Elk Haven Equestrian Center
Kittitas
Valley Pony Club Contact
Roz Eldrige
Club Planned
Activities
Club meeting on the second
Next Mounted/Unmounted Club Meeting
April 21 4:30
CWDS Summer
Schooling Show
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Kittitas Valley Pony Club Information Packet
Welcome to the Kittitas Valley Pony Club. Enclosed is some information to help you understand how our local club works. First, a little background on the United States Pony Club (USPC) itself; Their mission is to “provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of ponies and horses, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence.”
USPC Guiding Beliefs:
Pony Club originated in England and teaches English riding skills – the balanced riding position. The mounted disciplines include dressage, show-jumping, eventing (combining dressage, jumping and cross-country riding), polocrosse (combining lacrosse with polo), tetrathalon (combining riding, swimming, running and shooting), foxhunting and vaulting (gymnastics on horseback). There is also a focus on un-mounted educational activities, such as Quiz (like an Apple Bowl for horse knowledge).
Pony Club uses ratings as a standard for riding skills. New members begin as un-rated – the very first rating is the D1. The subsequent ratings are D2, D3; C1, C2, C3; B, H, H-A, and the very highest level, A. At this level the member is capable of managing and riding at the National level. Most of our Olympic Equestrians were Pony Clubbers, and many are graduate A’s.
The D – C2 levels are tested within the club, by the time the candidate reaches the C3 level this is tested at the Regional level. The B and above are tested at the National level. We have information available detailing the different rating standards.
A rider’s skill and maturity grow through participation in riding lessons, rallies, camps and volunteer work.
The Kittitas Valley Pony Club is a part of the Inland Empire Region of Pony Club, which includes Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon and Northern Idaho. We have mounted and un-mounted meetings throughout the year, gathering at the homes of various members. A great part of Pony Club is having the older Pony Clubbers share their experience with the newer members.
What does it take to become involved with Kittitas Valley Pony Club?
THE HORSE: Riders should be “suitably mounted”. What does this mean? In general, the rider should be comfortable with his or her horse/pony and be able to ride in a safe and controlled manner (the rider should be able to ride in a snaffle bit). The horse does not need to be fancy or expensive (or even belong to you!), but having a horse with a good attitude seems to be one of the most important attributes to be a good Pony Club mount. Traditionally, the combined age of horse and rider should equal at least 20 years. A green horse and a green rider is rarely a good combination (In fact, horses must be at least 4 years old to be ridden in Pony Club). Many horses in Pony Club have been passed down to successfully train new generations of riders. (By the way, the term “Pony” in Pony Club refers to the fact that these are young riders and members may ride either horses or ponies).
TACK AND ATTIRE: Properly fitted helmets and boots are required when mounted. The English saddle needs to fit the horse AND rider – the rider needs to be able to maintain proper balanced position (some minor adjustments can be made with pads). Jim Briggs, one of our current instructors and C3 examiner, can help you determine if your tack is appropriate. The Pony Club manuals can also help you with the proper tack.
LESSONS: We try to have weekly group lessons available to the kids at a reduced rate (we may be able to offer a season pass separate from the initial 15 lessons). We also will have some of the older Pony Clubbers teach (which helps to fulfill some of their ratings requirements, too). This requires a commitment on the part of the riders and the parents, as it is the joint effort that makes the lessons affordable for everyone. (Some times we include adult riders for special clinics, etc…please let us know if there are any parents interested in participating).
PARENT INVOLVEMENT: Parental involvement is essential for a successful and enjoyable Pony Club experience. Parents can be involved in many ways; transportation, volunteering at camps, rallies, etc…Prior horse experience is not necessary (most parents learn a lot while their child is in Pony Club, though!). *Beginning riders must have a parent or guardian available while riding. D3’s and above are more independent and may be dropped off for their lesson – pending approval from the regular instructor.*
RATINGS: Ratings are progressive standards of proficiency. They are not to be competitive events, but rather an examination of the child’s knowledge and skills to determine whether the child is ready for the next level. On average, children do one level every year or so, but there is no requirement to rate after the D1. Each level is the foundation for the next and therefore the member may not skip a level. To achieve the D3 rating the KVPC will require that the member have some rally experience.
RALLIES: A goal of Pony Club is to promote self-reliance and self-confidence as well as team spirit. The rally epitomizes these goals – parents are not allowed to help during rallies. The kids work together to create a team that competes in various disciplines against their peers in the region or even nationally. This includes all aspects of the sport, from horse management, turnout, the written test and riding skills. KVPC strongly encourages Rally participation and will be doing fundraising to help offset the costs for Active Members (see below). Being a Stable Manager at a Rally experience is valuable experience for the member and an asset to the club and, as such, the club pays for the Stable Manager entry. This position is rotated among the members.
ACTIVE MEMBER STATUS: This is for the member that wishes to rate or to receive a recommendation from the club for regional or national activities or for college admission. The member must attend at least 60% of the mounted and un-mounted meetings or, for those members unable to ride, other activities can apply, but must be arranged with the DC. Teaching lessons, conducting un-mounted educational programs, helping with fundraisers, being a stable manager, etc…are some of the possible ways to be an active member of KVPC.
LOCATION: We are lucky to have a home in Cle Elum. We also ride at various facilities in Ellensburg.
More information about Pony Club is available from USPC www.ponyclub.org. Our club also has a D manual and a D rating video available for loan, as well as books and other items for sale from the USPC (at cost); please contact Melissa Bates (509) 674-2812.
Pony Clubs of the Inland Empire Region
Cabinet
Mountains PC, Sandpoint,
ID
Cheney PC,
Cheney,
WA
Coeur de Cheval PC, Deer
Park, WA
Columbia
River PC, TriCities,
WA
Hells Canyon PC,
Lewiston,
ID
Horse On Course PC,
Wenatchee,
WA
Kittitas
Valley, Cle
Elum/Ellensburg, WA
Palouse Hills, Moscow/Pullman
Spokane PC,
Spokane,
WA
Sun Basin PC,
Moses
Lake, WA
Walla Walla PC, Walla Walla,
WA
Wallowa PC,
Joseph/Enterprise, OR
PONY CLUB MOUNTED DISCIPLINES
Dressage: Dressage is just French for “training”. It’s flatwork that trains the horse to be willing and supple while teaching the rider to be soft and consistent. The basic foundation for ANY style of riding.
Show-Jumping: Riding a horse over jumps in an arena or a field. The jumps (fences) usually have elements that come down if touched by the horse (poles set in shallow cups). This requires carefulness and control from the horse and rider.
Eventing: Multiple phase competition (also referred to as Combined Training) consisting of dressage, show-jumping and cross-country (upper levels also include additional endurance phases). Cross-Country involves riding in the open over solid fences, through water and over ditches on varied terrain. This requires a trusting partnership.
Polocrosse: A mounted game combing polo and lacrosse.
Tetrathalon: Competition involving riding, swimming, running and shooting.
Vaulting: Gymnastics on horseback. A quiet horse is lunged in a circle while riders mount, dismount and perform various gymnastic moves on the moving horse.
Other Mounted Activities can also include Games and Foxhunting (which could be a mock hunt or paper chase, as well as a traditional hunt).
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