Dear New Member and New Member’s Parents,
Welcome to the York and Ainsty North Branch of the Pony Club.
We are a friendly Pony Club branch, and pride ourselves on offering a broad programme of activities aimed at improving the horsemanship of both junior and senior members. There is excellent instruction for all levels of ability and ambition, and we welcome all, from the nervous lead-rein child to the competitive event rider.
Please familiarise yourselves with our website https://branches.pcuk.org/yorkainstynorth which contains lots of information and is updated regularly with news, reports and often photos from previous events.
On the website you will find directions to venues, contact details, times for rallies, if appropriate and information regarding dress for rallies with and without tack and turnout.
Rallies (lessons) and fun events are scheduled mainly during the school holidays, with discipline-specific training courses running at various times throughout the year. We also hold dismounted rallies or training such as Badge Club. Normally members will be grouped with members of similar age and /or ability.
Some events are tailored to juniors or seniors and will have an age restriction. If you are unsure about what an event entails or whether it is going to be geared to the right level for you then please don’t hesitate to ask. We hold Mini Camp for age 9years and under in July and Main Camp for age 10 years and over in August.
Members are awarded points through the year for attendance at rallies and Camp with points for ‘Tack and Turnout’ being awarded at rallies with Tack & Turnout (3 per year).
Rally Awards are presented to members who have gained sufficient points each year at Christmas time with other Annual Awards. Eventually as member of Pony Club, as well as Branch activities, there are many inter- Branch and Area activities & competitions to become involved in.
In case Pony Club is new to you – here are a few Do’s and Don’ts for parents (or grandparents and others!) to get you started:
Please DO sign your child up for rallies and events as soon as you can; at least 14 days in advance please as instructors need to be organised notify us as soon as possible if you have to change your plans. Please arrive for rallies in good time to prepare yourself and tack up your pony for the rally discuss anything you think is important with your instructor. Please contact our Chief Instructor or our DC Barbara Birchall if you have any specific issues or concerns be prepared to lead if your child is on a lead-rein, or may need help. Leaders are organised for mini-camp, but not at normal rallies. If for any reason you cannot lead yourself please arrange this with coaches before the event. Please help at rallies if needed if you have time and are able to do so. Our instructors are not generally a shy and retiring bunch, but sometimes they are overcome with politeness, so if you spot someone struggling with a pile of show jumps your help will be appreciated! Instructors are paid for the hours they instruct but further commitment by them and others is voluntary Give feedback to the committee and instructors if there’s anything you’re not sure about or if you have a good suggestion. Please check out the website for information and please ask, if you have any questions
Please Do NOT;Leave mess or droppingsround trailers at rallies or events. We want to respect the venues who so kindly donate their land and some equestrian centres go as far as fining for not clearing up.
Information for parents on grouping of rides at rallies Junior groups will usually be age 10yrs and under and seniors will be 11years and over. Times for groups at rallies if needed will be posted under Rally times tab on our website a couple of days in advance. Please check website if weather poor for cancellation of rally and an email will be sent out as soon as decision is made. The instructors take many factors into consideration when placing members into groups at rallies such as friendships, siblings (group time), previous grouping as well as ability of rider and pony. Each rally list does vary, and often changes at the last minute, so a member may not be grouped with those whom they have been with previously. The number in the ride is critical. Clearly instructors instruct all members in the ride to the best of their ability and we always accommodate members into the most appropriate group for that day if possible. Consideration is always given to both challenging the children to improve their riding and boosting their confidence. Parents should feel free to discuss with coaches why their child is in a particular group. Please be aware that much advance discussion goes on between instructors in preparation of groups for rallies.
Parents would help enormously with this process if changes in attendance could be notified as soon as possible please.
Junior rallies: Please could parents of children on a lead rein (or sometimes needing a lead) have a leader available at the rally at all times e.g parent. Please contact Helen Vesty before the rally if this is a problem for you as we should be able to find someone to help if we have advance warning. At Mini Camp we have older members available to lead
YAAN PC Clothing such as sweatshirts (maroon sweatshirt for Y & A N PC),
Wainwrights also produce PC clothing; see website;http://www.wainwrightscreenprint.co.uk/index.html, however they charge £9.90 p&p so members may feel they wish to club together for orders. Please note you will not be able to purchase the flashes! Clothing such as sweatshirts tee shirts and polo shirts should be ordered in maroon with white lettering, however jackets can be ordered in navy. No hoodies please.
Harry Hall sell PC badge and tie or stockMembers are awarded 10 points for every rally attendance and Camp and these are added to Tack & Turnout scores throughout the year. Those who are in the top 25/30 or so, (depending on total number of members) will receive a Rally Award, with the highest junior and senior member being awarded the Rally Award Shield. Please note that attendance marks at rallies will be lost if you are incorrectly dressed YAAN PC Clothing –
At Rallies with Tack & Turnout, it is expected that your horse/pony and yourself should be well turned out as you will be marked and points go towards the Tack & Turnout awards. Correct pony club dress i.e. clean tack, plain numnah/girth/hat silk, beige/cream jodhpurs, white shirt and Pony Club tie, hacking jacket and Pony Club badge (with felt if applicable!), dark plain gloves and a hairnet, correct boots, plain chaps if appropriate.
****You will be able to request feedback on your Tack and Turnout score
We hope everyone enjoys their time with York and Ainsty North Pony Club and look forward to meeting you.
Best wishes from the York andAinstyNorth Pony ClubCommittee
The Pony Club Equine Influenza VACCINATION RULE 2022-
The Pony Club Equine Influenza Rule is aligned with the FEI policy alongside other member
bodies of British Equestrian (BEF) including British Dressage, British Eventing and British
Showjumping.
Events that are held at some venues may be subject to additional rules. e.g. any horse /
pony entering a licensed racecourse property must comply with the vaccination requirements
as set by the British Horseracing Authority. Similar restrictions apply in the cases of Polo
venues.
To protect the health of other competing horses and the biosecurity of the venue, the following
rules will apply to all Pony Club Competitions:
1. Passports
A valid passport and vaccination record:
• must accompany the horse / pony to all events
• must be available for inspection by the event officials
• must be produced on request at any other time during the event
2. No horse / pony may compete (or be present at the event as a companion) unless it has a
Record of Vaccination against equine influenza completed by the veterinary surgeon who gave
the vaccination, signed and stamped line by line, which complies with the Minimum
Vaccination Requirements set out in the Equine Influenza Vaccination Schedule below:
3. Equine Influenza Vaccination Schedule:
• An initial primary course of two vaccinations must be given: the second vaccination
must be administered within 21-92 days of the first vaccination.
• Horses may attend events 7 days after receiving the second vaccination of the primary
course. (for clarity: no horse or pony may compete on the same day as a relevant
injection is given or on any of the 6 days following such an injection)
• The first booster must be administered within 7 calendar months following the date
of the administration of the second vaccination of the primary course.
• Booster vaccinations must be administered at a maximum of 12 months intervals
however horses competing at Area level and above, including Grassroots Regional
Championships and the final of the Spring Festival competitions, must have received
a booster within the 6 months +21 days (but not within the 7 days) before arrival at
the competition