Keeping older children involved in Pony Club is a challenge these days. Between the myriad of activities available for kids, the hard work and dedication that Pony Club requires and the rapid growth of lesson barns that present horses tacked up and ready to ride, there are a lot of reasons not to stay in Pony Club.

And, to be quite honest, as a graduate C-3, I believe flexibility has never been one of the strong suits of the U.S. Pony Club system. While horse management judges have grown a little more forgiving and accepting over the years, generally the attitude has been “The Pony Club way or the highway.” This attitude may be another reason why older Pony Clubbers find that it’s easier to just compete in their chosen sport rather than continue to rally and take ratings through Pony Club.

These strict guidelines aren’t necessarily a bad thing. If a child remains in Pony Club long enough, he or she will learn to safely longe, bandage and properly care for a horse. But I applauded when I read about the new approach to horse management that will be executed in 2007 (see “USPC Prepares For Change At Annual Meeting,” p. 22). Horse management judges will focus on communication and teaching first instead of zeroing in on how many points should be deducted. Pony Clubbers will be encouraged to give a logical and sensible explanation for why he or she needs to do something differently.

I’m also thrilled that the graduation age was extended to 25 last year. These older Pony Clubbers may not be rallying, because of college or work, but if they’re still working on their ratings, then they’re probably teaching and giving back to Pony Club.

But even though I knew it was coming, I’m disappointed about the switch to specialized ratings at the C-3 level and beyond. I understand that riders who chose to specialize in show jumping or dressage might not be motivated to stay in Pony Club when the ratings require proficiency in cross-country jumping. To me, however, one of the major tenets of Pony Club is to create well-rounded riders–people who can manage a barn, treat a sick horse, and ride with a well-balanced, independent seat in any discipline.

Pony Club may not appeal to the serious dressage competitor because of the focus on jumping, but I don’t think changing the rating system is really going to address that. Teenage riders who want to specialize are likely to leave Pony Club regardless of the rating system because their focus is on competing in their chosen sport.

Worse than that, I find the new ratings to be exclusive rather than inclusive. Third level dressage horses do not fall off trees (that’s the level that will be required for the dressage A rating). I already hear kids talking about how they need to beg or borrow a better-trained, fancier horse if they want to pass their national ratings. What happened to the Pony Club ideal of backyard kid on a backyard horse who ascends the ranks through hard work and good training?

If Pony Club officials really think ratings are driving older kids out of Pony Club, then I have a suggestion. Let’s take a lesson from the horse management changes and retrain our national examiners to be kinder, gentler and more focused on the educational experience. Let’s go back to the basics of the independent seat and competent rider instead of focusing on what level the horse is going. Pony Club is about creating all-around horsemen who can succeed in any discipline on any horse.


Sara Lieser