Pony Club

Lily was a member of the United States Pony Club for a couple of years when she was younger. I was also a member when I was a young teenager, though they weren't nearly as organized or picky then. I've written a little about them before here. Pony Club is why we have so many blue buckets.

Lily's 13th birthday is coming up and what she wants most of all is to re-join Pony Club. So I said yes and began the process.

I remember the people from before. They are horse moms who volunteer their time to help kids learn how to ride well and safely. They're concerned about the animal's welfare and teach the children and teenagers how to take the best care of their horses. It really is a wonderful organization filled with nice people and great kids.

But it's a little rigid. I couldn't find out if there was anyway to get Lily's application in fast enough for them to allow her to attend this coming weekend's meeting on horseback. Finally it became clear that I was the only one with a sense of urgency, which is fine because they are volunteers who have a life, too. It's not their fault that we didn't know we were going to re-join Pony Club until last week. Disappointing, though. I would have been glad to pay for FedEx or do whatever, if only somebody would answer my questions and say they'd help.

And though it's been more than two years since Lily was rated, which determines what a child can do at a meeting -- whether she's trotting over a pole over the ground or cantering a 3-foot course -- she'd have to ride with the group that has that low rating. I know, I know. They have their rules and there's a good reason for them. Lily is not too interested in riding at the level she was two years ago, and I'm not too interested in hauling her an hour-and-a-half one-way to a meeting to ride at that level, either.

And, since she's not been an active member, she can't go to the rallies.

Sigh. I can see when I'm whipped. And Lily's quite disappointed.

Maybe she can join next year and get re-rated. Trouble is, the next rating requires an extensive record-keeping history of the horse's condition, care and the money required to support this hobby. Lily's all set to do it and has started. I wonder if it will count since she's keeping the records while not a member?

I'm afraid I know the answer. They don't make it easy to meet the requirements or get the answers, which is a shame.

It's one thing to make the horses jump over fences. It's another to make the moms and kids jump through hoops.

I hope we can work it out in the future. I hate for her to miss out almost as much as I hate beating my head against a wall.

Comments

[BarnGoddess]

awww. I have heard about The Pony Clubs 'rigidness'. Hopefully she can join in the future and ride at her advanced level.

[Jackie]

How frustrating! They should institute a system more like the IHSA uses. College riders fill out a questionnaire detailing their riding and show experience, and those answers place them in a specific level. Then the students ride for the coach, and the coach is able to move them up or down a level if deemed necessary.

I can understand the reasons to enforce rules ... safety, fairness, etc. However, you also have to be able to flexible from time to time. Really, is it better to stick to the rules and lose a potential member, or bend them a little in order to gain a very qualified individual for your organization?

[Grey Horse Matters]

This sounds very frustrating. I have to agree with Jackie's comment, there needs to be a better way, so as not to lose potential members.

[ELL]

I didn't have an opportunity to do Pony Club. I've read a couple of the manuals. I think they are a great way to learn riding skill and be safe and have fun progressing through the levels. there is one not far from me that keeps almost having a clinic for polocrosse. I am holding my breath. that seems like so much fun! I want to try it. Hope you can work through the tangle of requirements.