Shows and Clinics

Welcome to the Woodside Pony Club! We hope you and your child will enjoy the Pony Club Experience. To make this experience a fun and safe one takes involvement from both Pony Clubbers and their parents. Here are some ways in which you can help:

The Pony or Horse

If  you are not ready to purchase a pony, you may be able to find a lease arrangement that works for you. Choosing the right pony to buy or lease is a tremendous undertaking. A good first pony is one of the best teachers, and gives a child confidence and an abiding love of horses. If you have never bought or leased a pony before get some advice, since there are many pitfalls. Your child's pony must be at least 5 years old.

Health

Ensure your child's pony receives an adequate diet, water, and routine immunization and worming. It is very important that the pony's feet are attended to routinely by a farrier.

Be on time

Please assist your child to both arrive on time and be prepared to ride. (With clean attire, tack and pony.) Any child arriving after inspection is over may not be allowed to ride that day.

Attendance

Parents of unrated and D-1 Pony Clubbers are required to remain on the grounds during the entire Pony Club lesson. The lesson coordinator must be notified when your Pony Club member plans to ride in a mounted lesson. Cancellation from lessons should be rare. If you need to cancel, you must notify the lesson coordinator.

Proper Attire

Your child must be dressed in clean, neatly fitted clothing. Breeches with boots, or paddock boots (with garters) shirt tucked in, no jewelry and a properly fitting ASTM/SEI helmet. See policy for specifics (or your manual).

Tack

Tack must be safe, properly FITTED, AND CARED FOR. It will be inspected at every Pony Club meeting for both cleanliness and safety. If the instructor suggests some improvement, please do something about it, especially if safety is involved.

Be tactful

Take an interest, but never interrupt a lesson in progress by talking to the instructor or to your child.

Be helpful

The Pony Club continues because of the adults who organize and administer all of its activities. Plan to contribute in any of the many areas in which help is needed. Even if you know little about horses your own skills and knowledge will be invaluable.

Instructors

We are extremely lucky in Woodside; our instructors are both experienced horse people and excellent teachers. We also have older Pony Club members who also are willing to share their Pony Club education with the younger members. They are a dedicated group of people and their efforts help our children get the most out of riding and learning how to take better care of their ponies. Instructors need parental support and interest to make the Pony Club the best it can be.

Activities

The official riding season for WPC is September-June. During these months regular weekly lessons are given in equitation, dressage, games and jumping. WPC has a summer riding program from June 1 - Sep 1. The summer program is a supplement to the official program and does not count towards active membership requirements. Also included are dismounted meetings covering basic veterinary knowledge, first aid, stable management, and other horse related topics. Regional and area rallies in various combined training disciplines occur throughout the year and may be attended by active Pony Club members. Once a year, in the fall, WPC presents its major fundraising horse show. It is mandatory that parents help at this fundraiser.

Ratings

Progress in pony club is measured using a rating system starting at the D-1 level (walk-trot) to the A level. Ratings are conducted with a set of standards used worldwide. Riders should be rated soon after joining so they may attend rallies. Horse management knowledge, as well as riding skills, are tested at each level.