All about the Pony Club

The history of Pony Club began in 1928 when the Institute of Horse began a programme to encourage people to ride. In this program, lessons were held for adults, and fun events for children. In 1929, a "junior branch" organisation began, and it was given the name Pony Club. The original Pony Club has close ties with hunting. Over the years, the number of clubs increased as well as its membership, extending from England to the United States and more. This article will address what the Pony Club is.

Learning about riding

According to the National Pony Club site, D levels teach young riders to "ride independently, with control, maintaining a secure position at the walk, trot and canter and over low fences." C levels help the rider to achieve a "secure, independent seat, and increasing control and confidence in all phases of riding." The B level rider will be able to "ride experienced mounts with confidence and control." This refers no only the B rider's mount, but the mount of others as well. The A level rider is able to "ride mounts at various levels of schooling with judgment, tact and effectiveness; to train young mounts; and to retrain spoiled mounts." Fun is never far from these lessons in the form of gymkhanas which feature pony games, events, mock fox hunts and more.

Learning about the horse

The other half of Pony Club consists of learning about the horse and its care. According to the National Pony Club site, in the D level, the beginning riders begin to gain knowledge about taking care of the tack and the mounts. This is necessary for every day life when being a rider and horse lover. In the C level, the riders learn to "care independently for a mount and tack and to understand the reasons for what he or she is doing." In the C3 level, the riders learn the "basis of competence in riding and horses care that will make possible a lifetime of pleasure with horses." In the B level, the rider should be able "to care for another person's experienced mount, maintaining proper mental and physical condition without undoing any of the mount's education." The B riders should also be able to share their knowledge with younger riders. In the HA level, the riders gain the " knowledge, experience and maturity to evaluate and care for a mount's needs efficiently and in a variety of circumstances, and to teach riding and horse care to others." Source - Pcuk.org