Pony Club

Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and horseback riding. Pony Club organizations exist in over 30 countries worldwide. [ [http://www.ponyclub.org/about.htm] ]

Origins

Pony Club was formed in Great Britain in 1929 when the Institute of the Horse formed a youth branch of their organization, "The Pony Club." It was formed to encourage children to start riding, while providing them with opportunities in the field that they would not be able to reach on their own. The group grew rapidly, with 300 members in 1930, to over 10,000 in 1935. When the Institute of the Horse joined with National Horse Association of Great Britain to form The British Horse Society, Pony Club was incorporated in the new group. [ [http://www.canadianponyclub.org/] ]

The success of Pony Club in Britain sparked the formation of Pony Clubs in other nations, such that there are now over 100,000 Pony Club members worldwide. Australia has the largest pony club membership in the world with just under 55,000 financial members. [The Land Magazine, p.8, Rural Press, North Richmond, 18 September 2008] Note they also ride horses.

tructure

Each national Pony Club organization has the ability to define its own structure. There is no strict international governing body; however, national Pony Club organizations often work together for international competitions and exchanges.

The core unit of any national Pony Club organization is the local club. Local clubs vary in size, but are generally confined to members within a relatively small geographic area. Multiple local clubs may conduct joint mounted and unmounted meetings, and usually compete together in regional competitions.

Ages of participants range from eight to twenty-five. Because of this vast age range, older Pony Clubbers are able to provide assistance to younger members, and younger members are able to be mentored.

The Pony Club's internal structure consists of many ability levels - from the Beginner: D1, D2, and D3, to the intermediate: C1, C2, and C3, followed by the Advanced: HB, B, HA, and A.

Further structuring is dependent upon the particular national organization, but most local clubs belong to regions, in which they compete to qualify for national and international competitions.

National Pony Club Organizations

National and International Pony Club Organizations exist in the following countries:
*Great Britain: The Pony Club
*United States of America: United States Pony Clubs
*Canada: [http://www.canadianponyclub.org/ Canadian Pony Club]
*Republic of Ireland: [http://www.irishponyclub.ie/ Irish Pony Club]
*Australia: Pony Club Australia
*Europe: [http://www.europonyclub.com/ Euro Pony Club]
*China: [http://www.hongkongponyclub.com/ Hong Kong Pony Club]
*New Zealand: New Zealand Pony Clubs Association

References