Usually the Winter months are a little quieter but you all seem to have been busy running some very popular in door shows contributing to the Winter League. Thank you to Anne Sandford for administering this. I believe that the last show in on Sunday 22nd February and then we must agree when to do the prize giving. The Winner of the PC110 will qualifier to represent Area 12 at The Royal Windsor Horse Show together with the 4 Spring Festival qualifiers – Elle H OBHN, Maya T and Millie M Flamstead and Phoebe W SOHC.
The final place and non travelling reserve will be picked from a hat from DC nominations so please can you send me via email your nominations by 1st March 2026.
Debbie Fogden has again been very busy organising Senior Training, Senior camp, training session for assessments and Lunge Test. We are all very grateful to her for all that she is doing. I would ask that both DCs and parents engage with Debbie’s booking requests and nominations promptly as it is hard work co ordinating everyone and if a DC and parent takes control of their own branch members/children, it could be so much easier.
I am still not getting every branch’s minutes for all their committee meetings which is a requirement from the office. They should either be emailed to Area12 or attached to PELHAM. I will produce a record of those received and those using PELHAM to circulate to remind you all.
However, with regard to Branch Returns – congratulations and well done to all the Treasurers, these were all submitted on time, thank you. I understand that the NEW cashbooks/returns have been sent out for 2026 apologies as they were a bit late this year.. You will notice that they are quite different and the columns and information required verifies a lot from previously. This reflects the requirements from the Accountants and HMRC and therefore the Office now have to report different data. This differs greatly from the information we probably want in order to manage our branch accounts. At Area level it has been suggested that the NEW format is completed for the Office as usual by 31st January and an Area/branch may wish to also make their own spreadsheet or use the old cashbook for branch management. But I am happy to their own spreadsheet or use the old cashbook for branch management. completed for the Office as usual by 31st January and an Area/branch may wish to also make their own spreadsheet or use the old cashbook for branch management. But I am happy to answer any questions or feed back.
Incident forms. I have sent out the latest data from the office and as you will see Area 12 look as they are adhering to the requirement to record and submit any incidents even if there is no injury, Please ensure that this is done by ALL branches. The Risk Assessment officer at the office is very happy to do sessions/cpd/updates with any branches or groups as you require either live or on Teams. Contact Ellie on Safety@pcuk.org
Coaches – (not instructors! This is an old fashioned word to describe those who told their riders what to do rather than the modern way of explaining and encouraging). ALL coaches used for any Pony Club Activity must be on the Coaches Database on Pelham either as an accredited coach with the 4 certificates or supervised coaches – this is for coaches whose CPD or First Aid may have expired and they move down to supervised status and must have a branch representative in attendance with these certificates. If the DBS or safeguarding has expired -THEY CAN NOT BE USED under any circumstances. All coaches are encouraged to be accredited and not sit in the supervised category unless younger/inexperienced coaches who should be mentored by a more experienced coach.
Sport Rules books and the Handbook are online and hard copies can now be ordered through likewise the New Manual of Horsemanship Part 1.
Dressage score sheets are no longer available via wainwrights but from the Pony Club Resources. You searched for dressage | Resource Hub you may need to be logged in.
Please encourage your members to enter the Art Competition.
Nominations for Cubit Awards (longstanding awards over 20 years) Cherry Awards outstanding contribution to Pony Club and the New MacDonald Award for outstanding coaches. See the website Volunteer Awards | The Pony Club UK entries for this year close on 1st March and will be awarded at RWHS in May unless you request them to be done in branch or at an Area event.
Area competition Turnout. Please note and encourage members that Turnout of both horse and rider is important and shows respect to those helping and judging on the day and although probably not scientifically proven improves performance. Plaits are expected at Area qualifiers and championships. It is also a great skill to work on and perfect. Dress rules do stipulate that traditional jackets must be worn with a pony club tie or stock. The rules book goes on to explain the definition of a tradition jacket please ensure all your members abide by this especially when representing the branch. This a good time of year to either hold dismounted sessions to go through the rule books, team selection policies or camp requirements with parents and members and at the very least revise them on your web pages and social media.
Programme Salver – In the past, these were paper copies, posted out to members advertising the Pony Club activities a branch was holding. However, these have now been replaced by one of the entry Systems that all branches should be using. I would be grateful for your views on how we continue to award this trophy and would suggest that it goes for Social Media content, your views are welcome.
Please note that the Autumn Meeting will be on WEDNESDAY 21st October 2026 and Di Pegrum will be joining us. The change in date is due to firstly pushing it later in the year in order for rule changes to be discussed in September by the Sports Committees. And so that Di can spread herself around a third of the areas.
Thank you to all of you and your committees for the time and effort that you put into Pony Club and your members.
Helen Jackson
Area 12 Representative