The Pony Club facts for kids
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| Formation | 1929 |
|---|---|
| Type | Pony Club |
| Headquarters | Kenilworth |
| Location |
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Membership
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50,000 |
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Official language
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English |
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Chairman of The Pony Club / Chief Executive
|
Tim Vestey / Marcus Capel |
The Pony Club is a group that started in England in 1929. It helps young people learn about horses and riding. Now, it's a worldwide organization! It's also part of the British Equestrian Federation, which is a big group for horse sports in the UK.
The Pony Club became an independent charity in 1997. As of 2024, there are about 330 local groups and 300 riding schools linked to it in the UK. Many famous horse riders who have won medals started their journey in The Pony Club.
Contents
History of The Pony Club
The Pony Club began in Great Britain in 1929. It was created by the Institute of the Horse as a special youth section. The main idea was to encourage children to start riding. It also gave them chances in horse sports they might not get on their own.
The group grew very quickly! In 1930, there were 300 members. By 1935, there were over 10,000 members. Later, the Institute of the Horse joined with another group to form The British Horse Society. The Pony Club then became a part of this new, larger group.
How The Pony Club Grew
The table below shows how The Pony Club's membership and number of branches changed over the years in the UK.
| Year | 1947 | 1952 | 1962 | 2010 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Members (UK) | 17,082 | 18,905 | 31,349 | 32,435 | 23,126 |
| Number of Branches (UK) | 167 | 201 | 255 | 345 | 336 |
What The Pony Club Aims To Do
The main goals of The Pony Club are:
- To help young people ride and enjoy all kinds of sports with horses.
- To teach members how to ride well and how to take good care of their horses.
- To encourage good sportsmanship, being a good citizen, and being loyal. This helps build strong character and self-discipline.
The Pony Club teaches young people through lessons and tests in riding, horse care, and animal welfare. At special camps and events, kids learn the best ways to do things in a fun and safe place.
How The Pony Club Is Organized
The Pony Club is split into 19 different areas. Each area has many smaller groups called branches. A District Commissioner and a group of volunteers run each branch. They are in charge of planning all the fun activities for their branch members.
Joining The Pony Club
There are two ways to join: Branch membership or Centre membership.
- Branch members usually have their own pony or can borrow one for activities.
- Centre members use ponies that belong to the riding school they attend.
Anyone can join The Pony Club until the end of the year they turn 25.
The Pony Club holds competitions at local branches and centres. There are also National Championships where members can compete at a very high level. These tests and competitions help young people improve their skills. They also encourage them to aim for the highest standards in horse riding. Many former members go on to compete in international events, which helps show off the nation's sporting talent.
Tests and Badges
The Pony Club encourages its members to take different tests called Efficiency Tests. These tests cover riding and how to care for horses. The tests go from E Standard all the way up to the very special A Standard. You usually need to complete them in order, but the E and B+ tests are optional.
You must also complete the Riding and Road Safety Test. This makes sure members know how to ride a horse safely on the road. The B Standard Test shows you have a high level of riding and horse care. The A Test is highly respected by people who work with horses. If you have an A Test certificate, it means you are very skilled at riding and horsemanship.
The Pony Club also has Mini Achievement Badges for younger members. There are also Achievement Badges for both horse-related and non-horse-related skills. These badges help members learn many different things. This includes how to care for your horse, first-aid, farming, map reading, saddlery, road safety, and grooming.
Pony Club Sports
The Pony Club holds competitions in many exciting sports:
Pony Club Camp
For many children, the best part of the Pony Club year is the annual Pony Club Camp! Each branch or centre organizes its own camp. This is a chance for members to spend extra time with their horses. They often go to a new place and do many different activities. This can include cross country riding and fun mounted games.
