DRESS CODE

Here, you will find what Pony Club expect you and your pony to wear for various events you may attend. 

Tack and turnout is marked at the beginning of every working rally.  During this process, the turnout of the rider and horse is assessed, as well as how clean and well fitting the tack is.  Points are given and overall prizes awarded at Presentation Night.

*NOTE: Where hats and body protectors are referred to, please see the 2020 hat and body protectors rules here

WORKING RALLY

RIDER

  • A hard hat that meets current permitted safety standard in black or navy (or a hat cover in black or navy, or the Pony Club hat cover).  A fully comprehensive guide to the type of hat that is safe to wear can be found here:  
  • Body Protectors are recommended and MUST be worn for cross country training and pony racing. 
  • Pony Club sweatshirt, Pony Club tie or stock (if 14 years and over) and a white, long sleeved shirt.  
  • Pony Club badge
  • Plain cream, beige or white jodhpurs
  • Plain gloves
  • Black or brown jodhpur boots with jodhpur clips OR plain black or brown chaps/gaitors (no tassles or fringes) OR black or brown knee length riding boots.  
  • Long hair tied back and secured in a hairnet with a plain or Pony Club scrunchie or bobble.  
  • NO piercings or jewellery.  
  • NO hooded tops or hooded jackets when mounted.  
  • NO bling please.  

HORSES/PONIES

  • should be well groomed and bathed (weather permitting) – clean, well presented, sponged eyes, nose and dock.  
  • picked out hooves
  • tangle-free mane and tail
  • must wear clean, well fitting, safe, tack and boots (if your horse would normally wear boots).  Check stitching, especially on reins, stirrups and girth straps.
  • May wear a plain (not embroidered) white, brown, navy or black numnah or saddlecloth.  
  • No ‘bling’ please (NO glitter, NO diamante or coloured browbands or tack)

TRAINING AND GAMES PRACTICE

RIDER

  • A hard hat that meets current permitted safety standard in black or navy (or a hat cover in black or navy, or the Pony Club hat cover).  A fully comprehensive guide to the type of hat that is safe to wear can be found here:  
  • Body Protectors are recommended and MUST be worn for cross country training and pony racing. 
  • A long sleeved top – ties and Pony Club sweatshirts are not compulsory. 
  • Plain black, navy, brown, cream, beige or white jodhpurs (NO jeans)
  • Plain gloves
  • Black or brown jodhpur boots with jodhpur clips OR plain black or brown chaps/gaitors (no tassles or fringes) OR black or brown knee length riding boots
  • Long hair tied back and secured in a hairnet with a plain or Pony Club scrunchie or bobble
  • NO piercings or jewellery
  • NO hooded tops or jackets
  • No ‘bling’ please

HORSES/PONIES

  • should be clean and well presented
  • picked out hooves
  • tangle-free mane and tail
  • must wear clean, well fitting, safe, tack and boots (if your horse would normally wear boots).  Check stitching, especially on reins, stirrups and girth straps.
  • may wear a plain (not embroidered) white, brown, navy or black numnah/saddlecloth
  • No ‘bling’ please (NO glitter, NO diamante or coloured browbands or tack)

COMPETITION

RIDER

  • As above for rally, but instead of a Pony Club sweatshirt, should wear a plain, traditional jacket (tweed, navy or black).  You must wear your Pony Club badge on the left lapel. 
  • Extra clean and shiny!

HORSE/PONY

  • Extra clean and shiny!
  • Plaited mane and forelock (tail optional) unless Mountain and Moorland type. 
  • Tack should be appropriate for the discipline in black or brown leather and should also be extra clean and shiny!
DRESSAGE
  • No martingales
  • No boots (horses) including over-reach boots, during the test.  You are, however, permitted to warm up in boots. 
  • White numnah/saddle cloth.
  • Certain snaffle bits only (see rules below)
  • Long whips (schooling whips) may be carried
  • Double bridles are only allowed at Open Level Competitions
  •  A comprehensive guide, including permitted bits, for dressage can be found here: https://pcuk.org/media/psedy2xm/dressage-rule-book-2020-final.pdf

SHOW JUMPING

  • Turn out as for rally, expect you should wear a jacket (tweed, plain black or plain navy) instead of a Pony Club sweatshirt. 
  • Whips must be no longer than 75cm but more than 45cm

A comprehensive guide to show jumping rules and what to wear can be found here: https://pcuk.org/media/im5lf1ty/showjumping-rule-book-2020-final.pdf

EVENTING

  • For the dressage and show jumping phases, turnout should be as detailed above – tweed jacket, or plain navy or plain black jacket. 
  • For the cross country phase, you must remember it is compulsory to wear a body protector and a jockey skull cap with no fixed peak (hat silk or cover usually worn). 
  • Cross country colours, a long sleeved shirt or a rugby shirt is absolutely fine. White, beige or cream jodhpurs. 
  • A medical armband must be worn for the cross country phase. 
  • Eventing Rule Book https://pcuk.org/media/hs3jrvkc/eventing-2020-final.pdf

MOUNTED GAMES COMPETITION

  • As per rally turnout (super clean and shiny!)
  • Long sleeved white shirt and Pony Club tie (white sweatshirt and bib is provided by the Chipping Pony Club)
  • White, beige or cream jodhpurs. 
  • Hat should be a jockey skull cap with no fixed peak (hat silk or cover usually worn). 
  • A comprehensive guide of dress and saddlery can be found in the Mounted Games rule book here:  https://pcuk.org/media/d1aj3ll2/pc-mounted-games-rule-book-2020v7.pdf

PONY RACING

  • A jockey skull cap must be worn with no fixed peak (hat silk or cover usually worn).  Hat must  be tagged. 
  • A body protector must be worn (BETA 2009 Level 3 standard (purple label) or BETA 2018 Level 3 standard (blue and black label)
  • A medical armband must be worn. 
  • Ponies saddle must be secured with an additional over-girth/surcingle that fastens on the near-side below the riders foot.
  • Neck straps are compulsory. 
  • No billet reins -they should be stitched or buckled. 
  • If pony’s reins are billet reins, it is satisfactory to secure the fastening with tape. 
  • A comprehensive guide to dress code for pony and rider can be found in the rule book for Pony Racing here: https://pcuk.org/media/1z4j0qaq/pony-racing-final.pdf

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Hoodies are not allowed to be ridden in at any Pony Club activity due to the possibility of an object getting caught in the hood, such as branches or jumps, which could cause an injury or accident. 

Ribbons in tails – a red ribbon may be put in your horse’s tail as a warning that the horse kicks.  Please give such a horse plenty of space to avoid any accidents.  A green ribbon also warns of a young, inexperienced horse. 

Please check the fitting and condition of your horse’s tack regularly.  The stitching on the reins, stirrup leathers and girth straps are particularly susceptible to wear and tear and should be replaced or repaired at the first sign of the stitching coming loose. 

You should be able to fit one little finger either side of your foot in the stirrups.  Stirrups that are too small run the risk of a foot getting stuck in them if you were to falling off. 

Humane Girths are NOT PERMITTED  (a humane girth is described as having non-independent straps that will loosen if one of the straps were to break). 

These rules and guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of both horse and rider.  Please follow them. 

In terms of dress, it is understandable that children want to mimic the appearance of their heroes and heroines in BS, BD and BE, but it is not always appropriate for them to do so.  While adults can decide for themselves whether they think it is safe to ride in earrings, we must protect our Members from any avoidable risks. 

The Pony Club, as a youth training organisation, has a duty of care to it’s Members, including their social care, so has always discouraged the adoption of the latest clothing and tack fashion trends, sometimes for safety reasons as above, but also for financial reasons; parents can be made to feel that their children must either have all the latest dress and equipment, or be at a disadvantage socially. 

The Pony Club, in promoting a more traditional approach to dress and turn-out (for which, as with the hairnets, there are usually good practical and safety reasons), takes a similar approach to schools which insist on uniform to try to relieve social and financial pressure. 

Any bling on either pony or rider is actually marked down in tack and turnout competitions. 

 

 

 

A Branch of The Pony Club