Zoe Ovenden and Annie Butcher
Many of you may not be aware of this new club in the North Thompson. Pony Club is an international organization for people age 21 and younger. Pony Club educates its youth about horses and English riding. Our Pony Club will be two years old at the end of this year. This year we had 10 members ranging from age seven to 14.
We have been given a lot of support from members of the community, for which we are extremely grateful. We would like to thank Wells Gray Community Forest Society for the donation of the new body protector vests that we recently received. We are all very happy with them! Another donation that was widely appreciated was our pole system, donated by ‘The Horse Gate Trailer Sales. We would also like to thank North Thompson Communities Foundation for the beginning of our uniforms. We have club shirts, helmet covers and shells to wear during the cooler days of training and to club competitions.
Early this year we were lucky enough to use Vivian Spedding’s indoor arena. This way we could start off early even though there was still snow on the ground! During the course of the year we have also used Liz Morrison’s arena and Carol McNeils’ incredible facility in Birch Island. We’d like to thank these ladies not only for the use of their homes, but for their time, support and willingness to help.
Since June, Cathy Sauer has been our club’s instructor. She has diligently worked with the members to teach them how to be excellent equestrians.
English riding covers many aspects but the focus from the beginning is on jumping. Even beginner riders negotiate trotting poles and as experience grows the jumps get bigger and the courses more complex. Our young club has a lot to learn! We look forward to negotiating cross country courses next year. A few times a year we get to meet other Pony Clubs from the region at camps and competitions held locally.
We meet once a week. The focus is on lessons, but we also go on trail rides or have gymkhana type games. Earlier this September, we arranged for a Pony Club clinician from Kamloops to teach us. The members thoroughly enjoyed learning from Caitlin Fountain.
During the year we have fund raised. Our club recently completed a bottle drive and we’d like to thank the community for their support!
We look forward to our club growing and welcoming new members. Later in the fall we will have an enrolment evening. Stay posted for the date! Otherwise, if you are interested in being a part of our fun filled club give Kerry Meadows a call at 250-674-3850.
