About the Irish Pony Club

About the Irish Pony Club

The Irish Pony Club is a Voluntary Youth Organisation. It is the main equestrian organisation that provides training and competition in Showjumping, Dressage, Eventing, Mounted Games, Combined Training, Hunter Trials, Tetrathlon, other fun activities and stable management for young people.

History

In 1929, the Central Committee of the Pony Club was formed by the Institute of the Horse and Pony Club Ltd., under the chairmanship of Major Faudell-Phillips, in the U.K., followed by the first Pony Club Camp in England in 1931.

In 1933, at the instigation of Mrs. Hornsby of Rathkenny House, Navan, Colonel Currell of Knockmark, Drumree and under the guidance of Mrs. Kitty Baggallay as first District Commissioner, the Meath Hunt Branch of the Institute was formed as an area of the U.K. Pony Club network.

The Meath Hunt Branch was “still the only Branch in the Free State” in 1937 and remained so until other hunts formed their own Branches in later years.

The Institute in Ireland later became the Irish Pony Club Advisory Board and later the Irish Pony Club Ltd., becoming an independent entity in 1958. It now enjoys sporting charitable status and provides equine activities for 58 branches (hunt and urban) with more than 3,000 active members.

Mission Statement

The Irish Pony Club endeavours to promote and encourage horsemanship, sportsmanship, citizenship and loyalty in a safe and fun atmosphere, for all its members and volunteers.

OBJECTIVES OF THE IRISH PONY CLUB

• To encourage young people to ride and to learn to enjoy all kinds of sport connected with horses and riding.
• To provide instruction in riding and horsemanship, and to instil in members the proper care of their animals.
• To promote the highest ideals of sportsmanship, citizenship and loyalty, thereby cultivating strength of character and self-discipline.

Policy Statement

The Irish Pony Club is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of its members. Every individual in the Irish Pony Club should, at all times, show respect and understanding for their own and others’ rights, safety and welfare, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the Irish Pony Club and the guidelines contained in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children in Sport.

The Irish Pony Club respects the equality rights of all it’s members taking into account their ability and horse/rider partnership.
It does not discriminate against any individual entrusted to it on the grounds of gender, civil status, family status, age, ability, race, sexual orientation, religious belief or membership of an ethnic community.

Membership of the Irish Pony Club

• Open to boys and girls up to 23 years of age.
• Ordinary members are those who have not attained the age of 18 years.
• Associate members are those of 18 –21 years.
• Senior Associate members are 21 – 25 years.
• Membership automatically terminates at the end of the year in which a member becomes 23 years old with the exception of those who renew their membership to take Senior Tests up to and including the year in which they become 25.