Do you need your own horse for Pony Club?
3 min read
Asked by: Tiana Medina
You don’t have to own a horse or pony to participate, just have a love of them. Whether you like to trail ride, compete, or just hang out at the barn, Pony Club can start you on the path to a life with horses.
What age is Pony Club?
25 years of age
Pony Club Branch Membership is open to anyone under 25 years of age. Members should have access to a horse or pony, by ownership or loan, and have the means to transport the horse or pony to and from rallies and events.
What does Pony Club do?
The Pony Club offers nine different sports, more than any other equestrian organisation! As well as the Olympic sports of Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, you can also take part in the fast-paced Mounted Games, Polocrosse and many more!
When should a beginner buy a horse?
The ideal horse for first-time horse buyers is probably 10-20 years old. Younger horses generally aren’t quiet and experienced enough for a first-time horse owner. Horses can live to 30 years plus with good care, so don’t exclude older horses from your search.
Do all horses need to be ridden?
Some horses like to be ridden and others not so much. A lot depends on the rider, tack, terrain, and fitness of the horse. But most importantly, horses are individuals, and they have different activities they like and dislike.
Who is this Esme sponsored by?
Esme has worked with the FEI, has recently been part of Virtual Eventing, and is a proud ambassador for The Brooke charity. She has also attracted sponsorship from a number of brands and has worked with some great riders on big campaigns.
How do you become a member of The Pony Club?
New Members
Members can now join online via our brand new Member Portal! If you’d like to join The Pony Club, we first need to find out which type of membership would be best for you, and which branch/centre you would like to join. To do this, why not check our 5 Steps to Joining and our Find a Club page.
Can a horse bite your finger off?
While horses bite humans very rarely, their bites are mostly associated with fatalities. Herein, we report the case of a 23-year old bitten by a domestic horse causing a crush injury to his fourth finger with fracture dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
Do ponies like being ridden?
Most horses are okay with being ridden. As far as enjoying being ridden, it’s likely most horses simply tolerate it rather than liking it. However, as you’ll read, the answer isn’t definitive and is different for each horse. While horses have long been selectively bred for riding, they didn’t evolve to carry humans.
Does a bit hurt a horse?
Most riders agree that bits can cause pain to horses. A too-severe bit in the wrong hands, or even a soft one in rough or inexperienced hands, is a well-known cause of rubs, cuts and soreness in a horse’s mouth. Dr. Cook’s research suggests the damage may go even deeper — to the bone and beyond.
How do you tell if a horse dislikes you?
Common Displayed Behaviors:
- dragging you to a patch of grass in order to graze.
- refusing to walk any faster when being led.
- jerking their head up when you ask them to lower it.
- not picking up their feet when asked.
- refusing to go forward.
- pulling back on the lead rope when tied.
- refusing to move over as you groom them.
Why do horses look sad?
A growing body of research suggests that horses can enter a depression-like state as a reaction to their environment or chronic pain. Research from France suggests that horses can develop something akin to depression in response to social or physical discomfort.
