As stipulated by the Pony Club, in order to take part in ANY Area competitions, all members must have attended at least three working rallies between 1st July 2021 and 30th June 2022; one of these rallies must be after 1st January 2022. In addition, each horse/pony must also have taken part in at least three working rallies. In addition to this we encourage you to have represented the Branch at a minimum of two relevant competitions at the height or level that you wish to ride for at Areas or Regionals.
When choosing teams, preference will be given to those members who have attended regular training sessions that are relevant to the discipline, as well as represented the Branch at competitions. If you want to represent the Branch at the Area Eventing competition, then preference will given to members who have attended several training sessions in each of the relevant disciplines i.e. dressage, show jumping and XC.
Area qualifiers can be found on the Calendar
General Team Requirements and Etiquette – We actively encourage all our members to participate in Pony Club competitions either as individuals or as part of team. Please remember when you are out and about competing that you are representing The Vine Branch of the Pony Club and that you should always behave appropriately. Occasionally when we put forward a team/s for competitions we may be over subscribed, in these circumstances preference will be given to members who support the Branch and attend regular training sessions.
AREA COMPETITIONS
As far as Pony Club competitions are concerned, the country is divided into 19 different “Areas”. The Vine is one of 18 Pony Club Branches which make up Area 13. Area Competitions take place each summer, usually in July, and the Vine will hope to put forward teams and/or individuals in each of the three disciplines: Dressage, Shop Jumping and Eventing. These are the most prestigious of the Pony Club competitions as a first or second placing at these events, either as a team or individual, means that you qualify for the National Pony Club Championships representing Area 13. The Championships take place at the middle/end of August at Offchurch Bury, Warwickshire.
Within the Area competition, there are three levels – Novice/PC 90, Intermediate/PC 100 and Open. To give you an idea of the standard required at each level, the dressage test / fence heights are as follows:
AREA DRESSAGE:
Level – Grassroots Regional Championships
Area Test – Grassroots Dressage Test (TBC)
Regional Championship Test – Grassroots Dressage Test (TBC)
Level – Novice and Open Novice
Area Test – Novice Dressage Test (TBC)
Championship Test -Novice Dressage Championship Test (TBC)
Level – Intermediate
Area Test – Intermediate Dressage Test (TBC)
Championship Test – Intermediate Championship Test (TBC)
Level – Open
Area Test – Open Dressage Test (TBC)
Championship Test – Open Dressage Championship Test (TBC)
AREA SJ:
Regional Grassroots Qualifiers: 80cm (first round) / two fences can be 85cm (second round)
Regional Grassroots Championships: 80 – first round (two single fences can be 85cm ) / 85 – second round (two single fences can be 90cm)
Novice: 90cm (first round) / 95cm (second round)
Intermediate: 1m – (first round) / 1.05m (second round)
Open: 1.10m (first round) / 1.15m (second round)
AREA EVENTING:
Level – Grassroots Regional Championships
Area Test – Grassroots Dressage Test (TBC)
Regional Championship Test – Grassroots Dressage Test (TBC)
SJ: 85cm
XC: 80cm
Level – PC90 and Open PC90
Area Test -PC90 Eventing Test (TBC)
Championship Test – PC90 Eventing Championship Test (TBC)
SJ: 95cm
XC: 90cm
Level – PC100
Area Test -PC100 Eventing Test (TBC)
Championship Test – PC100 Eventing Championship Test (TBC)
SJ: 1.05m
XC: 1m
Level – PC100+
Area Test -PC110 Eventing Test (TBC)
Championship Test – PC110 Eventing Championship Test (TBC)
SJ: 1.10m
XC: 1m (at Championships there may be some at 1.05m)
Level – PC110
Area Test -PC110 Eventing Test (TBC)
Championship Test – PC110 Eventing Championship Test (TBC)
SJ: 1.15m
XC: 1.10m
Regional Pony Club Qualifier and Championships
This is an entry level competition in Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing reserved for our more novice members. the competition is open to any age of member with any size of horse or pony. The rider must not have previously represented their branch at Novice/PC 90 level or above in Dressage, Show Jumping or Eventing Area competitions. The Regional Qualifiers for Dressage and Show Jumping are usually held at the Area Competitions. The Eventing Qualifier is held at a separate event. This may vary from year to year.
The top eight teams from each Regional Qualifier and the first two individuals in each section go forward to the Regional Championships which are held in late August, often at Rectory Farm, Cirencester.
The standards required for Regional Qualifiers are outlined in each discipline summery above.
MINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Mini Championships traditionally take place at the beginning of September and are unique to Area 13. The competition is restricted to children 12 years and under riding ponies no bigger than 14.2hh. The rules for the Mini Championships are currently under review on account of the introduction of the Regional Qualifier but it is suggested that children who jump competitively at 80cm will not be eligible for the Mini Championships, regardless of their age and height of pony. It is specifically aimed ay the younger, less experienced riders. The Mini Championships are an individual and team competition. They do not provide qualification to any further competition. Children can either compete in Eventing or Dressage and/or Show Jumping. The level for each discipline is as follows:
Dressage – PC Introductory Test (TBC)
SJ – 70cm in first round
Eventing – Level 2, ie PC Introductory test (TBC), 70cm SJ and XC
HICKSTEAD SHOW JUMPING
During summer the Vine puts forward teams for the PC Inter-Branch Invitational Show Jumping competition which takes place at Hickstead. Due to the location of Hickstead and the fact that the classes begin at a very early hour in the morning, our teams tend to stable overnight at Hickstead before the event. The levels of the classes are as follows:
Minis – 65cm first round
Novice – 75cm first round
Intermediate – 85cm first round
Open – 95cm first round
BLENHEIM
The Vine has previously put forward a teams to compete in the Pony Club Team Eventers’ Chanllege at Blenheim at the beginning of September. Competitors jump a course of show jumps and cross country fences with an optimum time for completion. The team with the lowest cumulative score are the winners and there is also an award for the most stylish performance. There are two separate classes at Blenheim – 90 and 100. Places are very limited so we are fortunate to gain entry.
All members need to comply with the Three Rally Rule in order to compete at Area level in 2024, as well as in some other competitions. The year for rallies runs from 1st July so rallies attended in 2023 count for next year’s Area Competitions although at least one rally must be in 2024.
Your pony also has to have attended three rallies. At least one in 2024. You do not need to have ridden your pony at all of the rallies. This is important if you buy a new pony in the spring. Make sure that you get clear evidence – signed by the seller’s DC – of the rallies that the pony has participated in. Camp counts as one rally for pony and rider.
Whilst strictly speaking you and your pony could attend rallies separately, we would, of course, expect to see you at several rallies riding your pony for team selection/training purposes.
NB: Team training does not count as a rally unless it is open to everyone.
There is an informative PDF on the Pony Club’s main website regarding The Role of Parents. Please do take a moment to read it.
Finally, get your membership paid early. If you join late you will not be eligible for the Areas.