Explore Pony Club Opportunities

Welcome to The Pony Club!

We have a wide variety of fantastic opportunities available at The Pony Club, so there really is something for everyone! Whether you are a current Member looking to find some more activities to participate in or you have never even heard of us before – this page has got you covered, pointing you towards all of our best bits! You don’t even need a horse/pony to join! Feel free to explore the rest of our website for more.

Activities

As mentioned above, there are so many activities that our Members can take part in, including 9 Sports and both Ridden and Non-Ridden Activities. Find out more about them below.

Non-Ridden Activities

We have 4 primary Non-Ridden Activities that Members can take part in, which are listed below:

  • The Blue Cross Horse and Pony Care competition – Members who demonstrate their knowledge and practical horsemanship skills as part of a team, across multiple rounds. Teams compete at their Area Competition with the aim to qualify for the National Championships.
  • Dodson and Horrell Pony Club Quiz – an inclusive competition for our Members to test their equestrian knowledge in a fun and friendly team environment. The Quiz also has its own National Championships that you can qualify for at Area Competitions, like the Horse and Pony Care.
  • Art Competition – this is a FREE ENTRY competition that is about to launch again for 2024/2025. Members submit their artwork that adheres to a specific theme. There is also a team competition where you can collaborate with fellow Branch/Centre Members, a perfect activity for the winter months!
  • Winter Triathlon – consists of the running, shooting and swimming phases of Tetrathlon. This event also holds area competitions to qualify for their own National Championship.

Ridden Activities

We have 6 primary Ridden Activities that Members can take part in, which are listed below:

  • Regional Championships – an entry level team competition in Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing which are ideal for the more novice Branch and Centre Members.
  • Barrier Animal Health Spring Festival – a competition series for Dressage, Show Jumping and Arena Eventing. Riders compete to qualify for one of three finals in England/Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. There are levels for every competitive Member.
  • Howden Centre Equitation – an exciting opportunity for Centres to form Teams and compete against other Centres. The Competition is hosted online, meaning that Pony Club Linked Riding Centres across the UK and Overseas can take part.
  • Equilab and Hy Equestrian Hacking Challenge – where you can sign up to win prizes for each milestone you reach when out hacking. There are 6 levels to achieve from 25 miles to 1000 miles.
  • Musical Ride Competitions (Virtual and a Live Event) – teams of 6 to 12 riders dazzle with choreographed routines set to music, wearing creative costumes or uniforms. Judging is based on ride content, music choice, and artistic flair.
  • JCB National Championships – this is our biggest event of the year that features the majority of our 9 sports at multiple levels. It also includes some direct entry classes, such as the Endurance Fun Ride, Search for a Star qualifiers and the Mini Major qualifier. We also have lots of Tradestands and the Fan Zone that hosts lots of exciting activities, insightful talks and special guests.

Sports

At The Pony Club we offer 9 different sports. They are listed below, click on them to visit their own website page. Find out more about what they entail and the opportunities provided by each sport.

Training Opportunities

The training opportunities at The Pony Club cover a variety of areas including Achievement Badges, Pony Club Tests, Progressive Awards and multiple Coaching Qualifications. Find out more about these below.

See the buttons below for the wider opportunities available.

Achievement Badges, Tests and Progressive Awards

  • Achievement Badges – provide a fun and interactive way for members to develop their knowledge of horsemanship and their skills to care for Horses and Ponies to the highest possible standards. There are 3 levels of difficulty, so there is something for everyone!
  • Pony Club Tests – The Pony Club Training structure encourages members to take tests which enables them to learn progressively about horse and pony care and riding side-by-side. Our structured training pathway allows our Members to progress in the right direction at their own pace.
  • Progressive Awards – allow Members to work towards Tests in between Efficiency Test levels E and C+. There are four levels of Progressive Tests; Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Coaching

Here are two of the Coaching opportunities provided by the Pony Club. Visit the Coaching page to view all of the opportunities available here.

  • Intro to Coaching Steps 1-3 – these courses are designed as a pathway for Pony Club members to begin coaching, by ensuring that they have the necessary skills and support in place.

 

  • The Pony Club Coaching Certificate (PCCC) –  is part of a framework of qualifications for coach education developed by the UK’s most successful sports. This qualification used to be known as UKCC.

Volunteering

Volunteers are at the heart of The Pony Club and we could not exist without their hard-work and dedication. We also have the opportunities to help our younger volunteers progress through the Young Equestrian Leaders Award. There are various ways to Volunteer for The Pony Club at different events such as the National Championships and Spring Festival in terms of central events that we run. There are also lots of opportunities to Volunteer at your local Branch/Centre. Find out about these by contacting them directly.

Find out more about the Young Equestrian Leaders Award below or other volunteering opportunities throughout our website.

Young Equestrian Leaders Award (YELA)

The Young Equestrian Leaders Award (YELA) is a scheme for young people aged between 13 and 25 who want to volunteer within the equestrian industry.

There are progressive levels to work through: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The scheme not only recognises the time and effort spent volunteering, but also facilitates young people to gain a range of skills and experiences, setting them up to become leaders of the future.

Membership

Feel like this is something you would like to be a part of? View our Join Us page via the button below to view our different membership packages. We have 4 Membership types including Branch Riding, Branch Non-Riding, Centre and Centre Plus. We also have a family membership available.

 

Most importantly The Pony Club is centred around Fun, Friendship, Horsemanship and Sport. Join us and start your Pony Club Journey today!