Baylands Equestrian Centre
Stockwood Park - Off London Road - Luton - LU1 4LX
01582 720766
The Pony Club
The Pony Club
Baylands Equestrian Centre
works in conjunction with The Pony Club and are aiming to encourage the same values. Below is some further information on how being a member might benefit you. Further information
can be sourced from www.pcuk.org.
Un-mounted Pony Club Rallies
Held on evenings between May and October. Starting 2024 on 2nd May 2024 at 5pm
Also during school holidays all year!
Fee: £20
Term time:
Thursdays 5:00pm - 6:30pm
School holidays:
Thursdays 9:30am - 11:00am Seniors
Thursday 11:30am - 1:00pm Juniors
Additional discounts for services, specific mounted pony club activities and camps during school holidays are offered to our members.
Some relevant information sourced from The Pony Club is outlined below. Should you have any queries
or wish to join please contact us.
About The Pony Club
The Pony Club is a voluntary youth organisation which is open to all young people under the age of 25 throughout the United Kingdom. The aims of The Pony Club are:
- To encourage young people to ride and to learn to enjoy all kinds of sport connected with ponies and riding.
- To give instruction in riding and horsemastership and to educate Members to look after and to take proper care of animals.
- To promote the highest ideals of sportsmanship, citizenship and loyalty to create strength of character and self-discipline.
- The Pony Club promotes the education of young people through the provision of instruction and examination in riding, horse care and animal welfare. At camps and rallies children are taught best practice in a fun and safe environment.
Competitions are held at Branches and Centres, and the National Championships allow Members to compete at the highest level. Tests and competitions help young people to develop potential and encourage them to strive for the highest standards of equestrian achievement. Many former Members go on to compete at international competitions which helps to raise the international sporting profile of the nation.
In determining the fees and charges for membership, the Trustees' priority is to set these at a level so that membership of the charity is accessible to the widest possible section of the public. Traditionally, Pony Club Members had to have their own ponies, but the charity has established Pony Club Centres, which offer membership to children who do not have their own ponies.
The Pony Club website is free to all and aims to educate all young people interested in riding and animal welfare. The Trustees are delighted to report the considerable success of the charity's free e-learning initiative launched in December 2010, 'PonyPrep'. This provides a fun way for children to learn about proper horse care, riding and animal welfare through the creation of virtual stables and ownership of a virtual pony.
The physical training offered by horse-riding brings considerable health advantages associated with rigorous exercise. Training is offered to Members and volunteers in Road Safety, First Aid and Health and Safety. They are also taught how to assess risks through practical instruction and educational DVDs. This encourages young people to ride safely and helps to reduce accidents and injuries
The charity aims to educate everyone about riding and animal welfare, especially health and safety aspects, through its various publications, DVDs and educational material. Much information is available for free download from www.pcuk.org.
In conjunction with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and the other British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Member Bodies, the Trustees have recently introduced the Young Equestrian Leaders' Award (YELA), an initiative recognised by Sport England to develop leadership skills amongst young riders. This will build on The Pony Club's well established programme of Young Instructors' Courses, which enable our older Members to become the instructors of the future. The Pony Club is a committed participant in the national UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC), and a further 150 instructors of all ages are accredited through this scheme each year.
Achievement Badges
The Pony Club offers Mini Achievement Badges for younger Members’ as well as both equine and non-equine Achievement Badges. Both types of achievement badge will help you to learn a wide range of skills like first-aid, farming, map reading, saddlery, road safety and grooming.
Progressive Tests
The Progressive Tests are available to Members in Horsemanship and Riding and Road Sense. These allow Members to take Tests in modules throughout the different levels. Members whose interests lie in Stable Management may take the Horsemanship Awards on their own.
Efficiency Tests
(E to A)
The Pony Club Training structure encourages Members to take tests which enables them to learn progressively about horse and pony care and riding. The tests are taken at recommended ages and are designed with certain objectives in mind.