Capel Horse and Pony Club aims to achieve rider progress through interesting, informative, educational and well run rallies with a sense of positiveness and fun. It uses the horse as a focal point of interest to train its members in the aims and objectives. The Pony Club member must learn to understand and care for their horse or pony while at the same time learning to improve their riding skills.
OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To encourage young people to ride and learn to enjoy all kinds of sports connected with horses and riding. To provide instruction in horse mastership and to instill in members proper care of their animals
To promote the highest ideals of fellowship, citizenship and loyalty and to cultivate strength of character and self discipline
CERTIFICATES
The Pony Club structure encourages Riding Members to prepare for and take certificates which enable them to learn progressively about horse and pony care (horsemastership) and riding (horsemanship). The certificates are designed for the member to progress from one standard of learning to the next with certain objectives in mind
Although some requirements of each certificates may vary slightly from country to country because of geographical location, local activities or climatic conditions, the certificates are based on a worldwide policy. RALLYS
Rallies are generally held on the fourth Sunday of the month. A rally consists of a variety of mounted and unmounted activities aimed to help and improve rider and horse ability. Capel Horse and Pony Club uses accredited paid coaches where possible and other experienced coaches. Rally activities include lessons in:
Flatwork and Dressage
Show jumping and Cross country riding
Games and Agility riding
Team games
Formation riding
Horsemastership
Certificate levels
From time to time we may try other activities like polo cross, handy pony, team penning, trail rides, fundraising relay rides, riding in the local Anzac March, vaulting and demonstration rides
Horsemastership sessions are an unmounted lesson on all aspects of horse care and management. They may include educational talks from visiting professional people like vets, horse dentists, farriers and other horse care people
RIDING GROUPS
Each rally day you will be placed in a group, according to the type of activity, your riding ability, your horses ability and your age. The SAFETY OF THE RIDER will always be the first consideration, but As a general rule you will stay in that group for the day. Each group will be allocated 1 or 2 parents as group leaders for each lesson. Leaders will be required to supervise your group until the coach arrives, help the coach in moving equipment or jump poles, make sure the coach has refreshments if required, and generally look out for the safety and well being of each rider. CAMPS
Capel Horse and Pony Club holds at least one school holiday camp per year. EVENTING
Most Pony Clubs hold events (ODE’s, Show jumping or Dressage days) at their own club grounds annually. As long as you are a financial pony club member and have the required amount of rally attendances on your card, you can enter and compete at these events. Refer to the Capel Pony Club Calendar or the PCAWA website for these dates
Competing at events can be a little daunting when first starting out! If you need any help about how the ‘system works’ please contact a committee member or an older rider who has ‘been there done that’ to help or advise you. Remember the Capel Horse and Pony Club official uniform must be worn at these events. You will also need to check that you have the correct/approved tack and be familiar with the PCAWA rules for the type of event you are competing in. The Pony Club Association of Western Australia consists of zones. There are 13 zones and we are part of the South West Zone which includes ; Blackwood, Bunbury, Busselton, Dardanup, Collie, Margaret River, Mayanup, Warren and Wellington districts. Zones run qualifying events in Showjumping, Dressage, Eventing and Prince Philip Mounted Games for members to qualify for entry to State Championships.
