Learning – on horse back

With local branches of the Pony Club, young horse riders in the Tavistock area have a great opportunity to enjoy horse riding, learn horsemanship and horse care, develop team skills, as well as  experience huge amounts of fun whilst socialising with their friends and their ponies.  However, many are unaware of who can join or where so we’ve given you a few brief pointers here: 

Who can join?

Boys and girls of any age, up to 25 years old.

What can you chose to do at Pony Club?

The choice is endless. This year so far there has been a bluebell ride, a beach ride, mounted Easter egg hunt, some endurance riding, showjumping, a scenic ride around the Bere Peninsula, hunter trials, dressage and the Spooners Triathlon; pistol shooting, swimming at Kelly Pool and running there too. Mounted games (gymkhana) help those to just get started – learning how to jump on and off and generally to have more confidence in handling ponies. We also hold a quiz as well as some sessions in understanding how to take awards in a range of horsey topics.

Later in the year there will be shows, including a Christmas indoor show with many usual classes as well as fancy dress for horse and rider! There is Tetrathlon, where those who wish can shoot air-pistols at turning targets, swim, run and ride their pony or horse cross country. There are classes for everyone from beginners, right up to international competitors. Last month I watched a 3 year old and her 6 year old brother complete their first dressage competition.

Last year a member from Spooners  Pony Club, aged 18,  represented the UK Pony Club eventing in Australia.  Two former members (Heather Fell and Kate Allenby) have gone on to win Olympic medals in Modern Pentathlon after starting on their road to success in Tetrathlons here in Tavistock.

This year, for the first time Spooners Pony Club is offering members to take their Duke of Edinburgh Award with their horse or pony - involving moorland navigation on horse back and overnight camping.

Joining:

To join a local branch you will either need your own pony or to be able to borrow one from a friend or riding school. The two branches local to Tavistock are Spooners and West Dartmoor Pony Club and Lamerton Pony Club.  Pony Club Centres are usually based at riding schools so you don’t necessarily need to own or loan a pony to take part – they will have ponies you can use.

For more information see the websites for Lamerton and Spooners Pony Clubs and for details of all Pony Club Centres visit: www.pcuk.org

Happy Riding!