News | 9 February 2026
Sports Update – February 2026
Welcome to the first Pony Club Sports update of 2026! This new monthly feature is your go-to place for everything happening across Pony Club Sports, keeping Members and Volunteers up to speed with the latest news, key dates and stories from around the country. If you missed our previous article, be sure to take a look back at the full overview of the 2026 Sports Rule changes—it’s an essential read as we head into the new season.
From January onwards, the Sports Team at Pony Club Head Office will be sharing regular updates to help you stay connected with all nine Pony Club Sports. Based at Head Office, the team works closely with our dedicated volunteer committees, supporting the smooth running of competitions, championships and initiatives throughout the year.
Laura Armstrong leads on our major Championships and the Spring Festival, alongside Show Jumping, Dressage, Polo and Polocrosse. With 17 years at The Pony Club, Laura brings an unrivalled depth of experience to the role. Annabel, now approaching four years in the office, supports Eventing, Mounted Games and Pony Racing, as well as the Regional Championships. Emma, who joined the team in late 2023, is your first port of call for Horsemanship (including Horse & Pony Care, Quiz and the Art Competition) and the Hacking Challenge. Completing the team is Kate, who came on board in May 2025 and looks after Tetrathlon and Endurance.
The team can be contacted easily via our dedicated Sports email addresses—simply use sport@pcuk.org. For example, dressage@pcuk.org will send your enquiry straight to Laura.
Each month, these updates will highlight what’s happening in every sport, flag important deadlines and celebrate exciting achievements from across The Pony Club. If you have news or stories you’d like us to share, we’d love to hear from you – just send them in and keep an eye out for next month’s update.
Barrier Animal Health Spring Festival
Entries are OPEN for the England and Wales BAH Spring Festival Finals at Addington on 28th – 30th March.
A reminder that entries CLOSE on 15th March for England and Wales!
For more information and links to each class, as well as news on who the official photographer is and who will be supplying merchandise. Additionally, for Scotland and Northern Ireland competitors, you will find lists of qualifier dates and lists of qualified riders.
Also, remember you can get 15% of all Barrier Animal Health products via Pony Club Perks! Visit the Resource Hub and login to access this amazing deal with the sponsors of the Spring Festival.
Endurance & Hacking Challenge
The Equilab and Hy Hacking Challenge is off to an incredible start! Congratulations to the following Members who are on the January 500 miles leaderboard:
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Layla Brookes (Wheatland Hunt)
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Abigail Edgar (Oakfield Farm)
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Annabelle Andrews (Flamstead)
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Liberty Collins (Rufford)
These riders have already clocked up an amazing number of miles, showing dedication, consistency, and true horsemanship. For anyone still working hard to clock the miles and win your Hacking Challenge prizes, there’s plenty of time! Remember, every mile counts, and it’s all about building fitness, experience, and confidence for you and your pony. Keep sending in your Hacking Trackers via the website – it’s motivating for the whole Pony Club community!
If you’d like to take your hacking a step further, why not try Endurance this year? There’s lots more information on the Endurance page of the website, or take a look at the handy guide below!
Horsemanship
There’s plenty happening in Horsemanship this month:
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Horse & Pony Care Area Dates: View here
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Art Competition: Enter by April 30th
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Stay connected: Horsemanship Facebook Page
Whether you’re competing in Horse & Pony Care, testing your knowledge in the Quiz, or showing your creativity in the Art Competition, Horsemanship gives every Member a chance to shine. It’s also a brilliant way to learn more about your pony, improve your care skills, and meet members who share your interests. Be sure to check the Facebook page for updates, tips, and inspiration from fellow members.
There is now also a new webpage for Horsemanship on the website, which brings together HPC and Quiz, all into one place!
Mounted Games
Mounted Games is off to an great start this year! Entries for all four nations’ Trial days for The Royal Windsor Horse Show have been incredible, and we can’t wait to see all those nominated Members at the Northern Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland trials. It’s hinting towards an incredibly competitive, fun week at the show in May.
PONY Mag Live Demo: Nominations for Pairs to take part in the demo are open until 22nd February. If you’d like to demo at Bury Farm on 1st April or Kelsall Hill on 8th April, please email: mountedgames@pcuk.org
International Exchange: A whopping 15 nominations have been received for the exchange to Kentucky (10th–20th July). The committee will review applications in February and will contact all candidates and their DCs/CPs after the decisions are made.
Mounted Games is a brilliant way to develop teamwork, speed, and coordination while having an absolute blast on your pony. If you’ve never tried it before, now’s the perfect time to get involved! Ask your Branch or Centre how to take part (or if you’re a Branch/Centre volunteer, please get in touch with your Mounted Games Area Coordinator to find out how to get started!)
Polo
Exciting times for Polo in 2026! A taster rally at Leadenham Polo Club in Area 6 sold out in hours, and Area 14 entries are now open for sessions at Druids Lodge Polo Club. These taster rallies are a fantastic way to experience Polo, learn new skills, and enjoy the thrill of this fast-paced sport.
If you’re interested in getting involved or would like to host a taster rally at your Branch or Centre, grants may be available to help get you started. Contact polo@pcuk.org for more information and guidance. Polo is all about teamwork, precision, and enjoying a great ride, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting growing sport!
Polocrosse
The Four Nations Tournament is back! England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland will compete across Mini, Junior, and Senior sections, showcasing the best young Polocrosse talent in the UK.
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Coaches and Team Manager roles are also open—apply here
Selected members will represent their Branch or Centre with skill, dedication, and sportsmanship. Polocrosse is fast, fun, and requires teamwork, making it a brilliant opportunity to develop riding and leadership skills while making lifelong friends.
Pony Racing
Weather hasn’t slowed us down! The Milborne St Andrew Pony Club race day has been rescheduled to Tuesday 17th February. Check your emails for details.
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Cheltenham Entries: Open 11th February (at midday)
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Ascot Entries: Open 18th February
- Wincanton entries are already open!
Make sure you get your entries in early so you don’t miss a chance to race!
Tetrathlon
Entries for the Winter Triathlon Final are now OPEN!
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Event: Sunday 22nd March, Grantham Meres Leisure Centre
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Entries close: 5pm Monday 9th March
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Enter now and preorder merchandise for delivery at the event
Tetrathlon combines riding, running, swimming, and shooting for a fantastic all-round challenge. Whether you’re competing individually or as part of a team, this is a brilliant opportunity to test your skills and celebrate all your hard work.
All Sports
And finally, don’t forget – Rulebooks for every sport are available on Amazon. Keep up-to-date with all the rules with these handy pocket sized rulebooks.
Don’t want to pay? All our rules are available as PDF downloads online!