News | 14 May 2025
The 2025 Pony Club Coaching Bursary
The Pony Club is delighted to announce, thanks to the kind support of The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, an opportunity for existing or aspiring Coaches to apply for a bursary to support them in completing a Level 1 or Level 2 Pony Club Coaching Certificate (PCCC) in 2025.
This generous bursary is aimed at supporting aspiring Coaches from underrepresented groups in equestrian sport, specifically those in lower socio-economic groups and culturally diverse communities. As an organisation, The Pony Club is always evolving in our approach to furthering career development opportunities, and this pathway enhances our capabilities in making training a more accessible resource for all.
The 2025 Pony Club Coaching Bursary will contribute 50% of the total qualification value for the Pony Club Coaching Certificate Level 1 or Pony Club Coaching Certificate Level 2.
This fantastic opportunity is available to Coaches and prospective Coaches residing in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, belonging to one of the three categories below:
Category 1 – Pony Club Members aged 17 and over from lower socio-economic groups and/or culturally diverse communities who would like to achieve a coaching qualification.
Category 2 – Coaches or prospective Coaches involved with a Pony Club Branch or Linked Centre who are from underrepresented groups in equestrian sport, particularly those from lower socio-economic groups and culturally diverse communities.
Category 3 – Staff and volunteers at Pony Club Branches and Linked Centres who would like to get started with their coaching qualifications, giving opportunity for young people from lower socio-economic groups and/or culturally diverse communities to access the sport.
Terms and conditions do apply, which can be found through the link below. Applications close on 31st May 2025, so make sure to make your application soon and begin your journey to becoming a qualified Coach with The Pony Club.
Editor’s Notes
The Pony Club as a British Equestrian Member Body pledges to make equality, diversity and inclusion fundamental to our organisation. HorsesforAll research shows that equestrian sport isn’t truly representative of all communities across the UK and therefore initiatives such as the Pony Club Coaching Bursary aim to tackle specific inequalities in our ecosystem.
Lower socio-economic groups are defined by a combination of occupational and economic criteria. Around 12 million adults in England alone are in a lower socio-economic group, demonstrating the need to make education opportunities accessible to everyone regardless of their background.
Culturally diverse communities are defined as groups of people with common cultural backgrounds, ethnic origins, cultural heritages, linguistic and/or religious backgrounds. Analysis from the latest Sport England Active Lives Survey shows that South Asian, Black and those with other ethnic origins are least likely to take part in sport. Furthermore, the Sporting Equals Race Representation index shows a lack of diversity in sporting coaches visible across all ethnic groups and more prominent from those from Asian backgrounds.