Frequently Asked Questions

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How is Pony Club Organized?
Each club is led by a District Commissioner (DC) and a board. Many clubs also have one or two joint District Commissioners (Joint DC).  Other positions may be added as determined by the club. LSPC is part of the Rio Grande Region of the United States Pony Clubs. United States Pony Clubs (USPC) has its own executive board, and we are required to follow the by-laws and rules mandated by USPC.
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What kinds of instruction does Pony Club provide?
Pony Club provides a structured curriculum of both mounted and unmounted skills and knowledge. Mounted instruction might include group instruction in any of the Pony Club sports such as dressage, show jumping, eventing, mounted games, etc. Unmounted instruction includes knowledge related to equine behavior, care, safety, and health issues as well as rally and ratings preparation. The goal of unmounted instruction is to help members master the standards of proficiency related to horse management for the various rating levels.

LSPC usually schedules one unmounted meeting and one mounted meeting per month. LSPC members must attend at least 50% of the mounted and 50% of the unmounted meetings to remain a member in good standing, to be eligible for ratings, and to participate in rallies.
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Will Pony Club teach my child to ride?
While Pony Club offers mounted instruction, members are expected to take riding instruction on a regular basis from other qualified instructors. Pony Club is not a replacement for private riding instruction. It is highly recommended that Pony Club members receive private instruction focusing on both flatwork and jumping.

Riding one time a week is generally not enough to progress through the ratings. D-level members should ride at least 2-3 times per week, while C-level members usually need to ride at least 5 days a week.
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Do Pony Clubbers ride English or Western?
Pony Club teaches English riding, emphasizing the Balance Seat. The Balance Seat is an all-purpose seat. It is based on a modified dressage seat and includes riding on the flat (ring riding) and jumping and riding in the open (trail riding and cross-country jumping). With a good basis in the Balance Seat, a rider can adapt to any style of riding. The Balance Seat enables the rider to progress in flatwork, stadium/show jumping, and cross-country jumping, all of which are needed to progress through the Pony Club ratings.
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Is there a minimum or maximum age for a Pony Club member?
There is no minimum age, but a youngster must be old enough to safely ride and participate in activities and competitions. Some local clubs do specify a minimum age for membership and/or rally participation. Children as young as 5 participate in Pony Club, but 7-8 year olds generally do better in attending to group instruction, riding in a group, managing the care of their pony, and competing as a team member. The maximum age for a Pony Clubber is 25.
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Does a Pony Club member have to own a horse?
A Pony Club Member does not need to own a horse, but they must have access to an appropriate horse for mounted meetings and rallies. It is the responsibility of the member’s family to arrange for a horse and its transportation to and from meetings and rallies. It is up to the discretion of the DC and Joint DC as to whether the horse’s behavior and training are appropriate for the member to participate in mounted instruction. The DC (or Joint DC in the absence of the DC) may remove any horse from a meeting lesson if the horse appears injured or unsafe to its rider or the other riders participating in the mounted meeting. At Rally, the Chief Horse Management Judge and other regional representatives have authority to remove a horse from competition, either due to injuries or because the horse is not appropriate to the rider's abilities.
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What is the procedure for a member to rate up?
As stipulated in the club by-laws, to be eligible to rate up, a member has to be in good standing, meaning that all dues have been paid and the member has attended at least 50% of the mounted and unmounted meetings suitable for their rating level (the DC also has the discretion to waive the attendance requirement in certain cases, such as a member having been out of the area for a period of time). The first step toward rating up is then to submit the completed prep guide (found at the bottom of the "Ratings" page) for the desired rating level to the DC. All ratings must be taken in order: D1, D2, D3, C1, C2, etc. The member fills in the horse management sections and has their riding instructor sign off on the riding expectations section. The prep guide is not a test; it is a study guide intended to make sure that the member has covered all of the knowledge and skills required to be successful at that rating level. The prep guide must be received by the DC four weeks before the rating date at the D level and six weeks ahead at the C level. The DC will review the prep guide, determine if the member appears to be ready for the rating, and return the prep guide to the member to study. A rating date will be scheduled, usually when two or three members are ready to rate up.
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