Concerns about Pony Club

Status
Not open for further replies.
Thank you, yes it was a dreadful experience which I hope nobody else has to go through, but I shouldn't get drawn into these threads so it's my own silly fault if I get upset :(
 
I've never had any involvement in pony club, but I wish I did when I was little. Watching them at compete for the Prince Phillip Cup at HOYS on Sunday evening, wish I could ride like them!

When OH and I finally have children, they'll be joining as soon as they can! :D
 
I was in 2 different PC branches when I was a kid (oh, erh... quite few years ago now!). One of them I absolutely LOVED and was a member for 7 years til I moved away from that area, and the other I lasted 2 meetings and didn't want to go back. As others have said, each one is different and depends a lot on the volunteers. I remember instructors freely offering pony advice and help to parents as well as the kids (although they did not beat about the bush - they told you straight!).
 
What on earth is this thread about? xxMozlarxx, if you want to hear people's gripes about Pony Club it would be much more polite if we could know why.

I grew up in the Pony Club in the 60's without the luxury of my own pony, I worked for rides and loved every minute of my time as a child in the organisation, even got picked for the open eventing team two years running on a riding school pony.

Now I have a daughter, she is luckier than I was, has her own pony and loves the organisation, it has been the making of her confidence, riding ability and social networking. I've worked damn hard as a volunteer at rallies and events to help the branch...at branch level it is run by volunteers who can never please everyone all the time but do not deserve gratuitous moaning. Can't speak for head office, haven't had any dealings with them.

Please could you let us know what you want the information for? You might then get a more considered response.
 
I know this is an old post one which I hadnt revisited and Im sorry some folks werent happy about the way I had asked my question, however its been very useful for me as it appears I was going through a very similar experience to Rowreach and I didnt want to give too much away due to fear of reprisals. A genuine and wholehearted attempt to raise serious welfare concerns was met with a complete stonewalling even despite The AR agreeing with my position. It has taken me till now to get over what I was put through and to say i was shocked and disillusioned is an understatement.
I wasnt looking for peoples gripes, the issues about how the organisation is run go much much deeper than that.
 
Holly08 said:
Fair enough, you've obviously had some dreadful experience and I apologise. You're right, I don't know you. I was basing my statement on the people at our branch that grumble about things yet never help or get involved..

ps, when people don't give details, its hard to avoid saying things that will upset - this whole thread is a bit strange.. I just find it upsetting to read a thread that attacks something that I and millions of children love
Click to expand...

I dont think you read my post or responses properly, there was NO attack at all??
 
I know of a certain DC that pushed her rather un-talented kids infront of other very talented kids - organised the groups so her children were with the best instructors whilst the better groups got the novice instructors. Did not tell the talented children when the try out for the teams were.... so her children got on the teams.... diliberatly did not tell the very talented about "special instructor" days i.e some world class trainers.... and then put names in a hat to try and prove that all was fair..... pity she pulled the same name out twice - snigger snigger..... changed the height rules on the classes... so went from 16.2hh and under to 16.1hh and under
 
I'm in one of the biggest pc's in the UK and i love it. Our PC is particularly good at training young members and we have so much stuff for the little ones (im talking generally up to B test standard here!). Our instructors are fantastic, very well qualified and get great results - we have been v successful at champs multiple times. But not just at young levels, older members such as myself are involved in instructing, teaching stable management and examining pc tests.

But i remember at camp doing bare back barrel races on each other's ponies ( none of which did games!) One year at champs we stayed at a yard and we played bareback games on our ponies (and these were event ponies!!) and I loved that :D

If you are having issues with your club then speak to your DC and if needed area rep, hopefully they can advise you better if they know the issue.

The people that volunteer in our club work very hard and there is a team of people helping our club be so successful in every area. Just as any other organisation, it is only as good as the volunteers :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top