General Pony Club Info
Here is some really useful information for new or existing members and their helpers.
Programmes These are sent out several times a year, with details of the activities available during the weekends, school holidays and summer evenings. The VAHPC also has a web site which has details of the branch as well as the latest programme and news information. The web address is www.vahpc.co.uk We are in Area 12
Working Rallies These are mounted, and intended for all standards of riding. Members are divided into groups of similar ability. Rallies will often include some jumping and gymkhana games.
Show Jumping / Cross Country / Dressage / Pre-Caprilli Instruction Open to all members and is mounted instruction. Unless an age or proficiency standard is stated.
Stable Management This is unmounted instruction and usually for all standards. Members are divided into groups according to the proficiency level that they are currently working toward. Members will learn about caring for ponies, tack, bandaging, feed and lots more!!! At some rallies there will be the opportunity to take achievement badges.
Booking for a Rally
- The name and telephone number of the organiser is always given in your programme.
- It is the member’s responsibility to telephone and state their intention to attend.
- Members will be given start times.
- Please ask for directions if you need to clarify venue or parking arrangements.
- Where a charge is made for instruction, if you have said that you will attend – but subsequently cannot - you must cancel giving reasonable notice or you will be expected to pay.
- Please book 10 days before rally date so we can organise enough instructors.
- Friday night rallies at our club field must be booked with Beki Austin by Wednesday so we know how many instructors are required. 01844-353342 or beki@farmpiece.freeserve.co.uk
What to Wear
For working rallies a pony club sweatshirt or polo shirt, gloves, hair net and beige or dark jodhpurs. Half chaps and gaiters can be worn but must be in plain black or brown. or you can wear a hacking jacket with badge on lapel, gloves, hair net, white, cream or light blue long sleeved shirt with Pony Club tie and beige jodhpurs (jodhpur clips should be worn with jodhpur boots),
Members must not wear “Muckers” for riding.
Members should also always take medical armband and body protectors to rallies (it is recommended that these are to Class 2 standards).
For Cross Country instruction/rallies, members may wear a Pony Club sweatshirt or their XC colours. (A Jockey Skull Cap with no fixed peak, Compulsory for XC at level 3 and above) otherwise see Hats below, a Body Protector and Medical Armband are compulsory for cross-country riding.
All hats, hat covers and accessories should be in plain black or dark blue. Numnahs should be cream or white for dressage, Branch colours, black, brown or navy blue.
Jodhpur boots must be polished.
Remember there is tack inspection at all rallies, so make sure you and your pony are smartly turned out.
Books, Ties, Badges, Medical Armbands, Sweatshirts, Hat Silks, Polo Shirts and Jackets can be ordered from Jan Hall on janhallvahpc@googlemail.com or 01494 865285 For 'what to wear' at competitions, please buy a current rule book for each discipline, either from Sue Cromar on 01494-837581 or download from pony club main website www.pcuk.org
SPURS
Only members who hold their B Test (Riding) may wear spurs without permission of the DC. No spurs card will be granted to any member below C Test level (11 years). If you feel you require a spurs card, the following applies ;
- You must hold your C Test or above
- You will be assessed on 2 separate occasions by a PC instructor (flatwork and show jumping)
- DC will consult with the instructors before issuing spurs card.
If you would like to be considered for a spurs card, please contact Sue Cromar on 01494 837581 to apply for assessment.
Rules of a Rally
- Pick up all droppings as your pony does them.
- Take all litter home.
- No jewellery (including “sleepers”) may be worn, other than a wedding ring, a wristwatch, a stock pin worn horizontally, or tie clip.
- Always thank your Instructor and, if possible, the landowner where the rally is being held.
- Permission is needed for your dog to be taken and they must be kept on a lead.
Tack Members must make sure that their pony’s tack is clean, in good repair and correctly fitted. Tack is inspected at working rallies – not just to check that it is clean but also for safety purposes.
Hats Hats with chinstrap correctly fitted and fastened should be worn at all times when mounted. They must carry the British Standard kite mark to specification PAS 015: 1998: EN 1384 1996, BS EN 1384 1997. The type where impact-absorbing lining goes to the bottom of the shell is preferred. In addition, Snell E2001 with official Snell label and number AS/NZS 3838 1998 or AS/NZS 3838 2003.
Working Parties We rely on parents to help before, during and after events. All parents are expected to help at least twice a year for shows, hunter trials, fund raising, etc. If a child attends summer camp then, again, parents are expected to help for this as well. Parents will be contacted by one of the organising committee to ask for help or they can volunteer. Parents should not worry if they are asked to do something that they have not done before e.g. fence judging – there will always be instruction or someone on hand to give guidance.
Area SJ, Eventing, Dressage and Tetrathlon End of July/August
Camp………………………………………………… Always end July/August
Club Show……………………………………… August
Mini one day event………………………… September
Hunter Trials…………………………………… October
Open Show Jumping Show ……………… February
Dressage Show……………………………… April/May
Hunting [now Hound Exercise]
We are The Vale of Aylesbury Hunt Pony Club and do support our local Hunt. There is always an opportunity to Hunt with our “Hunt Escorts”. Our Hunt Co-Coordinator is Elaine Wallis she can be contacted on 01494-758172 or email, peckandgar@yahoo.co.uk
Behaviour
We have a zero tolerance policy with regard to bad behaviour, so please keep to our high standards.
Camp
Camp is usually held during July/August at Milesfield Farm and, for most of our members, the week spent at Summer Camp is the highlight of the year. All of our members are encouraged to attend camp, the week being subsidised by funds raised from events run throughout the year.
Camp is divided into two groups, Seniors - residential for members 11 years and older, and Junior - non-residential for under 11’s. The older members sleep at camp in horseboxes, caravans or tents. The younger children come into camp daily, although their ponies will be able to stay at Camp. Each “Junior” is allocated a “Senior” to give them help and guidance, and also care for their pony when the Junior goes home.
Camp is divided into rides of similar age & ability depending on numbers. Juniors will have most of their instruction from the same instructor in charge of their ride - but will receive specialist instruction too.
We have lots of Mini members who spend three days having fun with their ponies and understanding instructors.
We have three Camp Mothers in residence during camp, with assistance from fathers who stay in camp at night. A full programme of events is planned, incorporating plenty of fun events alongside management sessions and riding. The highlight of the week is competition day, musical rides and a BBQ on the Friday evening for friends and family. Tickets are for sale before, and at, camp. The sooner you buy your tickets the easier it is for us to make sure there is plenty of food. We hope to see you there!
Tests
There are a number of tests that PC members may take. Tuition will be in the evenings for C+ & B level members and taken by outside examiners. E test will be taken at Camp, D, D+, & C tests will be taken over Easter as Camp is so busy and training will be arranged for school holidays.
- E Test; A voluntary test for young new members. The test may be taken on or off the lead rein.
- D Test: An elementary test. You need to have a basic understanding of ponies, and be confident when handling and riding them.
- D+ Test: You should be working towards developing a balanced seat independent of the reins, and understand elementary aids and be able to apply them.
- C Test: Taken at 12yrs+. You will be expected to ride well, jump a low course, and increase & decrease your pace properly. You should know the correct aids for riding in a circle. You also need to know, the points of a pony, how to care for tack and how to care for a pony at grass.
Riding and Road Safety Test: This is a BHS test or pony clubs own test, taken by an outside examiner. You are tested on theory, riding on a simulated road and then on the road itself. It is usually taken in conjunction with C test, & must be passed before you can go to C+ test.
- C+ Test: Taken at 14yrs+. You will be riding with an established position, and have a clear knowledge of basic aids. You must have a greater understanding of the care of your pony, backed by practical experience.
- B Test: An advanced test taken at about 16yrs. To pass, you need to know a lot about riding & stable management.
- A Test: (Horse & Pony Care) Taken at 18yrs+. You should have detailed knowledge & practical experience of caring for horses and ponies.
- A Test: The highest award given by pony club. It covers all aspects of horsemanship, and demands knowledge of breeding, care of foals & young stock, and training a young horse.
Pony Club Teams
Every year each area of the Pony Club (we are Area 12 Northern Home Counties) run Novice Team competitions for Dressage, Show Jumping, Horse Trials and Tetrathlons. There are also full “Area” competitions for the same disciplines (but these are for more advanced levels). A Novice National Challenge is held for the winner of the Novice Area competitions. The National Championships are for the winners of the full Area competitions.
To be allowed to compete in a Pony Club Team in Novice, Intermediate or Full Areas, members must have attended at least three rallies.
If you would like to be considered for teams, team managers to be contacted are listed below. At club night (usually held just before the Easter holidays) the team managers are on hand to take names of those interested and to answer any queries.
Show Jumping
Sue Cromar [seniors] 01494-837581
Simona Gritz [juniors] 01844-275552
Dressage
Suzie Wood 07787140986
Prix Caprilli
Suzie Wood 07787140986
Horse Trials
Beki Austin 01844-353342
Tetrathlon
Nicki McDowall 01442-823547 or 07739 312023
Shooting practice
Mike Wallis 01494-758172
Show jumping teams represent our branch in competitions at all levels from minis competing at inter-branch level, through to our Area team. Instruction is often held after school in the summer, as well as at rallies.
Dressage teams are mainly seniors competing at Novice, Intermediate and Open Area level, but we do encourage the younger children to take dressage instruction and to compete in the Prix-Caprilli competitions, which is much lower key. Instruction is offered for all levels within our rallies and we offer some lessons for the older member with Bella Tchaikovsky on a one to one basis. Contact Suzie Wood (07787140986) if this discipline appeals to you.
Horse trials involve the 3 disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Teams compete at all levels from very novice, through to “advanced”. For younger members, we run our own mini one day event in September.
Tetrathlon involves four disciplines: Pistol shooting, swimming, Running and Riding cross-country. In the autumn and spring there are often Triathlon competitions which exclude the riding phase. Triathlon is an excellent introduction for younger members who are not confident enough yet to ride cross-country and it gives them an opportunity to be part of a team, represent their branch, and have fun. You do not have to excel at any of the phases to take part. Nicki would love to hear from you if you are interested.
Public Relations – Rosie Allen is responsible for PR for VAHPC. Please contact her if you have any news, photographs or matters of interest. Rosie can be contacted on 01494-563683.
WEB SITE – This is updated by Anne McCrorie-Shand. Send her any news, results or photos at anne@oldbrook.com Tel: 01494 -758287
Pony Club is a fellowship of young sportsmen who are linked by their love of the horse. Its objectives are:
- To encourage young people to ride and to learn to enjoy all kinds of sport connected with horses and riding.
- To provide instruction in riding and horsemastership and to instil in members the proper care of their animals.
- To promote the highest ideals of sportsmanship, citizenship and loyalty, thereby cultivating strength of character and self-discipline.
