Welcome to Glenrothes Pony Club!
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Welcome to Glenrothes Pony Club! Thank you for joining Glenrothes Branch of the Pony Club. We are a very friendly little Club, who pride ourselves on being welcoming, fun, supportive and encouraging. As a branch, we aim to provide fun with a competitive edge. We encourage our members to take part in all disciplines - we try to avoid specialisation too early, because we think it’s far more important that the children have fun, make friends and learn to look after their horses and ponies well. We run a varied programme of events over the year which although fun, encourages progression through the various equestrian disciplines. We welcome and encourage feedback as this is the only way that we can make things better for YOUR Club and its Members. If after reading this pack you still have questions, please feel free to contact Audrey, Diane, your Buddy or any Committee Member who will endeavour to help you. Audrey Nairns, District Commissioner Diane Hill, Assistant District Commissioner About this Pack: In this pack, we’ll try to explain: A bit about Glenrothes Branch Who we are What we do Where we go What to do and what to wear Where to find out more Who to contact and, finally, we’ll try to answer some of your questions Frequently Asked Questions About Glenrothes: Glenrothes Branch covers a very wide geographical area, from St Andrews to Kinross, Kirkcaldy to Tayport. We accept Members aged from 3 to 25! Currently we have about 35 members, the youngest being 4 and the oldest 22! The senior’s often help out at Rallies and Camp, and are encouraged to act as role models for the younger Members. We have a well established series of general teaching sessions (Rallies), as well as more focused Training Sessions for specific disciplines and teams. Every summer we hold a Pony Club Camp, where more intensive tuition in both riding and stable management is given. Improvement in the standard of riding and stable management is measured by the series of Pony Club Tests, which Members are encouraged and assisted to take when they are ready. As a branch we provide the support to our members to prepare them for the tests. In joining Glenrothes, you have also joined The Pony Club, an international voluntary youth organisation with a membership exceeding 110,477. It is the largest association of riders in the world, with Branches in 18 countries. A majority of the most successful riders in all disciplines of British equestrian competition have been Members of The Pony Club! Who We Are The Branch is organised into three categories, the Members, the Parents and the Committee. • The Members are people registered as being Members of the Glenrothes Branch; they can be any age from 3 to 25. As Members, they can take part in any Glenrothes Branch Events (appropriate to age and skill); and have third party insurance through The Pony Club. The Branch exists for the Members! • The Parents are (obviously...!) the parents of the Members, • The Committee are the people who run the Branch. In charge is the District Commissioner (DC), Audrey Nairns. She is ultimately responsible for all of the activities and functions of the Glenrothes branch. The “DC” is elected by the Committee, and serves 3 years. Audrey can be contacted about ANYTHING regarding Pony Club, and will, at the very least, direct you on to someone who can help! Dossie Wang is our Chief Instructor and is responsible for our team of fully qualified and experienced instructors. Dossie works closely with our committee to design and develop our annual programme. Decisions about a child’s ability or standing within rallies or teams will be taken in conjunction with her. The rest of the Committee are listed on p12, along with their contact details. • Buddies – every member of Glenrothes branch will be assigned a committee member or “buddy”. Your buddy will send you regular texts about rallies and events. Your buddy is there to help you and answer any of your questions. • Helpers are all the parents who help out at rallies and events. There are a range of different roles such as first aider or warm up arena caller at show jumping events. The more helpers we have the easier it is to put on events. Rallies cannot happen without them so please become a helper and support the club! What We Do: Lots! Glenrothes branch run: Rallies; Disciplines; Social Events; Competitions; Tests; and Camp. Rallies • Rallies are our main activity. Usually, in the winter there will be one ridden Rally and one on foot rally a month; but in the summer there is usually one a week on a Thursday. At a Rally, Members receive instruction in small groups, appropriate to their age and ability; there will usually be a number of groups and instructors. • Rallies are held at various locations within our territory. • Members are asked to pay a contribution towards the cost of instruction and premises at Rallies, the cost of these vary from £5 for on foot activity, £10 for outdoor ridden rallies, with an increase for indoor rallies to help fund the cost of hiring indoor facilities. • Cross Country Rallies are organised throughout the year usually at Lindores / Inchcoonans or Gleneagles. • On Foot Rallies are with no pony or horse, and Members are instructed in proper stable management, tack and turnout and horse and pony care. Disciplines: Glenrothes branch is active in a wide range of specific disciplines, each of which has its own Team Manager, training schedules and competitions. Area Competitions Branches throughout Area 1 are invited to enter teams in the following competitions: • Grass Roots consists of 3 phases which includes Turnout, Riding Ability (quadrille dressage test), & Handy Pony the best three scores in each phase to count. Grass Roots is great fun for everyone from lead rein onwards. • Combined Training competition has two elements, dressage and showjumping. Teams of 4 are entered with 1 member from each of the following age categories: 10 and under / 12 and under / 14 and under / 15 and over • Interbranch competition runs over 3 days normally in July each year with 1 element running each day and includes Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing. This area competition runs as a qualifier for the Pony Club National Championships. • Team Jumping runs mostly in the winter months at indoor premises including SNEC and Highfield at Howe. Occasionally outdoor team jumping runs during the spring/summer seasons. Teams of 3 or 4 compete in the class most appropriate to their ability with the best 3 team scores being counted. In recent years the class heights start around 50cm with classes up to 1m10. • Quiz This runs over the winter period concluding with an area quiz where winning teams can qualify for an area then national final. It is a team event and the training gives you a great advantage to expand your knowledge on a wide range of topics relating to horse care and the pony club. Tests: • The Pony Club has a series of achievement tests, which enable them to learn progressively about horse and pony care and riding. The tests are taken at recommended ages and are designed with certain objectives in mind; each requires the holding of at least the previous test, and sometimes other, supplementary tests as well. These supplementary tests and achievements are at various standards, and include the Road Rider Test, the Coaching Test and the Lunging Test. The main tests are: E Test: An optional test to introduce younger Members. D Test: Riding and Pony Care (age 8+). D+ Test: Riding and Pony Care (age 10+). C Test: Riding and Horse/Pony Care (age 11+). C+ Test: Riding and Horse Care (age 14+). B Test: Riding and Horse Care (age 15+). AH Test: Advanced Horse Care (age 17+). A Test: Advanced Riding (age 17+); very high powered, international standard! Camp: • Every year, Glenrothes branch organises a Camp usually in July. Included in Camp is a mixture of instruction, games, trips, talks and fun! Camp is one of the highlights of the year! Memebers Show We hold an annual show for our members at the end of the season with classes for Turnout, Dressage, Showjumping and Working Hunter. With many rossettes and cups to be won and then presented at our annual Awards evening this show wraps up our summer programme and is not to be missed! Social Events • The highlight of the year is the annual Awards Evening in January where we meet to give out the awards and prizes • Fundraising activitities including fun hack, parents curry nights, collecting Rag Bag etc. The funds we raise enable the club to buy equipment and helps subsidise annual camp. Where We Go We hold events at a wide range of locations in our territory – here some of our main ones: Lindores Highfield at Howe Balcormo Bowhouse Inchcoonans Kinnaird Pony Club Field What to Do: Pony Club is an association of people from all backgrounds, united by their desire for continouis improvement in their riding and knowledge in the care of thier horses and ponies. It is not an elitist group – whoever you are, wherever you come from, you are very, very welcome! However, there have to be a few ground rules to make sure everyone and their horse or pony is safe. The notes below are designed to ensure safety and smooth operation of the Branch. DO: • Most importantly, treat other Members’ and their families/supporters with the same consideration you would expect. • Keep small(er) children under close control, not running about under ponies hooves.