Dressage – The event begins with dressage, a phase that highlights the grace, obedience, and precision of the horse. Combinations will ride the Pony Club Eventing tests from PC70 through to the Eventing Open test. Dressage lays the foundation for the disciplines that follow, demonstrating the control and communication that are crucial for the phases ahead. There are plenty of opportunities to take part in our flat work and dressage rallies throughout the year.
Show Jumping – This phase tests the horse’s agility, accuracy and speed as they negotiate a eries of show jumps within a set time. We encourage members to join our SJ rallies that are organised throughout the year for all levels. All Pony Club eventing competitions take place on grass so ahead of the Area competitions in the summer we will organise SJ rallies on grass as well.
Cross Country – it is the heart of eventing. It tests bravery, stamina, and the partnership between horse and rider over a long course featuring natural and man-made obstacles. These include water jumps, ditches, banks, and solid fences. Speed is a factor, but precision and the ability to negotiate complex combinations are equally important. The course is designed to challenge the horse’s agility and courage, as well as the rider’s strategy and knowledge of their horse’s capabilities. We provide XC opportunities from 40cm at the lovely Woodhouse Farm XC course where riders can also join on the lead rein all the way through to our older members competing at PC100 or PC Open as well as the new Chairman’s Cup. We’re blessed with a number of great XC venues close by so rallies will take place at Boomerang and Tweseldown among others. We also have a thriving Juniors section that often train at Bucklebury.
The Vine has great traditions of sending Teams to Area, Regional and Pony Club Championships but are just as much focused on providing opportunities for all our members to take part in Pony Club Hunter Trials, ODEs or our popular non-competitive Introduction to Eventing at Woodhouse Farm in May.
Due to the amount of available competitions, it is difficult to keep up with everyone’s results and to choose teams. Hence, it is very important that all members send any relevant results to Eventing Coordinator if they wish to be considered for an Eventing Team at any level.
