Pony Club... USPC?

[Magic Mom]

Anyone's child involved in Pony Club? What are the costs....not just dues, but uniforms, classes etc.? Is it just geared towards wealthy kids? What about the horses? Is DD's unregistered Quarab(?) "good enough?" Give me the good, bad and ugly.

 

[kehlyrsmom]

Many, many, many years ago I was in pony club. I did not own my own a horse at the time and was just taking riding lessons. The lady who owned th barn where I took lessons let our pony club use her facilities and since I was taking lessons their I could use on of the school horses.

Then she sold the barn and another individual took it over and from that time on he pretty much made everything we did that you had to have a horse or at least be leasing one. My parents made arrangements with another person in the club to lease a horse for me but the horse that was leased QH was not trained English and pretty much tried his best to kill any of us who rode him.

Anyway long story short for the time I was involved in pony club, many, many years ago I really enjoyed it. At the time I don't think the costs where to bad since my parents did not have much money at the time. We did not have to have uniforms. But that may have all changed now and may depend upon your area.

Anyway I wish my daughter would show enough interest in our horses to take some lessons I think she would really enjoy pony club. I got to go to it was called "Knowdown" where you study horse facts and are one a team depeding upon your raking. Our team got to go to the national at the Kentucky Horse park and I was supposed to go but my parents could not afford to send me so I did not get to go to Nationals. I was really disappointed that I never got to experience that.

I did go to several clinics, went to Ralley once did the mini three day event, we visted on of the local horse colleges. I was only in it a couple of years, but it was a experience I always look back on and glad I was able to be in it.

Forgot to add that at least at the time I was in it yes I'm sure your daughters horse would be fine. My husband just reminded me that we have seen the Nationals competing while down at Rolex at the Kentucky Horse park a couple of times recently (the last tim we where there was in 2009) and from the horses/ponies I saw our quarter/arab would be just fine.

 

[Jennasis]

Ah Pony Club! Well honestly, it depends on the club. Some clubs are great and some are lacking. Your DD's Quarab should do just fine. Pony CLub definitely isn't breed elitist. Just really look around for a Pony CLub with a good rep and with lots of happy clubbers.

 

[chipscamping buddy]

We have been in Pony Club for 5 years now and love it. There are good and bad things, but mostly it is what you make of it. It teaches the kids how to work together and how to take care of horses on their own. The competitions in Pony Club are generally team based, so the kids learn to be supportive and to work together.

The levels are set up in a very organized manner and while the average backyard horse might not be able to reach the top levels, most can go a good way along and certainly can be a lot of fun. Generally when you get to the top levels, the kids have all learned to be supportive and are required to help teach and guide the younger kids. A LOT of the Olympic riders have come from Pony Club and it is not uncommon to see them helping a Pony Club. We had two come to summer camp this year and teach a lesson at no charge, just to be supportive. That is the best of riding in general and Pony Club in particular.


Costs are variable based on the club and region of the country. National dues is just over $100 a year, but the Region and local club could have dues as well. Our Region (mostly Florida) has a $25 annual dues and our club has no dues. Generally expect to pay for outside lessons or a lesson fee for some meetings, and then the shows (we call them rallies) are about $150 for a weekend. We generally budget about $2500 a year for lessons/clinics and about $1000 for being very active in Pony Club. Again though, we are VERY active, my daughter dreams of riding Dressage in the Olympics.

There is a lot of good information on the website www.ponyclub.org

You can also check out our local club page www.alligatorcreek.ponyclub.org. It is still getting finished with an overhaul, but you can get a good idea of Pony Club from it.