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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

So.... What do we think of the pony club rebrand?

12 replies

Eve · 02/03/2016 21:09

Personally I'm not sure a new logo and allowing kids to ride in a bit of glitter will change much and enable it to compete with BS/be.

OP posts:

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Butkin · 03/03/2016 11:06

I think anything which modernises and encourages membership is a good thing and Pip is a very experienced administrator. I still think it is the best place for children to start off. DD was an enthusiastic member from age 5 to 11 at which time she had decided she wanted to specialise in Showing. I think she may still go back to Pony Club now she's started jumping and wants to do working rallies and have more tuition. That is the great thing about PC that it's completely bound up about riding education whereas the other societies you mention are more for older children who want to compete.

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noramum · 03/03/2016 13:48

DD is only a member since 1 year but I really like it.

The whole idea of working for badges, acquiring knowledge away from the saddle is good and she is more enthusiastic working on a mucking out badge than her Brownie badges.

It gives a lot of starting points, the other societies are in my opinion are more for riders owning a horse or loaning one while the pony club is also all about the poor ones who will never have their own.

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bandito · 06/03/2016 19:22

I don't think there's much for the boys in the rebrand. DS likes doing the efficiency tests at his centre but he won't like the colour scheme and he's only 12.

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OhShutUpThomas · 06/03/2016 19:40

I like it but there's no cantle on the saddle of the new logo!

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StableYard · 06/03/2016 19:44

I am new to riding and my DS joined PC approx 6mths ago. I am rather unsure on what they offer.

Can anyone help me on that?

He attends the riding stables once a month for 1.5hrs Pony Club which is £20. He sometimes brings home a badge.

Other than that I can't actually find anything else.

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noramum · 07/03/2016 13:11

I think all centers vary how they approach the Pony Club. DD is member at a fairly large one. The offer weekly Pony Club group riding lessons which are a mix of riding, theory and stable management. The goal is to take tests and receive achievement badges.

DD only does "normal" group lessons as we can't commit to a weekly lesson schedule at the moment. But the stable offers a substantial holiday programs, weekly camps, earning various badges, having test preparation days so she gets the same, it just takes a while longer.

She rides properly for a bit over a year now and achieved Bronze level 2 and works towards level 3 and then the D-test. In her center you have to have all Bronze levels to be able to take the D-test. It then goes on towards Silver D+- and C-tests, Gold standard, B- and A-test. There are some age restrictions as well.

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StableYard · 07/03/2016 13:39

Ours do have summer camps but they are for anyone to attend that rides, not just the PC members.

I think I was expecting the actual club itself doing things that we would get information about.

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Butkin · 08/03/2016 11:11

If you are a member of a Pony Club area they organise loads of events for members throughout the year - especially during school holidays. Lots of rallies, clinics, local competitions, camps, area competitions etc. It's all about learning to ride and have events to practise at. If you join one then you go on the mailing lists for all their activities and it's great fun. However you do need to have your own pony.

If you don't have your own pony then you join a centre which is a very different type of organisation. You'd need to liaise with them about what they offer for your child.

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shamonts · 08/03/2016 11:15

I think its great. There seems to have been a complete outcry by the tweed brigade however (judging by my facebook).

I like PC HOWEVER BE is easier. You can just enter online and do whatever height you feel ready for. Unlike PC where sometimes teams are made up by arcane judging rules. Also you can only jump 80cm for Area show jumping or eventing unitil you are 12. I think this is stupid. Plenty of 14 year olds would like to jump at 80cm and aren't ready for 90. In that way it is pushy and competitive.

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shamonts · 08/03/2016 11:16

agree with Butkin that it is the best place to start ie from 5-11

then it needs a bit of a shake up if I am honest

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StableYard · 09/03/2016 02:40

Butkin - that explains it better. Many thanks. We don't have our own horse and so are at a centre.

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Eve · 13/03/2016 08:52

I agree with you Shamonts on the pushing to be jumping at bigger heights.

My DS is 13, and comfortable at 70-80 cms , lots of double clears, but he now being pushed to be a team at 90cms ... Doesn't sound a big step up but it is and 1 mistake at that height hugely knocks his confidence.