who is not considered a ‘professional’ under the Association rules. Junior members are under 17 years, Associate members are 17 and under 25 years and Senior Members are 25 years and over. Only Junior and Associate members are allowed to compete or receive instruction.

How to join

One can conduct a Club Search via the Pony Club Victoria homepage, to locate the closest Pony Club. Contact the Secretary of that Pony Club to find out when the next Rally Day is and what the membership fees are. Questions about joining Pony Club should be directed either to the local club’s secretary or to the Victorian State Office on (03) 8685 8925.

Activities in Pony Club

Rally Days There are lots of different activities that you may participate in at rally day including showjumping, dressage, cross country, mounted games, sporting, polocrosse, horse care and theory. These days can be mounted or unmounted. Each club’s Rally Day differs slightly and the activities and schedule are arranged by the local club.

Certificates Throughout their pony club career, riders are encouraged to undertake various efficiency tests according to their age and ability, commencing with the basic ‘D’ test through to ‘A’ test the highest level. These certificates aim to encourage the interest and improvement in knowledge of its members. They are viewed as a measure of a rider’s progress in their overall efficiency. In working for them riders acquire valuable knowledge and skills, which enhance their riding experience.

Competitions To supplement Rally Days there are other activities offered such as gymkhanas, camps, trail rides, lectures and films, visits to places of interest and demonstrations. Inter-club competitions are often held in the form of a Gymkhana, which has a mix of show riding events, Sporting and Showjumping competitions.

Zone championships are generally held once a year for most disciplines, including Dressage, Show Jumping, One Day Eventing, Horse Trials, Sporting, Flat teams, and Mounted Games.

State Championships are held at roughly the same times each year. Please check the calendar, available through your club or via the website, www.ponyclubvic.org.

 

Clothing and Uniforms

Safety is paramount in Pony Club, therefore each member is required to wear the following at all times, while mounted:

  • Well fitting approved helmet AS/NZS 3838[2] [3]
  • Smooth soled elastic sided riding boots. These need to have elastic sides (they can not be lace or zip up boots, only riders over 17yo may wear long boots.)

Each club sets its own uniform. This will generally include an informal uniform for club rally days such as a club polo shirt and a formal uniform, consisting of a long-sleeved shirt, tie, and jumper or vest. Each club will normally have its own saddle cloth.

Each Zone and State also have their own colours and uniforms. Zone representatives in state competitions must wear the Zone’s colours.

Examples of club jumper colour schemes

  • Apollo Bay Pony Club: Royal Blue and Orange.
  • Drysdale/Leopold Pony Club: Green with a Yellow Sash.
  • Shepparton Pony Club: Royal Blue with a Light Blue Sash.
  • Trafalgar Pony Club: Red.

What do you need to start Pony Club?

Ownership of a horse or pony is not required for membership, but arrangements for obtaining a suitable mount must be made on an individual basis.

It doesn’t matter if the mount is a horse instead of a pony, as long as it is suitable according to Pony Club policy. The word “pony” in Pony Club comes from the British Pony Club and was originally used to refer to the size of the rider, not to the size of the horse.