The Working Rally
Working rallies are often called “the backbone of The Pony Club”. They are instructed group sessions focussing on flatwork and jumping.
Members are in groups according to ability.
During a working rally, Members will be given the opportunity to work towards their next Efficiency Test. There are often accompanying stable management sessions which go through the equine care side of the Tests.
Mini / Novice Rallies
These rallies are for our younger members or more novice members.
They are 1 hour sessions in smaller groups and will be tailored to the riders abilities.
These rallies focus on the fundamentals of riding and pony care, helping Members to earn Achievement Badges and their E and D Test.
Training Rallies
There are training rallies run throughout the year and we encourage Members to come to as many as they can.
Details are always up on the website and reminder messages are often sent out.
There are training sessions for Show Jumping and Dressage, often at Northcote, and Cross Country training sessions at Somerford Park.
Places are limited and rides are small so Members get the most out of the lesson.
Camps
Senior Camp
Our Senior Camp is held annually at Somerford Park Farm for Members ages 11 and over. Members stay overnight for five nights in tents and horse boxes and get to ride twice every day, whether that is flatwork, Show Jumping, grid work, or Cross Country – we’ve even done some Mounted Games and Polocrosse! Members look after their ponies the whole week, mucking out and grooming every day and making sure they are well looked after with the amount of work they are doing. The horses’ welfare is a top priority. Members also have to share responsibility for the cleanliness of the stable yard and the pavilion, ensuring floors are swept and the washing up is done.
Some of the evening activities we have had before include:
- A talk from an equine dental technician, with a real horse’s skull
- A talk from an equine physio
- A talk from Saracen’s Horse Feeds about a horse’s digestive health
- A quiz
- Running races
- Rounders
- Tabletop games
This camp is always a highlight in Chipping’s calendar and Members look forward to it year on year!
Mini Camp
Our Mini Camp is for our younger Members. Unlike our Senior Camp, this camp is not residential and it is only for a weekend. Members get a chance to have ridden and non-ridden lessons with their friends and learn the fundamentals of riding and pony care. There are opportunities to earn Achievement Badges and work towards Efficiency Tests, all with excellent tuition from our instructors, and help from older Members who come to volunteer.
Horsemanship, Tests and Badges
Throughout the year we are preparing our members for the range of Pony Club tests, starting with E test for our younger Members through to the internationally-recognised A test. There is no rush to move up the levels, “stage not age” is our motto. We also do a myriad of badges that help our Members learn the theory for their tests.
There are also the Quiz and Horse and Pony Care competitions to work towards. There are Area competitions nearby, and success in these can take you all the way to The Championships! Our Members love learning all about The Pony Club and horsemanship in these fun and interactive competitions and they all enjoy representing Chipping.
Mounted Games
Chipping Pony Club has been active in the world of Mounted Games for decades, with each new generation of Members getting involved in the fast-paced, team-building sport. Our teams train most weeks when there are competitions coming up such as the Winter League competitions at Myerscough College and the Area competition in early summer. After Areas, there is the Zone Final competition where Members compete against the best of the best. This sport encourages quick-thinking and resilience and is a great opportunity for Members to compete alongside their friends as part of a team.
Show Jumping
We regularly hold Show Jumping training sessions for our Members, and cater to all abilities, from poles on the ground to the PC110 competition. There are lots of opportunities for Members to compete and we even had a team go to The Pony Club Championships this year! We have also been lucky enough to be invited to compete at both Defender Bramham Horse Trails and Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trails. These opportunities give older Members fantastic experience at high-level competition, while also giving younger Members something to aspire to.
Eventing
The sport of Eventing contains three different disciplines: Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country. Here at Chipping, our training begins around Easter, with competitions running throughout the summer months. Members must have precise Dressage skills, flawless Show Jumping technique, and daring Cross Country confidence to tackle all three phases of the competition. The majority of famous Eventing riders began in The Pony Club and we hope our Members can make it big one day too!
Arena Eventing
In the winter months, the Cross Country phase of Eventing moves into an arena, alongside the Show Jumping, in a different type of competition, Arena Eventing. A qualifier is held annually for the Barrier Animal Health Spring Festival which is an exciting event for Members to work towards outside of the Eventing season.
Dressage
We hold regular flatwork training sessions for Members to work on their riding, from lead-rein to advanced. They can then show off what they have learnt at Dressage competitions throughout the year. There is the Winter League competition series in the winter and the Area and Championships competitions during the summer.