The new Northumberland and Waussnodae Pony Clubs are set to take their places as Branches of the Central On-tario Region of Canadian Pony Club in time for the 2003 season. These new Pony Clubs have been confirmed as full Branches and their members may now take part in Central Ontario Pony Club activities once they have achieved at least the minimum level in the Pony Club testing system.

Northumberland members range in age from seven to 17, and their main interest at this time is in testing and ral-lies, the Pony Club equivalent of eventing. In Pony Club rallies, competitive phases include dressage, cross-country jumping, stadium jumping and "stable management," basically horse care. Preparations are going on as Waussno-dae members get ready to compete in dressage, show jumping, rallies and Prince Philip Games this season.

The Northumberland Pony Club is centred at Fallowfield Farm in Trenton, and Waussnodae at Wits End Equestrian Centre near Stoney Lake, though members may ride elsewhere. Some members have their own ponies or horses, others use Fallowfield or Wits End school mounts.

Pony Club is an international organization to promote riding and horsemanship skills among young people up to 21 years old. It has been active in Canada since 1934, and has contributed many members to Canada's Olympic and World Championship equestrian teams over the years. The Central Ontario Region comprises approximately 30 Branches with a total membership of about 500. Worldwide, membership in Pony Club exceeds 120,000, making it the largest equestrian organization in the world.

Show jumping is the most familiar Pony Club activity since it attracts television coverage at its higher levels. Pony Club also offers competition in dressage, mounted games, rallies (including dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping as well as "stable management" - basically horse care), tetrathlon (including swimming, shooting, cross-country and stadium jumping, and cross-country running by the riders) as well as "academic" competition in quiz format. Above all, the objective of all Pony Club competition is for kids to have safe fun in horse-related activities.

For more information on Northumberland, call the District Commissioner of the new Branch, Karen Whitley, at 613-392-1979, or e-mail her at kwhitley@whitleyfinancial.com. For more information on Waussnodae, call the District Commissioner, Anne Olscher, at 705-652-0087, or e-mail Mary Mattos at mmattos@pipcom.com, or call her at 705-652-6341.