Membership Renewals

50% of our members have now renewed their membership online – thank you. Unless you joined Pony Club after 31st January 2020 your membership is due now. Please check your emails from Pony Club, they could be in your Spam or Junk folder. Any problems please let Iona know (secretary@fndponyclub.org.uk).

Online Training and Badges

The Branch have organised online activities which members can participate in through Zoom:

  • 27th January: C and C+ Training 7pm
  • 2nd February: D and D+ Training 5.30pm
  • 3rd February: C and C+ Training 7pm
  • 6th February: Dressage Badge 11am
  • 9th February: D and D+ Training 5.30pm
  • 10th February: C and C+ Training 7pm
  • 11th February: Lorinery Badge 6.30pm
  • 13th February: Dressage Badge 11am
  • 16th February: D and D+ Training 5.30pm
  • 17th February: C and C+ Training 7pm

Find out more and book onto the events on the website: https://www.fndponyclub.org.uk/bookings/

Find out more about tests and badges on the PCUK website:

Mounted Games Competition Badge

If anyone would like to complete the Mounted Games Competition Badge please let Emma and Fran know (mounted.games@fndponyclub.org.uk and francescahughes.36@gmail.com). Anyone who has competed for the branch can try the Main Badge, and anyone who has attended training, or competed at a fun day or fun branch competition can try the Intro Badge. You will be emailed a list of things you’ll need to do and a small workbook to complete and return. Those doing the Main Badge will also have to do a short online session – dates to be confirmed.

PCUK Online Activities and Resources

The Pony Club have online activities and resources for their members, in the Members section of the website. You should have received a password by email to access these pages – please contact PCUK if you have trouble logging in.

PCUK CEO Update: 22nd January

The Pony Club Strategy

At The Pony Club we used the year of 2020 as a time to refresh our thinking, look towards the future and understand where we want to be in 5 years’ time. Whilst much is still uncertain as the pandemic grips the world, the values underpinning The Pony Club are not. Togetherness, Empathy, Respect and Learning are at the core of our heritage.

Today I want to introduce The Pony Club Strategy for 2021-2025 with a few words from our Chairman Tim Vestey:

“Dear Friends of The Pony Club, I commend you The Pony Club Five Year Strategy. It clarifies who we are, our history, our values, our vision, our purpose and our strategic ambitions for the next five years. Whether you are a parent, a Member, a coach, centre proprietor, one of our thousands of treasured volunteers, or staff member we hope that this publication will resonate with you; that it will lend you wings so that you too can assist us in reaching our desired destination, to the benefit of children, equestrianism and charitable activity.”

The Strategy document can be downloaded here.

I wanted you all to have first sight of our strategic direction, as part of The Pony Club community you are part of our future. We will have it on our website shortly and I will be running a live webinar in February, that everyone is invited to attend, to hear me bring this document to life and share where we begin the journey in 2021.

I know the next few years will still be challenging but the direction of The Pony Club is exciting. I am involved in numerous conversations at the moment, that will not only help develop The Pony Club but that will help shape the future of equestrianism for our young people. I hope you find it valuable to read and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Membership

As I mentioned last week, we are very grateful and thankful to everyone who continues to support The Pony Club through their membership. We are working hard to keep the spirits of our Members high with competitions and fun online activities. However, we also acknowledge that there are some of you whose circumstances may have changed and feel strongly that renewing membership at this time is not possible.

We understand the pressures many are under currently and I wanted to ensure that everyone knows that from whenever you can join or renew your membership with The Pony Club, it will last for a full 12 months. For example, if you join us in April 2021, you will stay a member until April 2022.

It is very important to note that if your membership lapses you will not be covered by The Pony Club insurance policy and you will not be able to take part in online activities. However, as soon as you renew you will have direct access again to all The Pony Club benefits.

I personally do not want Members to miss a moment of fun with The Pony Club, but the situation is challenging right now for many. If you cannot stay with us at this time, we very much look forward to welcoming you back when you can. We will stay in touch with you, unless you tell us otherwise, and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Spring Festival

I do not think that what I am about to say here will come as a surprise. Throughout this pandemic, we have kept the safety of our Members and Volunteers as our top priority. With concerns around the limited opportunity to qualify and pressure on the Area Competitions, horses and Members, the Management Committee have made the decision to cancel the Spring Festival.

Those who have qualified at a preliminary round (and are recorded with the office) will keep their places for the 2022 Spring Festival Area Competitions.
Any Area Competition organisers who still wish to hold an inter-Branch competition are welcome to do so if restrictions allow, but this won’t affect qualifications for 2022. We will also be exploring the possibility of online Dressage and equitation Jumping competitions when restrictions are lifted.

Thank you to everyone for engaging with the Spring Festival, we were excited to launch in the new season with a great event, but unfortunately, it isn’t to be this year. Plans for our summer Championships are still very much underway and we look forward to face to face activity restarting as soon as possible.

I really hope you find reading our strategy informative and you share our vision for the future. I am committed to providing children and young people with the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of horses through Fun, Friendship, Horsemanship and Sport.