Club Officers | Introduction to Pony Club | Cost of MPC

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Club Officers for Meadowlark Pony Club

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What is Pony Club?

Pony Club is for anyone up to twenty-five years old who is interested in horses and riding. It was originally started in England in 1928 to teach horsemanship, horse and pony care, safety and good sportsmanship to young people who could not otherwise afford expensive lessons. The United States joined the program in 1954. Today there are over 500 local Pony Clubs, with more than 11,000 members.

Meadowlark Pony Club is always looking for new members. It is not required that members have their own horses to join, although it is much easier to participate in all activities when horses are available. Pony Club mounts may be horses or ponies. In Pony Club, the word "pony" is used for all mounts used by young people, regardless of size or breed.

Pony Club teaches English riding, emphasizing the Balance Seat. Pony Club highly emphasizes its "ratings" system which gives members clear standards of riding and knowledge to prepare for. Pony Clubbers start out as "unrated." They learn at their own pace and take the test for each rating when they are ready. Each rating includes riding tests (in the ring, in the open and jumping), stable management and oral testing. Local examiners test the first five ratings (D-1 through C-2). Regional examiners test the C-3 rating, while the three highest levels (B, H-A and A) are national ratings tested by national examiners. They require a high degree of skill, knowledge and horsemanship experience. Ratings were created to motivate members to always continue to learn and improve. This system is great for building confidence, persistence, study skills, and riding skills.

The core of the Pony Club program is the "working rally" (or mounted meeting). Club members come to this meeting with their ponies for riding lessons, horse management instruction, mounted games and other activities. Working rallies are held regularly and emphasize learning, safety and fun. Pony care and safety are always stressed, and members are expected to take care of themselves and their own ponies as much as possible (with adult supervision). There are also unmounted meetings for various projects, learning and fun!

Meadowlark holds all types of mounted an unmounted meetings. Members can expect something new each month from jumping clinics, to trailering lessons. Meadowlark sponsors clinics with well-known instructors, or takes part in such activities as foxhunting, polo, distance riding, vaulting and driving. Camping with ponies is also popular, and often includes special clinics or activities. MPC has even become involved with many of the local groups including the Polo Association, trailering clinics, horse-swimming, and much more. Meadowlark meets in all different places around the Wichita area, depending on the type of meeting being held. Occasionally the club will meet out in El Dorado where the Bammel's Franch awaits with lots of trails and cross country fences. Other times Meadowlark can be found at Briar Fox Farm either taking jumping clinics, participating in Dressage Rallies, or schooling Briar Fox's cross country course that is used in the farm's recognized horse trials. Even during the winter the club will have many exciting mounted games practices. Besides mounted meetings, members are immersed in knowledge. They can participate in hands-on activites with horses - learning how to take temperatures, setting up stalls, applying bandages, and more. Quiz Rally, which is like a knowledge-bowl contest, is an unmounted activity Pony Clubbers enjoy, especially during the winter. Depending on weather and accessibility, there are no limits for this club to learn something new at each meeting.

Meadowlark Pony Club may send teams of members to local, regional and national "competitive rallies" in eventing, show jumping, dressage, mounted games, the tetrathlon (a competition that includes riding, running, swimming and marksmanship), and Quiz. In Pony Club competitions, teamwork, horse management, good horsemanship and good sportsmanship are just as important as performance. Parents are not allowed to help or coach their children during a competitive rally; instead, Pony Clubbers work together as a team and help each other (with adult supervision).

When members reach a certain rating and meet age requirements, they are able to qualify at regional rallies for the USPC National Championships. The National Championships are located in various places depending on the year where hundreds of qualified members from all over the country come to compete against each other. The competition is huge, yet is exciting, fun, and friendly. A week-long Pony Club Festival is held every three years at the Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky after Championships . Festival begins the day after Championships, offering several days of clinics, workshops and special activities for Pony Clubbers and their parents. Many families like to attend the Festival as a family vacation. Members do not need to compete or qualify for USPC Championships in order to participate in Festival.

Pony Clubs are active in more than twenty-seven countries around the world, and there is an exchange program for members of Pony Clubs in the United States and other countries. This worldwide organization is popular in many places for a reason: Pony Club is fun, it offers new opportunities, it encourages friendships and teamwork, and it is lifechanging. Pony Club members are known throughout the country and throughout the world for being the elite, safe, practical, and very knowledgable horsemen.

If you are interested in becoming a member, volunteer, or instructor for Meadowlark Pony Club, please visit our How To Join page.

Cost of MPC