PCA NewsSeptember 2017

Finalists - Pony Club Australia AwardsCongratulations to the following nominees who are finalists for the PCA awards

to be presented on 20th September at the National Championships

Best achievement by a rider under 17y, sponsored by Horseland

Georgia McGrath, Tasmania Chris Paton, Victoria Lucy Peters, Victoria

Best achievement by a rider 17-25y, sponsored by Horseland

Rebecca Cameron, New South Wales Olivia Palfreyman, New South Wales

Victoria Temm, New South Wales

Pony Club Alumnus, sponsored by PCA Natalie Hibbert, Western Australia

Richard Mitton, Queensland

Volunteer of the Year sponsored by Horsewyse Magazine Peter Bridgeman, Queensland

Grace Brodie, Queensland Carole Ann Hodges, New South Wales

Coach of the Year, sponsored by Wini

Peter Bridgeman, Queensland Wendy Cumming, Western Australia Anthony Newham, New South Wales

Club of the Year, sponsored by Gow Gates

Gisborne, Victoria Huntingfield, Tasmania Mount Duneed, Victoria

China Pony Club visits Australia

China Pony Club travelled to Australia for a visit in August. Riders Julia Yang and Shan Yang along with manager Mary Zheng came from Yingzi Riding Centre in Guangzhou City. Cici Wu and Teddy Guo came from iHorse Riding Centre in Wuhan City. The group was accompanied by Jessica Yang from China Pony Club.

During the trip, the group rode at Cherbon Waters Equestrian Centre in Brisbane and went to a muster at Greenbank Pony Club (above). It was a great opportunity for CPC riders to experience the local Pony Club activities, and for staff of CPC to learn about Pony Club culture.

The group enjoyed a 5 day visit to Richard Mitton’s property. This gave riders from China the opportunity to improve both their riding and horsemastership skills. Richard spent several weeks in China earlier this year instructing both coaches and riders as part of the PCA alliance with China Pony Club. (photos right)

The group also caught up with riders from Southport Pony Club, hosted by Jan Morland and Jacqui Larson (below).

Next Generation of Pony Club LeadersPony Club Australia sponsored 7 Pony Club members to participate in the 2017 ASC Women

Leadership in Sport program, and we have been following their progress.

Before going to the leadership workshop in Adelaide, Drouin was facing a problem with dwindling membership numbers, and a decreasing committee. Since then there are been a few changes to our club. One is the introduction of a program for members without ponies of their own. I had a discussion with Sue, our workshop facilitator, in the taxi from the airport. She told me how sometimes to increase membership you’ve got to change the way the club runs, and offer new things. She asked about do we offer membership for people without ponies of their own. I remember saying “No, that isn’t how Pony Club works.”

But Sue got me thinking. Throughout the workshop, two of the main themes were “what’s the worst that can happen?” and “why not?”. Why not start up a program for people without a pony of their own? And what would be worst that would happen? So I went back to my club committee and told them that maybe we should set up a program for kids without their own horses. This was at the end of March, and by the new PC year in July, we were welcoming in 4 new members. Ponies are supplied by other club members, and over the 12 months of the program we aim to give enough education to both the rider and their family to enable them to purchase or lease a pony of their own, and hopefully remain at our club as a full ‘riding’ member. Although there are many teething issues, I think it can be called a success. Horse owners might sometimes forget how lucky we are – it may be clichéd, but the smiles on not only the young girls but also their parents’ faces has made it worthwhile.

Jacqui Panozzo, Victoria

New members at Drouin

Next generation of Pony Club Leaders

Another problem our club was facing was our president was stepping down after a very busy 3 year term. One thing I learnt at Adelaide was the importance of encouragement – something I have tried to do more of, both with our riders and parents. I’m not sure if it was my pleading at lunchtime meetings, or the work of the remaining committee, but we increased from 4 people to 9 at a single AGM. I came back from the workshop firmly believing that the culture and community in a club are themost important things. The committee has taken this idea on board, and we’ve run social events without horses that have been very well received. Simple things such as movie nights can reallyhelp build a sense of community within a club, and between members who usually only see each other once a month. I have also stepped up to acting Vice President of our Zone, and have nominated myself for the position again at the coming AGM in September. Over the next year, once I’m more comfortable in my position, I’m hoping to get more involved in organising things. Overall, the key messages I took home from the workshop were: - Lead, don’t manage: doing things for other people constantly doesn’t actually make you a good leader, it only makes you more stressed and busy, and the other person doesn’t learn how to do it for themselves. I came back realizing I have a tendency to manage people, and it felt quite good to be able to take a step back. This year, at renewal time, I told members to renew their memberships themselves online, rather than me doing it for them. Some help was still required, but hopefully next year, it will be an easy process - A club is defined by its culture. If you want to attract members or keep members, don’t focus on competition results or having the best riders, focus instead on the sense of community you offer to members. As for my own riding, it’s been on the back-burner with a very busy year of University ahead completing a PhD, and a miserable Victorian winter. I’ve spent quite a bit of the winter riding out in the bush, and my mare and I have completed two 20km rides over the past few months. I’m hoping come Spring to go out to a few HRCAV dressage competitions (as I’ve nearly aged out of PC), and this Summer have a home-bred filly that I will begine to break in . Plus I have two yearlings that were born last Spring to keep me busy. No foals are due this year, but I’m hoping to get a mare in foal via frozen AI, which will be a first for me, and I’m quite excited (if it works!).

The “what’s the worst that can happen?” theme has helped me in my work as well. When studying for a PhD, a lot of public speaking is involved, and I have become a lot more comfortable giving presentations over the past year. This boost in confidence has helped me win an award for public speaking at the student conference at my University, even though animal parasites isn’t the most glamorous topic !

Jacqui Panozzo

Meet the PCA Board

Which club were you a member of?

What are your favourite memories of Pony Club?

How have you been involved with Pony Club over the years?

Why are you on the board of Pony Club Australia?

Tell us about your pony

I was a member of Moggill Pony Club in Queensland and represented Queensland in dressage many times.

I loved attending the monthly rallies at Pony Club, particularly the games like barrel and flag racing. They were a welcome interlude to the competitions for dressage, ODE's and combined training on the other weekends.

My first pony was called "Pinto" a lovable 13.2hh bay pony who loved nothing more than running away with me on board to stand in the shade with the other ponies.....taught me valuable lessons of resilience and persistence!

Following my retirement from riding at Pony Club I spent a few years as a dressage judge and now after several years hiatus I am enjoying my contribution as a board member for PCA.

I love being involved in Pony Club once more. Being able to give back to the organisation that gave me so much as a child is a very rewarding experience.

Each of the board members bring specific skills and knowledge. They are all unpaid volunteers with a lifelong connection and genuine interest in Pony

Club. Melanie Woodward is Treasurer of PCA.