Pony club?

H

Happyhappypenguin

Member
Joined
21 April 2014
Messages
12
Visit site
Can someone help me please lol.


What is pony club? What do they do? What can my daughter get from it? Is she too young, she's 6.

The website is confusing me 🙊

thank you xx
 
No, your daughter is not too young. Children can either join via a local branch (where they will need to provide their own pony) or they can join via a centre (ie a riding school where the child can ride school ponies for activities). I presume your daughter will be joining a branch as I see you have just got a pony. Each branch is a little different, but if I describe what activities are available for the littlies in our branch then it will give you an idea. All branches organise rallies which are basically group lessons - usually a ridden session and sometimes stable management as well. Children will be grouped by age and experience. There are also fun activities for the little ones such as mounted Christmas parties or Easter Egg hunts. As they get more proficient they can book into practices for specific disciplines such as dressage, show jumping and cross country. There are very low key groups for the youngest, so would practice walk and trot tests and tiny jumps. Then there are competitions, again with classes for the young children where often they can be led or assisted. There are usually summer camps as well, which for the youngest children are usually two day affairs with the children going home overnight but the ponies staying on site.

If you go to the main Pony Club page you should be able to find your local branches and I would suggest you look at their websites and perhaps chat to the relevant DCs, as some branches offer more activities to the younger children than others.
 
Thank you so much, I will contact the branch.

I asked on Facebook before I asked here, and someone wrote;

"They need a pony first Hun... Either a half loan, full loan or their own and have to be a pretty good little rider as it's very tough and most of the pony club kids have been riding before they could walk, have the top gear, ponies that were bought for a small fortune and have the best of everything... Have to be able to walk trot canter and jump competently on their own... And you're looking at £300-400 for 1 weeks holiday with your local pony club in the summer holidays x"

Daughter can't jump or canter yet but we are getting there. We can't afford best of everything though sadly.
 
Happyhappypenguin said:
"They need a pony first Hun... Either a half loan, full loan or their own and have to be a pretty good little rider as it's very tough and most of the pony club kids have been riding before they could walk, have the top gear, ponies that were bought for a small fortune and have the best of everything... Have to be able to walk trot canter and jump competently on their own... And you're looking at £300-400 for 1 weeks holiday with your local pony club in the summer holidays x"
.
Click to expand...
This was not our experience of Pony Club. Our branch had all sorts of ponies from thelwell types to sleek TBs. The children had endless fun and made friends they have kept into adulthood. My son went from screaming if the pony got any faster than walk to haring up and down doing mounted games in a matter of weeks. My daughter learned to love dressage and is still competing as an adult. I made many friends among the parents all of whom understood what it means to have the equine commitment.
 
Pony club is amazing! I'm still a member and I'm 22 ;)
No matter what your daughter's ability they will cater for her and make her (&you!) feel welcome. 'Rallies' are basically group lessons at one place, usually the kiddies are in an enclosed arena, with plenty of helpers on hand! Your daughter and her pony will be put in a class of similar ability. You will see her improve rapidly! Then there are unmounted rallies based around horse care and fun rallies, teams and competitions! There is also summer camp :) She will make so many friends and will learn so much :)

I agree it does look daunting! There may well be a couple of branches local to you, if you can, go and watch a rally from each one, before making up your mind which one to join! Ring and speak to DCs or secretaries and get a feel for it, good luck :) xxx
 
Happyhappypenguin said:
"They need a pony first Hun... Either a half loan, full loan or their own and have to be a pretty good little rider as it's very tough and most of the pony club kids have been riding before they could walk, have the top gear, ponies that were bought for a small fortune and have the best of everything... Have to be able to walk trot canter and jump competently on their own... And you're looking at £300-400 for 1 weeks holiday with your local pony club in the summer holidays x"

Daughter can't jump or canter yet but we are getting there. We can't afford best of everything though sadly.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree less with this!!
I had a pony that cost £250 and a redwings pony that I had a lot of fun at pony club with! I joined when I was 10 and thought I was going to be behind the other children and looked down upon as I'd only ever ridden at a riding school but that wasn't the case at all. Camp is a lot of fun and closer to £200 iirc for senior camp, but with 3 hours tuition a day, stable management and really good food its well worth it (mums do the catering). Junior camp was around £100 as it wasn't residential. I made a lot of friends through pony club and would thoroughly recommend it. Another advantage we found was free or cheap rallies with decent instructors which we normally wouldn't be able to afford to have lessons with as regularly. The group structure of rallies also encourages you to try harder, but I never remember being pushed further than I was comfortable with. Everyone is very supportive and I'd recommend volunteering to jump judge and things to get to know people as well.
Of course there are children who are privileged and are bought top ponies and expensive gear, but at 6 I doubt you'll tell the difference enough for it to matter (also it makes it better when you beat them :p )
 
Happyhappypenguin said:
Thank you so much, I will contact the branch.

I asked on Facebook before I asked here, and someone wrote;

"They need a pony first Hun... Either a half loan, full loan or their own and have to be a pretty good little rider as it's very tough and most of the pony club kids have been riding before they could walk, have the top gear, ponies that were bought for a small fortune and have the best of everything... Have to be able to walk trot canter and jump competently on their own... And you're looking at £300-400 for 1 weeks holiday with your local pony club in the summer holidays x"

Daughter can't jump or canter yet but we are getting there. We can't afford best of everything though sadly.
Click to expand...

The only part of that I agree with that is your daughter needs a pony (either her own, loaned or shared) to take part in the rallies if you join a branch. If that is not the case she would be better joining a centre. However, the rest is not my experience at all - we have children at our summer rallies who are still on the lead rein and just learning to canter. Whilst there are children with expensive ponies, there are lots with cheap ones as well. I would say though, that regardless of cost, it is desirable to have a sensible pony who is used to working in group situations when a child is at your daughter's age and level of experience. Camp can be expensive for the senior kids because the costs are high as usually the venue provides accommodation for the children, a cross country course, show jumps, possibly surfaced arenas etc. However, rallies and practices are usually good value for money - our branch charges £12 for a rally at that level, and I know some branches charge even less. A lot depends on whether branches have to hire venues (which is costly) or have their own field.
 
Definitely worth joining,my 2 joined at 6 and 7 and have learnt so much,it is cheaper than riding school lessons at £7.50 per rally,some last 2 hours,others are a whole days riding for the same price.I have found those with expensive ponies are in the minority,most people have ordinary Thelwell types,many loaned from other PC members once outgrown.Camp is the highlight of their year and at £84 for 4 days,very good value.

We have made some great friends,learnt a lot and had a lot of fun through the PC.
 
Happyhappypenguin said:
Thank you so much, I will contact the branch.

I asked on Facebook before I asked here, and someone wrote;

"They need a pony first Hun... Either a half loan, full loan or their own and have to be a pretty good little rider as it's very tough and most of the pony club kids have been riding before they could walk, have the top gear, ponies that were bought for a small fortune and have the best of everything... Have to be able to walk trot canter and jump competently on their own... And you're looking at £300-400 for 1 weeks holiday with your local pony club in the summer holidays x"

Daughter can't jump or canter yet but we are getting there. We can't afford best of everything though sadly.
Click to expand...

This is a load of rubbish (apart from the needing your own pony part).

I'm a pony club instructor so feel free to ask anything :)

Most 6 year olds at PC will be still on the lead rein and you go there to learn. As long as tack is safe and clean its fine, and in our branch at least flashiness is NOT cool....fancy diamanté names on saddlecloths etc are a no no.

Our branch has members from all kinds of backgrounds, including extremely wealthy families. You usually find that those with most money have the most scruffy gear :D
 
You do need a pony, but we have 2 year olds on the lead rein in ours, was going to make my daughter a member when she is 4 but when I saw they had a few 2 year olds, she will prob join this year at 3. At rallies they have kids of all ages and abilities, and their shows have classes for children on lead rein 10 and under ( so no kid is left out of the shows)
 
Happyhappypenguin said:
Thank you so much, I will contact the branch.

I asked on Facebook before I asked here, and someone wrote;

"They need a pony first Hun... Either a half loan, full loan or their own and have to be a pretty good little rider as it's very tough and most of the pony club kids have been riding before they could walk, have the top gear, ponies that were bought for a small fortune and have the best of everything... Have to be able to walk trot canter and jump competently on their own... And you're looking at £300-400 for 1 weeks holiday with your local pony club in the summer holidays x"

Daughter can't jump or canter yet but we are getting there. We can't afford best of everything though sadly.
Click to expand...
going to go against the grain and say that in the case of my local PC this could not be more true! They are a horrible bitchy lot but appreciate that other PCs are much better.
Good luck to your daughter and her pony, hope they will have fun :)
 
We did Pony Club on a shoestring in the heart of stockbroker Surrey! There's a few snooty ones but that's just horses. Can I just say I think your username is fabulous.
 
There is usually a second hand table, if some poor Mum offers to run it. Ask the Secretary what she needs.
Generally a hard hat to the latest standard, jods and something sensible on her feet. All clean and neat. Pony and tack cleaned.

Have fun, some of my happiest memories are of my Pony Club days and my daughter's.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top