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JUST WHAT IS "RALLY"? A
Guide
for
New
Pony
Club
Parents "Pony Club is unique among riding organizations because its educational programs place equal emphasis on the teaching of riding skills, horse-care fundamentals, and team participation with sportsmanship... Pony Club prepares its members to take on the responsibilities of owning a horse by the judging of Horse Management at all its competitive rallies. The competitors are judged within their respective rating levels on their knowledge and use of sound, practical horse care, which they have acquired through regular practice." USPC Horse Management Handbook... 1996. The
USPC
Standards
of
Proficiency
is a
progressive
ratings
system
designed
to
provide
a
framework
of
common
knowledge
for
members
at
any
given
rating.
The Midsouth
Region
of the United States Pony
Club
offers
Dressage,
Show
Jumping, Tetrathlon,
Mounted
Games
and
Eventing
Rallies. They all have
written
tests,
horse-care
judging
and
riding
competition
based
on
the
rating
level
of
each
team.
The
goal
is to
develop
independent,
responsible
riders
who
are
capable
of
unloading
their
horse
at a
show,
setting
up
their
own
stall
in a
safe
manner,
taking
good
care
of
their
very
expensive
equipment
and
monitoring
their
horse's
health
without
needing
their
parents
or
coach
to do
it
for
them.
Rally
promotes
these
goals
by
not
allowing
any
adults,
except
for the Horse Management Judges,
in
the
barn
area
or
warm-up
rings
for
the
duration
of
the
activity.
The
kids
learn
to
share
the
work
and
their
equipment
with
each
other,
while
their
parents
volunteer for different jobs during the day.
In
order
to
prepare
for a
Rally,
kids
need
to
study
their
PC
Manuals
for
the
written
test, especially if
they
have
not
participated
in
Quiz
that
spring
(see
that
info
sheet).
We
hold
a
Rally
Camp
beforehand
to
simulate
Rally
conditions
and
get
the
kids
used
to
working
as a
team.
Please
understand
that
even
though
the
horses
are
included,
this
is not
a
riding
camp
- it
is a horse
management
camp.
Your
child must be in a regular lesson program and prepared
to
ride
at
their desired level as a prerequisite to signing up for Rally,
since
we
cannot
teach
them
how
to
ride
a
dressage
test
or
manage
their
horse
out
on
cross-country
five
days
before
Rally,
but
we do
have
some
riding
instruction.
Our
focus
is on
checking
that
all
necessary
equipment
has
been
assembled,
tack
is in
good
order,
and
horses
are
properly
trimmed
and
clean,
etc. We
require that
each "D2 & up" child
have
had a minimum of one successful cross-country
school
with
their
instructor within the previous fall/winter season or have attended a show that
includes cross-country before the Rally Organizational Meeting so that their
preparedness can be properly assessed at that time.
Those
kids
who
do
not
have
a
horse
to ride are
encouraged
to
come
as Horse Manager
for a
team.
They
take
the
written
test
and
help
their
teammates
get
ready
for
Formal
Inspection,
riding,
turn
backs,
etc.
Each
team
is
responsible
for
providing
a
place
in
one
of
their
rooms
for
their Horse Manager
if they are coming
without
parents. CBPC pays
their
entry
fee. Watch your email for the date of the Rally Organizational Meeting in April. MegaRally
is
held
the
third
week
in
June
at
the
Kentucky
Horse
Park
in
Lexington.
The 'D' Eventing teams
ship
in on
Wednesday. 'D1s'
finish
on
Thursday,
while
the 'D2s/D3s'
are
finished
Friday
evening. C'
levels
ship
in Friday and
finish
Sunday.
Show
Jumping
and
Dressage
Teams
go
earlier
in
the
week
and
only
ride
one
day.
It
is
possible
to go
to
more
than
one
Rally
that
week,
but
it is
a lot
of
work
to do
multiple
rallies
- be
prepared.
All
kids
who
sign
up will
be
contacted
about
Camp,
which
is
held
one
or
two
weeks
before
Rally. WE WANT ALL YOU KIDS, ESPECIALLY D1s, TO COME TO RALLY!!! If the parents have any questions, please call us so we can help you solve any potential roadblocks to your kids joining this gathering of several hundred young riders in Lexington this summer.
Come
to Rally and discover
the "Pony
Club
Way"!
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For problems or questions regarding this web contact Peggi Bindner Last updated: 11/17/09. |