There is no such thing as a stupid question and parents will undoubtedly have lots of questions when they enter the world of Pony Club! We have tried to pull together some answers to the most commonly asked questions but if you have a question that we haven’t covered below then please do get in touch with us and we will do our best to help.

Pony Club Essentials

• Horse/Pony Passports. The Pony Club mandates that all all ponies/horses must have a valid passport.
• Equine Vaccinations. The Pony Club mandates that all horses/ponies must be compliant with the Pony Club minimum vaccination requirements.
• Dress & Tack. The dress code for each of the sports is given in the individual rule books. However, there are some items of dress that have safety implications. Members are expected to dress correctly and safely for all Pony Club activities.
  • Member’s Uniform. Members are expected to present themselves in clean, neat and tidy clothes; further detail below.
  • Tack. Horses and ponies should always be turned out in clean, well fitting tack.
  • Rider Safety Wear. The Pony Club has a ‘Body Protector Rule’ and a ‘Hat Rule’, your equipment must adhere to the current standards. Note: some disciplines require specific rider safety wear (e.g. Cross Country; Jockey Skull Cap and current standard Body Protector). 
  • Spurs. To wear spurs for Pony Club activities riders must have either achieved ‘The Spurs Test’ or the ‘C+ Riding Test’; Guidance.
• Code of Conduct:  Members and Parents

You can find all the current Rule Books for the above items (& The Pony Club Handbook) HERE. 

How do I:

 

• Book a Rally?

You will need to register for an account with Horse Events to book rallies and events (you will need your Membership Number to set yourself up on Horse Events). The website is fairly intuitive but please do get in touch if you require any assistance.

• Buy Pony Club uniform?

The Pony Club uniform can be purchased from Wainright. The Duke of Buccleuch’s Hunt Pony Club wear:

• • • Navy Blue Sweatshirts with ‘Duke of Buccleuch Hunt’ printed as the Branch name (all members).
    • Deep Navy Polo Shirts with ‘Duke of Buccleuch Hunt’ printed as the Branch name (only required for Summer Camp).
    • Pony Club Ties (required for Senior Camp, Competitions and Pony Club Tests).

Can you explain to me:

 

• Correct clothing/uniform for Rallies?

Clothing must be clean, neat and tidy.

• Jodhpurs/breeches clean and tidy, no jeans please.
• Hats must be to the current standards and must be tagged (new members will have their hat inspected and tagged at their first rally).
• Branch sweatshirt to be worn for rallies, Branch poloshirt or a plain muted colour T-shirt is acceptable.
• Long sleeves are compulsory for XC plus body protector.
• Short boots and chaps or long riding boots.
• Long hair should be tied up neatly with a hairnet.
• Black, brown or navy gloves.
• No jewellery! (Exception: in the event of a person being unable to remove permanent jewellery, it must be adequately protected/covered).
• No hooded clothing.

All ponies must be clean and tidy. Tack must be well fitted and clean. remember to check your stirrup irons, there should be 7mm clearance either side of your boots.

• Correct dress for competitions?

Additional or different dress requirements for competitions may be specified in the appropriate PC Discipline Rule Books HERE. This is a general guide but if your not sure then please ask.

• Beige, white or cream jodhpurs/breeches.
• Jackets: traditional jackets must be worn with a pony club tie or hunting stock. It is permitted to wear a pony club stock with any jacket. Jackets must be worn for the duration of the course. Jackets may be removed during warming up, provided the competitor is wearing a shirt that at a minimum covers the shoulders. Competitor numbers should be worn at all times. During hot weather the judges may give permission for competitors to ride without jackets, but shirts must cover the shoulders.
• PC tagged riding helmet, the individual sports also have additional requirements with regard to colour and type.
• Short boots and chaps or long riding boots.
• Hair in hairnet with PC scrunchie – long hair in a bun with hairnet over the top.
• Dark gloves to match jacket or black/white for dressage.
• Black, brown or navy hat silk to match jacket.
• PC badge with appropriate test felt ( essential for all competitions ). Must be worn on the left side of the lapel of your jacket.
• Body protectors and skull caps are compulsory for XC and pony racing.

Ponies must be clean and tidy with well fitting, clean tack. Plaited for all area, regional and national competitions.

• What is a Ridden Rally?

A structured and supervised mounted lesson led by a qualified instructor. We run regular mounted rallies on all disciplines including polework, flatwork, cross country and jumping. Rallies are held with a variety of instructors for breadth of learning, and at different venues around the area to aid access for all. See Horse Events for upcoming rallies and events.

• What is a Badge Rally?

Achievement badges provide a fun and interactive way for members to develop their knowledge of horsemanship and give them the opportunity to develop the skills to care for Horses and Ponies to the highest possible standards. There are an array of badges in terms of topics and their difficulty level, providing a clear path for progression and ensuring there is something for everyone! Look out for our Branch Badge Rallies on Horse Events.

• What are The Pony Club Tests?

The Pony Club Training structure encourages members to take tests which enables them to learn progressively about horse and pony care and riding. The tests are taken at recommended ages and are designed with certain objectives in mind. Find out more HERE.

• What is the Young Equestrian Leader Award (YELA)?

This is a scheme for young people aged between 13 and 25 who want to volunteer within the equestrian industry. There are progressive levels to work through: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The scheme recognises the time and effort spent volunteering, whilst facilitates young people to gain a range of skills and experiences, setting them up to become leaders of the future. Find out more HERE.

• Does Pony Club Membership provide insurance?

All Members of The Pony Club are covered by Members Insurance

 

A gentle reminder…

• All of our coaches are fully accredited.
• All of our organisers and committee are unpaid volunteers.

Please respect accordingly.

Our children depend on volunteers to make the club a success. We actively encourage any offers to help no matter how big or small, all is gratefully received. So if you would like to get involved then please contact the Secretary and you will be welcomed with open arms!

We believe that The Duke of Buccleuch’s Hunt Pony Club is a fantastic community to belong to. We expect that all those affiliated to the club, adhere to the Code of Conduct rules as laid out by PCUK. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the Codes of Conduct: Members and Parents.