Last updated 25.02.21
Competitions and area Comps are n the attached calendar
For team selections please view the team availability sheet
At the Easton Harriers we enter
teams in inter-branch competitions in Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Tetrathlon, Mounted Games, Horse and Pony Care and the Pony Club Quiz. We also offer training for Pony Racing.
Dressage
Dressage is the foundation of all the disciplines. Over the winter we hold rallies specifically for working on the flat and at all day rallies in the summer a large proportion of the time is spent on dressage. For members who express an interest in being in the Area teams there is team training after the Easter holidays and final teams will be decided following an assessment evening. Age is not a barrier for dressage and last year we had 2 junior members at the Area competition.
Here is the link to the Pony Club website showing the tests to be ridden at this year’s competition:
Copies of the tests can be downloaded from the PC website.
There are strict rules concerning eligibility for entering all area competitions and a copy of the dressage eligibility is attached – it is worth reading as there are changes from last year.
Show Jumping
Show Jumping is a hugely popular discipline within the Pony Club and there are many interbranch friendly competitions throughout the season with classes ranging from 50cm to 1.10m, as well as the Area competitions with Novice (90cm), Intermediate (1m) and Open (1.10m) classes.
Members are encouraged to sign up for these competitions – see Area Dates 2020 to check your availability. The friendlies are an excellent introduction to taking part in a team competition and the added pressures involved.
Members who express an interest in being in an Area team need to check their eligibility and sign up on the team availability form.
Eventing
Eventing comprises the disciplines of dressage, show jumping and cross country riding, usually run in that order on one day. It challenges all aspects of horsemanship: accuracy, control, precision, obedience, bravery etc.
The One Day Event to be held at Poplar Park on Sunday 14th March has unfortunately been cancelled due to COVID 19
But we are holding our Hunter Trial (just cross country) also at Poplar Park on Sunday 18th April, with classes from 75 cm to 1m, with some classes qualifying for the Eland Lodge National Hunter Trial Series 2020. If you haven’t been cross country before it might be an idea to enter a pairs class with someone more experienced before going round solo.
As with the dressage and show jumping, there are strict eligibility rules to adhere to, for example to compete at Novice level, the combination of horse and rider should not have achieved more than three clear cross country rounds at BE 100.
To be considered for the team you need to be seen out and about competing as much as possible– it’s not imperative that you compete at BE (British Eventing) competitions as these can be very expensive – there are plenty of Pony Club branch/Riding Club competitions held over BE (ie good quality) courses eg Isleham, Poplar Park, Gt Witchingham, Stratford Hills. Look out on Horsedates for One Day Events or Hunter Trials.
In September there is a fabulous interbranch eventing competition called the Bloom Cup where we can enter teams at 75cm and 90cm and is the perfect introduction to team eventing. Most of the children who compete in the Area competitions will have cut their teeth at the Bloom Cup.
Tetrathlon
Tetrathlon is a great sport which involves pistol shooting (or beanbagging for the u8s), swimming, running and cross country riding. Unless the parents have competed themselves as children the Tetrathlon is not always understood, but is so worth having a go as the kids who take part often say that the Tetrathlon is where they have the most fun in the Pony Club. You don’t have to be the best at any of the 4 elements, just willing to have a go. Our own competition in the Easter holidays is one of the first of the season; very popular – last year we had over 80 competitors. This year the Triathlon part (shoot, swim, run) should be held at Framlingham College on April 6th if CoVID allows and the riding part will be held in conjunction with our Hunter Trial at Poplar Park on Sunday 18th April.
Those members who have been to junior camp will have already tried the pistol shooting/beanbagging – we use branch pistols/pellets/targets so there is no need to buy any special equipment, although at the higher levels members tend to buy their own gun.
The competition – classes are divided into boys/girls in close age groups so the children only ever have to compete with others up to 2 years older than themselves.
Shoot – 5 practice shots, followed by 10 competition shots, maximum score 1000
Swim – each age group is given a swim time eg Juniors (ages 12 -14) swim for 2 minutes and Minis 1.5 minutes so you swim as far as you can in that time, with points being awarded for every metre swum. It doesn’t matter if you’re not very good – you’re allowed to wear armbands, request a lane next to the outside of the pool and the little ones swim widths rather than lengths.
Run – each age group has a set distance, eg 750m, 1000m, 1500m. The members usually run individually although at some competitions they run in groups of 10. The faster you run the more points you earn.
Ride – this is held over a cross country course and involves opening and closing a gate (having passed through it) while still on your pony, and getting off, lowering a rail, leading your pony over it, replacing the rail, remounting and completing the course. Points are awarded depending on how far you get around the course – maximum points 1400 for a clear round. For the younger age groups the cross country is over a much smaller course (varies between branches) and can be on the lead rein. At our competition in the Easter holidays the riding phase for the younger members will be in the show jumping arena at Poplar Park so they are in a controlled environment rather that at large on the cross country course! If you are not confident riding at the height stated on the schedule you can opt to jump a lower course and just take a penalty. This is highly recommended if you are not very experienced. This option is not available at the Area competitions but there are always learner options on the cross country course at the more difficult fences. It’s really hard to be eliminated at the Tetrathlon, they want everyone to complete.
After all 4 phases are completed the scores are added together and the highest score wins! There is usually a team competition run alongside the individual classes which means that members encourage each other to do well. The Easton Harriers have a very good record in the Tetrathlon, both at local and Area competitions.
Tetrathlon/Triathlon Competitions
Area – this is to be held in Leicestershire over a weekend in conjunction with Area 6. It is a lot of fun, well worth the drive up to the A1 and we usually camp for 2 nights. There is the branch competition run by the Quorn branch held alongside the Area competition which means that younger siblings/members can compete in the normal way and enjoy being part of the action. Ponies are stabled locally or brought up on the Sunday and everyone camps near the cross country course.
Regional – Every year branches are asked to nominate Junior riders (age 12 -14 on 1st January) to be put forward for the East of England regional team. The cross country is a full-up 90cm and riders should be confident riding at this height. The competition is lots of fun with a dance competition and party on the Saturday night.
The Tetrathlon has its own Championships to be held this year at Bishop’s Burton, N Yorks in August for those who qualify at the Area competition in July. 2 years ago our girls team was placed 5th at the Championships. There is also an Intermediate Regional Competition usually held in August, date as yet tbc.
Mounted Games
We don’t have a Mounted Games team or practice at the moment but if any parent would like to take this on, then we can set it up.
Ponies need to be small enough to get on and off easily and ideally they should be manoeuvrable and obedient!! They should not exceed 147cm.
It’s a brilliant way of gaining confidence on your pony, improving trust and balance, and also a good introduction to team competitions.
The Area competition date & venue are yet to be announced but will be in April/May – there are also sometimes interbranch friendly competitions. More details to follow.
If you are interested, please contact me at eastonharrierspc@gmail.com
Quiz
Again I need a parent to offer to take on quiz training. The Area Quiz is the first Area competition of the year, to be held in March.
We need teams comprising members as follows (ages all taken at 1.1.20)
1 under 12, 1 under 14, 1 under 16 and 1 under 25. One member may hold their AH test. Obviously all could be u12 but they would have to be very knowledgeable!
The Quiz takes place in a village hall and is suitable for members with a good general knowledge of all things horsey. Questions are asked to the team as a whole rather than to individuals (except in the practical round).
Typical Quiz topics are:
1. The Pony Club
2. Rider, Tack & Turnout for Rallies, Competitions and Hunting
3. Well-known Equestrian Venues in the UK
4. The Numbers Game and Missing Words
5. Practical Round (Individual)
6. Points of Horse (Juniors) and Know your Horse’s Ailments (Seniors) – in pairs
7. Picture Round
8. All the Queen’s Horses
If you would like to be considered for a team please sign up on the team availability form
and we will arrange training.
Horse and Pony Care
The Horse and Pony Care competition is a hands-on version of the quiz taken in a working yard with ponies. We would like to enter both a Junior and Senior team this year.
Juniors – all need to be under 13 at 1.1.20, including one member under 12.
Seniors – all need to be 14 – 25 years at 1.1.20. One member must be 16 and under, and one may be between 21 – 25.
For more information and to see some sample questions, please follow the link to the Pony Club website:
Horse and Pony Care Competition
You can see that the topics covered are exactly those covered in the achievement badges and in the Horse and Pony Care section of the Pony Club tests. For Juniors the questions are based on the tests from D to C, and for the Seniors from C+ to AH.
We did have a very good record at this competition and have reached the Championships in the past.
Pony Racing
Whilst we don’t offer Pony Racing as a branch, we sometimes offer branch training days at the British Racing School, Newmarket.