At The Pony Club, we are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all members, parents, volunteers, officials and stakeholders irrespective of age, gender reassignment, disability, race or ethnicity.
The Pony Club endorses the principle of sports equality and strives to ensure that everyone who wishes to be involved in Pony Club Sport and Activities, whether as participants, team members, spectators, volunteers, coaches or staff:has a genuine and equal opportunity to participate to the full extent of their own ambitions and abilities, irrespective of age, gender, gender reassignment, disability, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, ethnicity (including race, colour and nationality) sexual orientation and socio-economic background.can be assured of an environment in which their rights, dignity and individual worth are respected and in particular that they are able to enjoy all Pony Club activities without the threat of intimidation, bullying, victimisation, harassment or abuse
This Pony Club aims to promote equality and diversity of opportunity within our organisation.
We recognise that due to the practical nature of the activities undertaken, adjustments may
need to be made to be accessible to the widest range of people.
This policy applies to all involved in The Pony Club including, but not exclusive to, members,
volunteers, and coaches.
Policy Statement
A Reasonable Adjustment is an alteration to or consideration of an activity that may help to
reduce the effect of a physical, or mental health condition, that places the person in question
at a disadvantage compared to others. When applied to assessments or competitions,
adjustments can only be made to the process or method; adjustments cannot be made to
the criteria against which participants will be assessed. Competence must still be
demonstrated.
A Reasonable Adjustment can be requested on the grounds of an impairment (physical or
mental) that could be temporary or long term. Reasonable Adjustments may also be made in
the case of members who wear religious clothing or for whom English is not their first
language.
During Pony Club activities, the types of adjustments offered may include, but not be limited
to, changes to elements such as: The location and some timing of the activity The format, questioning or type of activity The availability of support personnel for additional needs The availability or use of specialist equipment or tack The size or type of horse used
When applied in an assessment or competition environment, it is important that Reasonable
Adjustments do not affect the reliability or validity of the exam or competition. They should
not give an unfair advantage over others taking part.
The Pony Club may reject an application for Reasonable Adjustment in circumstances
where: An adjustment may constitute a safety hazard which cannot be reasonably
mitigated An adjustment may create a loss of validity or independence within an assessment
process or competition
The Pony Club Reasonable Adjustment Policy – Amended August 2024
Applying Reasonable Adjustments
How to apply for a Reasonable Adjustment
Application is via the member’s Personal Profile. This Form must be submitted to the
relevant person (Test Organiser, Competition Secretary, Rally Organiser) at least two weeks
before the activity is due to take place. If it is submitted after this date, there are no
guarantees that the adjustment will be applied. This timeframe ensures that there is
sufficient time for consideration of the application and that any adjustment that is agreed
upon is fair and in place. A member’s Personal Profile is the way that information about a
member’s needs are collected. These should be reviewed on a yearly basis or in the event
of a significant change to the member’s condition.
If the Reasonable Adjustment involves a change to the running of a competition (for
example, specialist tack or a caller), an application must be made to the relevant Sport
Chairman for review. The Adjustment will be considered and, if approved, will be relevant to
a specific level of competition. If the member wishes to change competition level, an
application to amend the Reasonable Adjustment must be submitted.
Special Consideration
Special consideration is a consideration to be given to a person who has temporarily
experienced an illness, injury or emotional shock. Safety is paramount in equine activities
and therefore, not all activities are suitable for special consideration.
Appeals
If, for any reason, a person involved in The Pony Club feels they have been wrongly refused
access to activities or reasonable adjustment and wishes to appeal, please refer to The
Pony Club Complaints Policy.
Reasonable Adjustment Matrix
This matrix can be used as a guide to adjustments that can be applied. These are
recommendations only and each Reasonable Adjustment will be considered on a case-by
case basis. The adjustment applied for should reflect any Reasonable Adjustment and
additional support received outside of The Pony Club. Reasonable Adjustments cannot
affect the requirements of an assessment or competition.
The impairments and health conditions listed are grouped together based around the Higher
Education Statistics Agency’s (HESA) disability grouping framework. The conditions and
adjustments listed in these matrixes are not definitive and are intended solely as a guide for
organisers and applicants for Reasonable Adjustment: No known disability Cognitive processing needs such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, visual processing speed, visual
perception, literacy, numeracy, verbal reasoning, verbal memory, nonverbal memory Social/communication need such as autistic spectrum condition 3 September 2022
The Pony Club Reasonable Adjustment Policy – Amended August 2024 Long standing illness such as cancer, epilepsy, Crohn’s, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),
Chronic Fatigue A mental health condition such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder A physical need such as crutches or wheelchair use, arthritis, paraplegia, quadriplegia,
cerebral palsy. Hearing need Visual need includes blind, partially sighted, or a serious visual impairment uncorrected
by glasses.