About Us
What is Pony Club?
Pony Club is an international, voluntary, non-profit organization for young people interested in horses, ponies and riding. It is the largest association of riders in the world with more than 100,000 members in over 20 countries, including Canada. We are proud of our Canadian Pony Club members who learn to be responsible, confident, motivated horse people, with a high degree of knowledge and skill in equestrian arts. Riders have an opportunity to learn leadership and teamwork and make many new friends.
What Does Pony Club Do?
Pony Club isn’t just about riding a horse or pony – it’s a program designed to help members learn everything there is to know about these animals…it’s giving them the opportunity to try different disciplines of the sport (show-jumping, dressage, rally, tetrathlon, etc.) and most importantly, providing them with connections to other horse lovers in their town, province and region who share this passion. Pony Clubbers make lifetime friendships in a club designed for the horse-crazy!
You don’t have to own a horse or pony to join Pony Club – you don’t even have to be taking riding lessons – you just have to have an interest in horses!
Our education program is recognized world-wide. The Equine Canada Rider Levels are based on the Pony Club education program. You can do BOTH Pony Club and EC Rider Levels, you don’t have to choose one or the other!
We offer training and education in:
Stable management
Veterinary care/first aid
Equine nutrition
Braiding
Grooming
Tack and equipment care
Breeds
Horse tack (use and care)
Basic riding skills
Trailer safety
Barn safety/handling horses
Badge program
Local, regional, national and International competitions are in the following disciplines:
Dressage
In a competition, technical tests are ridden in either a 20x40m or 20x60m dressage ring with letters assigned to positions around the arena to specify where movements are to be performed. Movements within the test outline the specific elements and where they are to be performed in relation to the letters in the ring.
Rally
In the Canadian Pony Club, the competition portion of our Rallies consists of a 3 phase event (dressage, cross-country, and show jumping) and the competitors are also scored on their stable management which involves many aspects of the care of their horses.
Show Jumping
Competitions may be run to test a rider's ability to combine speed with accuracy over a stadium course comprised of knockdown jumps. The objective is for riders to complete the "obstacle" course with the least amount of penalties being accumulated and without having exceeded the time allowed.
Prince Phillips Games
Prince Philip Games are a team competition played by Pony Clubs around the world. His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinborough donated the original Prince Philip Cup to the British Pony Club in the 1950's. Canada has its own Prince Philip Cup, so named by permission of His Highness, and donated by the late J.R.Crang. It is awarded annually to the best team in Canada.
Quiz
Quizzes are staged to test a Pony Clubber's theoretical knowledge of horsemanship and of various Pony Club and Equestrian related activities. Regional Quiz competitions qualify pony club members to participate in the Annual National Quiz.
Tetrathlon
Tetrathlon is a very demanding competition with four parts: swimming, running, riding, and shooting. Tetrathlon encourages, promotes and develops a Pony Club member's interest in horses and horsemanship by combining riding with other athletic activities.