NW Horse Source ~ the all breed, all discipline, equine resource

I have recently developed an interest in English riding but my parents tell me that we cannot afford another horse. My horse is trained for Western riding. What can I do to be able to ride and compete in English without buying another horse? Tammy from Bozeman, Montana.

Dear Tammy,
You don’t have to have two horses to ride and compete in both English and Western riding. Both Shaboom and I are all-around horses, which means that we are trained to do events in both English and Western. Most of us have the ability to do more than one type of event, we are pretty smart. Your horse could also be a more all-around horse with additional training. Because both you and your horse will be new to English riding I suggest you work with a qualified trainer until you master your new style of riding. Have fun. Clyde.

The Sumas Jr. Rodeo and The Rough Riders Jr. Rodeo (in Sedro Woolley, WA) are looking for girls ages 8 to 18 to run for their 2004 Rodeo Royalty Courts. The Sumas contest is March 20th at the Lynden Fair Grounds and Rough Riders is April 4th at Starbird Arena. There will be a Queen contest practice March 7th at 2pm at the Lynden Fair Grounds, open to all contestants interested in running for either court, a $6.00 charge to cover arena costs for each contestant. For more information please contact Helen Fuller 966-4599 for Sumas and Joni Kennedy 966-7117 for Rough Riders.

Did you know……
Fun Facts About Horses

Horse or Pony? Not every animal under 14.2 hands is a true pony. The tiny Falabella (mini horse), for example, has horse features but in a pony size.
Friendship is vital for happiness. Horses, like humans, enjoy the company of others.
A vital factor in a horse’s health is fresh air. The stable must be well ventilated as horses have sensitive respiratory systems.
The Arabian horse has 17 ribs, 5 lumbar bones, and 16 tail vertebrae. All other breeds have 18 ribs, 6 lumbar bones, and 18 tail vertebrae in comparison. This difference in structure contributes to the high carriage of the tail

Since this month's issue is on the English riding discipline I would like to introduce you to Pony Club, one of the oldest English Equitation Clubs. Pony Club started in Great Britain in 1928 as an organization for junior equestrian riding. It is for children, teens and young adults to 21 years of age. Clubs in the U.S. started in 1958. In 1992 there were more than 125,000 members in 27 countries making it the largest junior equestrian group in the world. I should let you know that ponies are considered horses in England. Along with the instruction programs, there are lots of activities at the Club, Regional, Inter-Regional, and National level for team and individuals. These activities are Combined Training, Dressage, Foxhunting, Know-Down, Mounted Games, Show Jumping, Tetrathlon, and Vaulting.

The U.S. Pony Clubs’ mission is to have a program that teaches, riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses, and ponies. This will teach the person responsibility, sportsmanship, moral judgment, leadership, and self-confidence.

Everyone joins Pony Club as an unrated member and progresses through the lower level ratings (D-1 through C-2) at their pace. A local Pony Club Examiner gives the tests at these levels. The C-3 rating is taken at a Regional Testing, and the B, HA, and A are national ratings done by a National Testing Committee. The requirements for each rating are called the Standards of Proficiency. There are nine levels. In order to get to each level you have to be rated. A rating is a test of your riding skills, management, and knowledge. At the last level you even have to demonstrate the ability to manage a whole stable.

The levels are D-1, 2,3, C-1, 2,3 B, H-A, and A. The D level is the introductory level. It includes flat work, jumping, cross-country, and bandaging. The C level is the intermediate level and you learn to become an independent horse person. You are jumping higher and doing courses that are more complicated. You are expected to know more about your horse and its management. The B level is the medium level and you must be an active horseperson who is interested in acquiring more knowledge. The highest Pony Club level has two parts, the HA which covers management, teaching, and training. And the A test which is riding ability.

At the D-3 level you will start a record book and 3 months minimum has to be kept up to date for your rating. Record books for your C-1 are a minimum of 6 months, C-2 a minimum of 9 months.

When I started Pony Club I knew nothing about riding English. Now I am a better rider and more aware of my horses’ health. I know what to feed my horses and how to manage them properly. I can jump a cross- country course with confidence. When my horse and I are jumping I feel we are a team and not a one-man effort. I want to try other new things, like jumping higher. Pony Club has made me more confident in all aspects of riding.

One of the most exciting things about Pony Club is that it produces some of the top riders in the world. Many of the Olympic riders went through Pony Club. Besides, it is fun and a very educational experience.

You can learn more about Pony Club at www.PonyClub.org or look in the calendar section of the Northwest Horse Source.