Dec. 2015 Issue_ August 2013a 2015-11-23 5:17 PM Page 36 36/ DECEMBER 2015 THE RIDER Canadian Pony Club – The Truth Behind the Image Pony Club has an


image problem. Sur- prised? Most people hear Pony Club and envision cute little 6 year olds bouncing around on fat ponies. Well, that’s often the starting point, but if you are curious enough to read beyond this first line, you will discover a Pony Club you didn’t know existed – a Pony Club that boasts Olympians and industry leaders as alumni, that supplies knowledgeable members to the Canadi-


an equine industry, that makes equestrianism financially approachable to almost anyone, that builds Loyalty, Charac- ter and Sportsmanship into our future citizens and creates lifelong friendships built around a shared passion for horses, and incompara- ble knowledge of how to enjoy, ride and care for them.


Through Pony


Club, Canada is one of 17 countries offering an internationally recog- nized standard of riding


and stable management theory as well as compe- tition opportunities from local to international levels. It has quietly been on the leading edge of the industry, having had in place for years Risk Management poli- cies on Concussion, Code of Conduct, Respect in Sport, Equity and others. The group learning


model keeps learning fun and provides its members a support and social network of like- minded friends. Each


advance at her/his own pace and access to shared resources can keep it affordable and approachable to the non- horse owner. Pony Club is the mouth of the fun- nel that introduces youth to horsemanship. It’s broad-based format cre- ates opportunity for exposure beyond just the jumping or dressage ring to such things as Event- ing, PPG games (fea- tured at Britain’s Royal Windsor Horse Show this year), Tetrathlon (a combination of riding, running, swimming and air pistol target shooting for the all around ath- lete) and Quiz (at its highest levels our Quiz competitors have knowl- edge at a pre-vet level). It is this diverse expo- sure that allows mem- bers to “try it all”, iden- tify their skills and inter- ests and then have the support to pursue it to the full extent of their abilities. In 2010, Canadian


Pony Club was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame as a Builder organization. Such distinguished alumni as Jim Elder,


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Beth Underhill (Jump Canada’s new Young Rider Development Pro- gram Advisor), and Ian Millar spoke of how Pony Club’s attention to detail, standards and quality of education were relevant and played a large role in who and where they are today, and how those friendships have lasted throughout the years. For those who say Pony Club isn’t for “serious riders” – it doesn’t get much more serious than


that. In a “quick-fix, shortest route to the win, socially isolated” culture – that is a significant endorsement of Pony Club’s “value added” approach. Local alumni such as Olympian Rob Stevenson and former Equine Canada Presi- dent Mike Gallagher still advocate for Pony Club and give back to it. That “give back” culture is unique in a society where you seldom get something for nothing. Volunteerism – the


desire to intentionally and selflessly support an organization for the greater good- is the lifeblood of Pony Club. Check


out


www.canadianpony- club.org – investigate our programs and com- petitions, discover our new adult Horsemasters program, and watch our video links. We may surprise you – and there’s always room for one more.


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