Pony Club - what age ??

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Vicki1986

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What age have peoples kids joined the pony club ??

my little niece is a very keen rider, she's been riding once a week for about 5 months and is already cantering on the lead rein, doing a bouncy rising trot sort of!! and jumps bottom hole and some logs on fab borrowed pony and occasionally rides my mental mare for a quite plod if my pony decides she is in the mood to be nice!

She is about to turn 6 in january and isn't ready to be off lead rein yet etc - she has been in small doses, but not got independant seat hands etc etc.

Is she too young for pony club? Or is pony club more for when they are ready to come off LR? ( As you can tell i didn't have a pony club childhood boohoo )


She is so keen and i really want her to have lessons, have things to work towards etc.
 
A lot depends on the individual Pony Clubs - some do a lot for the lead rein riders, whilst others concentrate more on the older children. My daughter joined when she was nine and had been riding competently off the lead rein for some years.
 
I teach at Pony Club...

In my ride at mini camp last year - I had 5 boys, all under the age of 5
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I find under 4 years they are a bit little and have very short concentration span
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But 6 year olds are fine
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I also teach a 5 year old once a week who is great.

Check with your PC wether they do LR rides.. ours does (although controlling all the leaders, children and ponies can be hard work
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) but I would go for it
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Our pony club would be happy to have her. The Pony Club has just introduced an E test which is even more basic than the D test - just for little people like your niece!

Do a bit of asking around locally, as you probably have a choice of branches to join and some are more little people friendly than others.

My daughter was about 7 I think when she joined, and did he r1st mini camp on the lead rein, but was off it by the end of camp.......
 
they do look good, friends kids at our yard are with west kent. we are area 11.

have just seen that local show centre thats hacking distance holds indoor rallies for west kent that would be good as would save lots on transport!!

thankyou for that link i have found the email for the area rep now i will contact her and see what she thinks perhaps on which branch is best for LR's!
 
i started pony club at 5 and left this year aged 25.... i say let them go so long as they enjoy it, it teaches so much more than how to ride - it teaches how to care for your pony, hunting etiquette, manners, social skills, team work, competitive ability and self improvement.

i loved every minute of it, and still go back to teach when i get a chance. i think people who learnt to ride with the pony club are more likely to stick with it as they get older, and are more likely to be on national teams and compete at higher levels. look at pippa funnel, william fox pit etc.
 
sounds like a missed out!!

i think i'm as excited as she is about her pony club and riding future !!

she's a bright kid and learns fast so i think the pony club will be brilliant for her - i'm just sitting on hands to stop myself looking on horsemart for a pony for her LOL !!
 
Our youngest has just joined with his section A and he is just turned 4yo (the child - pony is 5 times his age!). He's still on the lead rein (obviously!) and we'll just do as much or as little as he wants to. He loves the getting ready as much as anything and the brushing his pony, picking out feet etc.

At his first rally recently I expected him to ride for 20mins then become distracted but after 1hr 20mins I had to persuade him off as he was frozen but still raring to go! We also take him and his pony along to BSJA shows when we'll have time between his big brother's classes and younger son rides around on his little pony. He loves it as everyone makes a fuss of him and the pony! Pony is a saint, mind you!
 
sounds like have another pony mad one on your hands then!!

atleast all the leading around will keep me fit as my gym membership hsa now expired!!

Thanks for your advice everyone i am going to join her up to the west kent meopham in january!!
 
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