Can anyone give me an idiots guide to Pony Club please?

WelshD

WelshD

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I'm not a mum and do not mix with many mums so I have no idea about Pony Club which would appear to be a hotbed of rule both written and unwritten so if anyone could give me a crash course I would appreciate it as I would like my ponies and borrowed jockeys to go next year

I can find the membership fee and a bit of information online but I am still in the dark as to how things actually work - are rallies extra cost (do they even still call them rallies?) what sort of regularity are classes/rallies? people round here seem to go in the evenings, is that because they are on teams or are evening things usual?

Do certain pony club groups specialise in different things? or are they all 'all round' when you have a couple within striking distance is there something that will usually make one more desirable over another (and are they usually friendly?)

Any information would be greatly appreciated!
 
Choose your nearest. And hope it is a good one. If you really are on the cusp then you may need to dig deeper. Here the juniors have evening rallies in the spring then proper all day rallies come the holidays. Specialist events tend to be evenings too. Going by us the secretary is usually very helpful and I would phone her in the New
Year.
 
Hi, just from my own experience: find the local branch on the pony club website but also ask around for personal recommendations. We are close to two but joined the smaller, less competitive branch as it was thought to be friendlier. Sometimes the main venue used by the branch can also be a decider, also the regular venue for the annual camp, or just whether there are friends there! Might be worth a chat with the DC but I found that all the local branches were great for rallies, camp, SJ, eventing & flatwork. Could be a bit of a clique with those that hunted against those that didn't. Great for ponies and kids alike, have fun!
 
Oh and do follow the dress code (long sleeves at rallies, either shirt, tie & jacket or branch sweatshirt depending on occasion) and make sure tack (and ponies) are in clean and reasonable condition!
 
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Ok I was a Pony Club mum and here is some basic information:

Rallies are extra as is the various polo shirts, sweatshirts, winter jackets, saddlecloths etc. I think the tie is included in the online membership signup form but possibly at an extra cost.

Pony has to be clean, preferably well mannered and tack in good condition. My daughter both loved it and hated it.

Depending on the particular branch it can be a fun, pleasant experience - however it can be very cliquey, only 'certain' children get to be on the various teams in some cases. You are expected to help out at various events, camp for example.

You will come across some wonderfully friendly. helpful people, who will help you out and let you know quietly if you are doing things 'wrong' or if your child/pony needs other items. A lot of branches sell second hand stuff that the older children have grown out of.

You may also come across some dismissive, up themselves parents who can afford very expensive ponies/horses/lorries for their child and look down on anyone who doesn't have string of overpriced ponies with their own grooms who, when it gets to the summer camp are horrified that their precious child has to muck out their own pony.

If you have a reasonably thick skin and your child enjoys it then go for it. It taught my daughter a great deal as she worked her way up the levels on our inexpensive pony and horse. We had to hack to a lot of local rallies as we didn't have transport in the beginning.

Personally I would try and find someone who has their child at the local branch to find out what the branch is like and go and watch a rally, it should give you a reasonably good idea of the people involved.
 
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Do a bit of research, I have a few near me but went for one that I am happy for my son to be a member of. He is a junior and attends rallies approx every 2/3 weeks. Cost varies between £5-8. He is on the tet team and has training once or twice a month extra. You will encounter some interesting characters, I do hope that I do not turn into one:p
 
Thank you all very much lots of helpful info there

I have five branches within striking distance and have just been reading through their websites - each site reads very differently some friendly and some more scary!
 
If you are in Surrey feel free to PM me. I know many of the Area 11 and some Area 13 branches. (From being on a PC committee - not from moving branches all the time!) Clannad48 has given a good summary. It is also worth bearing in mind it is very difficult to switch branches now so you need to choose one which will do for a while. That said - your jockeys are borrowed and different jockeys can choose different branches.

Like any sport - and perhaps more than some - riding has its competitive and pushy parents. Some branches deal better with this than others. Most branches have one or two disciplines they are "better" at - if your riders have a preference then look for that.

Websites are not necessarily the best indication. You want a branch who are good with the kids and friendly. Not necessarily one which is good with a website.

Oh - and to add to attheponies comment... don't forget the hairnet!
 
Definitely worth joining - my daughter has got a lot out of the Pony Club over the years. She has had access to excellent tuition that we otherwise wouldn't been able to afford, has made some great friends both in her branch and nationwide, and had a lot of fun. Like most junior sports clubs, there will be a mix of personalities and there are likely to be one or two who rub you up the wrong way. Branches vary a lot, in their size, the range of activities they do, and in their approach to things. For example, our branch is quite large, quite 'old school' in that the DC is very particular about turnout, runs activities through from lead rein through to tuition for the late teens/early twenties, is very competitive but specialises in disciplines such as eventing, but doesn't cater for mounted games, for example.

Some smaller branches aren't able to cater for all age-groups if they don't have enough members that age to put stuff on for, so worth checking that they run activities suitable for the age of your jockeys. Also if you want your ponies to compete and practice in a certain discipline then check that the branch cater for that. Scheduling of rallies/practices varies between branches as well - our branch run practices in the evening during the summer and weekends in winter, but rallies generally tend to be organised in the school holidays - so again you need to check whether the branch you are interested in run activities when you can get to them. Most branches are usually happy for prospective members to go and view a rally before joining to get an idea of whether it will suit them.
 
Pony club is like boot camp for the mum, the child and the pony. Ours was military in origin, and it showed. Be prepared to be pulled up on your failings by a plum-in-mouth matron, addressed by your surname for the first time in your life, and a feeling of hopeless inadequacy.

In their defence, whilst difficult for outsiders, the standards expected are possible, and there is no hypocrisy - they adhere to their own standards... some very disciplined and intimidating people, who it is possible to learn much from, if you care to.
 
Goodness, we had a very different experience! My daughter was in two different PCs. The first was very small, many of the children were on loan ponies (including my daughter) and tbh no-one had a posh pony. the rallies were fun and my daughter had a great time. Interestingly, three girls went on to do FEI ponies, all of them on ponies that had been brought on from youngsters and a fourth girl is now a well known event rider who has represented GB on a number of occasions. Not bad considering these were 4 out of a total membership of about 35!
When we moved she joined a big competitive club. Again she had a great experience competed in area comps, got to the champs etc but what was true about both clubs was they both ensured less competitive children had a good time too and the rallies etc were very much focused on them, not the very competitive ones. People are the same wherever you go, I find, some you get on with and some you don't and if you don't like the way things are run, join a committee and help to change things. I had virtually no experience of horses and ponies when my daughter joined the PC and I have to admit I learned as much if not more than my daughter did. I think I also provided a lot of entertainment for the horsey parents as I struggled to do many of the things that were quite instinctive to them but there was always someone around who was kind enough to give me a hand!
pennyturner said:
Pony club is like boot camp for the mum, the child and the pony. Ours was military in origin, and it showed. Be prepared to be pulled up on your failings by a plum-in-mouth matron, addressed by your surname for the first time in your life, and a feeling of hopeless inadequacy.

In their defence, whilst difficult for outsiders, the standards expected are possible, and there is no hypocrisy - they adhere to their own standards... some very disciplined and intimidating people, who it is possible to learn much from, if you care to.
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As already mentioned, avoid at all costs.

I was a member for 2 years, from 11-13 and witnessed - horrible cliquey behaviour, total snobbery if you didn't have the right kind of pony and awful teaching.

I had a succession of green ponies and took one to a rally for 'introducing jumping.' I said in advance my mare hadn't ever jumped before; their answer was to lay 6 trotting poles out and tell me trot my mare over them. When she spooked, she was hit with a schooling whip by the instructor. The instructor spent the lesson repeatitng that one drill, until she jumped the lot in one go.

Mare took weeks to get over that and I went home in tears, I was there on my own as hacking over.

I still see them regularly at rallies as they're based at a centre and unless you're on the teams, you get awful teachers and generally ignored. If you're from about 14 and still riding a pony, it isn't worth your time as you'll get constant comments about needing to move up and 'proper riders need proper horses'.

Find a local RC and stick with that, you'll have more fun and learn more.
 
We've found for 9 year old that the local Pony Club centre actually offers more than the local branches. The Branches are great if you are up and running, and probably competing at something, but for actual tuition we find the local centre brilliant. They do 2 1/2 hours every sunday, with theory and practical, riding and road safety, games etc. Although she has her own pony she uses the riding school pony as it's such good value and it gives her experience of riding something else.
Because it's regular and frequent the lessons are hammered home and because there's no talk of teams etc there's no clique or favouritism.
It also saves transport costs. She will go back to the branch in the spring, but sadly at the moment it's not offering anything except the odd timed 1 hour rally, once a month, for her to go to, 25 miles away.
The branch is very nice, lovely instructors, super venues, but not much on offer for the younger, less able ones, during the winter.
 
As others have said each branch is very different, so looking at each PC web site or FB page will give you an idea where the rallies are and how many they have. I choose my PC because they did tinies, she was six when she started and my other daughter was three. As much a learning curve for parents as children, but ours was based on farming country so no smart lorries just trailers a lot tied together with bits of baler twine.
When they get older it does get a bit more, my pony is better than yours, buts that's life, you get them everywhere. My daughters made friends at camp with a girl who did not have a smart pony, her sister,(I thought) turned out to be her groom and her mother had a title and owned most the land in the area.
We had a lot of fun, and I think its about seeing kids have all the same problems as you, we had lovely instructors and it gives you some structure to the holidays that you fit other things round. Our kids where very polite but I helped out at another PC where a lot made the palm of my hand itch, they got short shrift from me but how they spoke to their parents, usually over achieving mum and anxious dad was appalling.
 
Yes, you can get a good idea of whether branches are offering what you need from their websites.
You could always try ringing the DC and see what reception you get.
 
Rowreach said:
Avoid at all costs.
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Oh dear! My daughters experience of pony club is very positive and we are not posh speaking or loaded with money lol! She's just turned 18 and still loves going to rallies etc. And TBH while some of her friends are out boozing (and in some cases getting pregnant) etc, frankly, I am very thankful for that she has something that keeps her interested and out if trouble. I can only go on personal experience though. I think you should definitely give it a go and judge for yourself but whatever you do, try not to go in with any preconceived misconceptions. We love pony club!
 
shadeofshyness said:
Sounds like some horrible experiences! I can assure you the pony club where I grew up (Liverpool) is nothing like this. How sad that it can be so awful/snobby!
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I was a PC member in a rather posh part of the country for several years. I was not at all posh, had a scruffy pony, no transport and all my tack and kit were hand me downs. It was probably a formative experience, but not particularly enjoyable.

I then spent several years as a PC instructor and then a PC mum in a different part of the country. I will never ever have anything to do with the PC again, not just because of the branch mentality (DCs are a breed apart), but also because of the way PCHQ is set up and run.

I still get chills thinking about it.
 
I'm anouther in the Avoid camp.

Joined for about 2 years but because I didnt have a super duper jumping pony (never mind the fact the pony and I could go out and do a medium dressage test any day of the week, he just would not jump) then I got stuck in with the begginers (tottering round on the leadrein class) at rallies. I never got on any teams as they didnt have a dressage team and the snobbery involved was phenominal! (heck even if they had a dressage team, I wouldnt have been on it because my pony was a connemara, not a 16hh warmblood).
Constantly told I needed to bit my pony up (why? he went beautifully in a french link) or that his turnout wasnt acceptable which given that we also regularly won at county M&M classes was somewhat dubious.

For evening rallies on horse care it was basic or nothing, which given that I knew how to clean a bridle, or fill a haynet wasnt exactly enthralling, though I do remember one instance where a group of us were set to cleaning all the riding schools bridles my sister and I decided to entertain ourselves by having a race to see who could do the most. I stripped down, cleaned and reassembled about 8 bridles in the time it took for the others to wipe down 2 (they didnt even take them apart, my sister cheated as well since she didnt take them apart either though she did do about 12).
I even had to correct one of the instructor on how to correctly put on a tail bandage!


Not worth the time or effort.
 
Going back away since I was in the PC and our branch may not be typically but it was wonderfully described by my mother as St Trinian's in horseback with a dash if thelwell :)
 
Another one for the avoid camp I'm afraid. Spent the whole time being looked down on and snubbed because I had a 13.2 at 17. I then used to take a relatives 16hh cob, I got laughed at for taking a cob and effectively told I couldn't ride. Got my own horse and got dismissed and told he was no good all the time because he couldn't/wouldn't jump as a very green 6yr old. Last time I went was to a combined training day where most of the day was jumping. Half way through the day I decided stuff it and took a lead off another member over the small chair jump on the xc course. Horse spooked sideways and ended up clearing the 105cm next to it with about 2ft to spare. All I heard from the DC was ooft he's got some scope hasn't he. They never commented on my horse again but I never went again either.

Friend's daughter had a similar experience last year and year before. Ignored for all the teams, snubbed and picked on because she rides a veteran even though she is a very whizzy and forward horse. Same children always get picked for the teams, usually those with the more expensive or produced horses regardless of if they are better or not. Cliques everywhere which spill over into the local showing scene which depending on the show if you're friends with the right member or official means you're a certainty to win or take championships.
 
I think all this tells you is that it depends entirely on the volunteers running the Branch and the ethos of that Branch (same with any club really). Although there are some horror stories on here, there are plenty of good experiences. All Branches should offer you a free rally and I would either take them up on it, or ask to watch a couple and have a chat with some of the mums/members. In our Branch we have members from 3 to 20+ and we pride ourselves on running activities at all levels. Whilst there will always be the overly competitive parents, we do try and keep a lid on them and we encourage everyone to take part in competitions if they want to, but they certainly won't be looked down on if they would rather not. Our all day rallies at Easter and our camps in the summer (both residential and non-residential) are the highlights of the year.
 
Unfortunately I recognise all these bad experiences, because even though I'm pro the PC and have spent a great deal of my life as a volunteer, instructor, steward etc we've had the same. Told our Welsh D was 'unsuitable' as a dressage team member because of his full mane and tail (regardless of the fact that he was winning at affiliated Elem), that we shouldn't have youngsters as they wouldn't be ready for teams in time (we can't afford made horses), that a petite 13 yo should be on a 'proper' horse and not a pony even though she weighed less than 6 stone.
Set against that have been times in the past when we've had enormous fun doing all sorts of things and getting qualifications and having a great time.
I personally wish branches would get away from the competitive side of things and work much more on the welfare and education side of the pc remit. It is after all the one organisation that could provide huge amount of education to young riders.
But branches differ and the advice to look around is best. You're lucky if you have a choice.
 
The bottom line - I think - is that these are groups run by volunteers. It seems to me that this isn't so much about the PC as a whole as a bout the conduct of various volunteers etc.

OP - don't let this put you off. Folk are folk and you get both good and bad. Our experience of PC has not been unalloyed joy either - but that is individual experience. Although it would, if I'm honest and to my utter sadness, lead me to not recommend you join the branch we are currently with, but that doesn't mean the whole thing is tainted. There are good branches and good experiences out there. I doubt you would find anything different in an RC with a junior section. For us the experience of BS Juniors was far worse than anything in Pony Club. Perhaps the issue is teenage girls!
 
Our most positive experience, without doubt, was the PC hunt, which we went along to a few times, and had a ball... but then that more closely reflected what we do at home, and my scruffy ponies and equally scruffy kids were quite a bit better at charging around the countryside at speed than they were at going around in circles in the school. :D

The hunt staff and members (RA and Tedworth) were warm and welcoming to a man/woman, even when being overtaken by an over enthusiastic 8 year old on a Dartmoor pony!
 
My pony club experiences as a child were great, and I learned so much. As a pony club parent, I realised you are exposed to nearly every sort of life situation, and there will be some negative experiences but it is up to you to set an example to child and others and deal with whatever it is. There will be some rivalry,jealousies,disappointments and heartbreak. The fun and lifelong friendships will outweigh them, in my experience.
I am happy my daughter had the chance to have these experiences and I am looking forward to accompanying grandchildren next year.
From the ponies point of view, which is perhaps more important here, every pony benefitted from regular instruction and pony club exposure, especially camp - although do keep a close eye daily on the pony at camp, re workload and management, instructors knowledge and experience can vary!
 
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