Photo: the 5 children that took part in the United Pack Mounted Games competition this weekend. The team was made up of Isabelle Edghill, Abby Richardson and William, Isabella and Daisy Stone. This was the first outing for the team of 5 and the first competition for the Stone family. They all rode incredibly well and came 4th overall.

Heledd and Gwennan Roberts enjoyed another weekend of competition with WWW B team and Katie Davies rode with Atherstone C team. All in all a fun weekend for all.

Camp

You can now register and pay online for Pony Club Camp. Please go to the homepage and use the links at the top of the menu on the right hand side (online payments would be preferred).

Mini Achievement Road Rider Badge evening

Wednesday 13th May, 5.30pm-6.30pm. Mini Achievement Road Rider Badge at Plas Farm, Betws yn Rhos. You need this badge before you can take your D/ D+ test. Please contact Aloma (johnaloma@tiscali.co.uk). £5 per member.

Paul Davies Training

There is one space on the Paul Davies Training this Sunday, 10th May. Dressage at 3pm, XC at 5pm. £40 for both lessons, anyone jumping over 2’3″. If you would like this space please contact Aloma as soon as possible (Johnaloma@tiscali.co.uk or 07802 342561).

C+ Ridden training

There will be two sessions of riding instruction/run through ready for those taking their C+ Ridden in June, on Wednesday 13th May and Thursday 21st May, at Plas Farm, Betws yn Rhos with Helen Amor Thomas. £7 per member. Contact Aloma (johnaloma@tiscali.co.uk).

Memo for Parents / Carers and Members

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the sport. This Branch is supporting the Area’s Respect programme to ensure equestrianism can be enjoyed in a safe, positive environment. Please remember Pony Club organised events are a time for members to develop their technical, physical, tactical and social skills. Winning isn’t everything.

TEAM TRAINERS decide who is in which team; please do NOT question their ability or choice. Their decision is final.

  1. Remember that children and young people ride & compete for FUN.
  2. Applaud effort & good play as well as success
  3. Always Respect the officials’ decisions
  4. Remain outside the arena and within the designated spectators Area (where provided) unless invited to do otherwise.
  5. Let the instructor do their job and not confuse the riders by telling them what to do.
  6. Encourage the riders to respect other riders, judges, stewards and officials.
  7. Avoid criticising a rider for making a mistake- mistakes are part of learning.
  8. Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour.

Our Branch volunteers & trainers put  a great deal of their unpaid time into organising training sessions & organising the teams for competitions, so please respect them & understand that not everyone can be in the ‘A’ Team.

PonyPrep Plus New Feature

Launched in December 2014 The Pony Club’s latest e-learning website, PonyPrep Plus, now includes an exciting new feature!

In addition to the existing ‘Skills’ area and ‘Profile’ feature, users can now take part in virtual competitions in the newly launched ‘Challenges‘ section – demonstrating their skills by uploading videos of themselves completing a specified task. Entries can be marked by other users against set criteria, providing valuable feedback for both those taking part in the Challenges and those assessing them. A different Challenge will be available for users each month, with the inaugural Challenge being to correctly and safely apply a stable bandage, and the highest ranking entries going into a draw to win a set of grooming products kindly supplied by NAF.

As part of the ‘Profile’ function PonyPrep Plus includes a ‘Timeline’ feature, where users can ‘Check In’ and record their mounted, dismounted and volunteering activities; the Timeline also records activity in the Skills and Challenges sections, building up a complete picture of progress for users.

There is also a social aspect as users can follow Branches or Centres, enabling them to see what others users following those Branches or Centres have achieved across the country.