Le trec/handy pony/despooking rally for our PC branch?

nikicb

nikicb

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As a commited committee member of our local PC branch I need to organise a rally/fixture for the Summer holidays. I had a few ideas, but one of them was something along the lines of a le Trec/handy pony type session. Preferably an in hand thing, but something that will allow the non competitive members to participate in as well as the more competitive ones. I'm thinking more of a training session rather than a competition. Are there people that will come and run these as I'm not sure I want the responsibility of various highly strung members and ponies (and mothers). :eek: We're based in West Berkshire if anyone has any ideas. Thanks. :)
 
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Our branch have had trec rallies and as you say they are ideal for those with "normal" pc horses and ponies. We have had experienced trec competitors in to run them which has worked well. My only concern would be keeping members safe as there can be hairy moments asking their mounts to walk over/under/past new things. And the leaving the horse on it's own starionary...!
 
Our PC did this as the last day of the camp, so all the parents were there and HAD to help. Each group was allocated an instructor and went round with their group and did each activity then moved on to the next one. However for each activity were at least 2-3 parents running it taking the times/scores etc.

The 'leave the pony there' one they made a large round pen out of ringside fence stakes and posts (like you'd get at a show) in an area of the XC field where two sides were also bound by two rather large 3ft+ XC fences! Then the pony was left inside a marked ring on the ground and the rider had to walk outside an outer ring (but all still inside the pen). I think they used white line spray paint to mark for the control of pace activity too (timed canter down walk back)

They had various activities like go through water, over a tarpaulin, rider to go over and under a mini fence while pony in hand, opening and closing a gate over a bridge and get on and off again (on the wrong side I think??), bending poles etc etc. I'm not sure what if any orienteering they had to do but have a feeling a short XC & SJ course was incorporated in that section

It was very well run as whoever devised it had written a very clear set of rules for each activity, it was all on the sheet on a clipboard with a pen and stop watch all ready and as a parent all you had to do was time/score and to write in the times/scores . They'd also practised the activities to some extent beforehand, so wasn't the disaster you'd expect - maybe you could send out a list of what they're expected to do beforehand (or a longer list and say ' activities will be chosen from these ' ) so people can practise at home = less of a disaster on the day?

The key to its success was definitely the pre-day preparation and enforced enlisting of parental help. On the day itself as the instructors had the responsibility for their group of 6-8 and moving them on to the next task it meant that for the parents it was easy peasy to follow the instructions and as the score sheets had all been pre-prepped with names and all the boxes to score just for that activity it was so simple to run, and was all there ready for the next group to arrive with their instructor. Then we had picnic lunch while scores were totted up.
 
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Thanks everyone - some great ideas. And thanks especially Dubsie for the mammoth reply which I need to go through again in detail - lots of good tips there. :)

I'm glad that your PC members enjoyed it. I was a bit concerned it might be a bit NH for some of them, but I think some of the skills they will learn and teach their ponies/horses are as important as learning to jump big jumps etc. I shall follow up on the Trec Trailer link as well as that looks good.

Thanks again. :) xx
 
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