Working Rallies are generally based around the Efficiency Test system of The Pony Club (www.pcuk.org for more information) which is chronological, progressive and designed to develop the educational requirements of the members and ponies in a safe and fun environment. The groups are balanced to ensure that the members are working alongside peers at a similar stage. To allow the sessions to progress, latecomers are only permitted to join if the coach feels it is still acceptable to do so. We are also unable to facilitate members on shared ponies at the same rally due to numbers and for welfare reasons. If you share a pony with another member or sibling, then we ask that you take it in turn to attend. The only exception to this is for Mounted Games where two members may share one pony for the SAME session taking it in turns to ride.
All of the coaches we used are hand-picked for their skills, qualifications and expertise in delivering this system at various levels and in a group environment. All have extensive riding and competition experience alongside their coaching and accreditation for The Pony Club.
Within Woodland, we are vigilant in ensuring that coaches are always made aware of a member’s individual needs where relevant. This could include medical or educational issues, any anxieties or details about their ponies, for example a green or strong pony. Whilst a member would never be ‘forced’ to do something they did not want to do, in order for the coaches to plan a comprehensive and progressive session, we need parents to have faith in their expertise and understand that in order to progress, members are encouraged to embrace challenge in a protected environment such as a rally. The coaches are all excellent at balancing these issues whilst ensuring safety is paramount.
There will be members who do not want to jump but are happy to do poles on the understanding that they are often used to enhance flat as well as jump sessions. We would not expect a coach to manage a child who was not doing poles/jumping whilst they were progressing a pole/ jumping session with the rest of the group and rather than have child and pony exit the session half-way through, we would recommend signing up to dressage only specific rallies.
Obviously within all of the above, we also have to balance the needs of the rest of the group if a specific pony is sufficiently challenging to compromise their safety and progression. In cases of a pony being unsuitable for the activity the coach may ask a member to leave a group if that is the best and safest option. Riding is a risk sport and we aim to ensure best and safest practice at all times.
Your vaccination records need to have been verified by WHPC Health and Safety www.woodlandhunthealthandsafety@gmail.com and your hat tagged (PINK tag) before you attend rallies. Vaccination ruling also applies to any companion ponies travelling to venues. Please send over updated vaccination details as they are re-done annually. A reminder that you cannot attend a rally or event until 7 days has passed after any vaccination.
Please also update us on any medical or Special Educational Needs (SEN) including mental health that a member might have as this greatly helps coaches with the planning of sessions and making any reasonable adjustments necessary.
Refunds will only be issued after the rally has taken place if the place is cancelled BEFORE the closing date.
Requests for same group times, shared transport etc are at the discretion of the rally organiser and cannot always be accommodated. It is quite within reason for there to be a gap of 1 hour between sibling, transport etc to allow for the sessions to run in a chronological order. Managing logistics for attending the sessions is solely the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Please remember that all the work in putting on rallies and other branch activities is done by a committee of volunteers who themselves have jobs and families but give up their free time to Woodland. Can we ask that you respect their personal commitments and email woodland@pcuk.org for all rally requests and changes rather than contacting committee members on their personal devices where possible unless there is an urgent need on the day.
Thank you!