All About Rallies at Clyde

Rally Uniform

Once you have joined Pony Club, it is expected that all riders wear our casual branch uniform for rallies. If you are new and do not have a uniform top, a tidy shirt with a collar is expected.

  • Long hair MUST be either in a bun or plaited.
  • Long sleeve rally top.
  • Jodphurs in any single plain colour (not active pants).
  • Short riding boots (with or without chaps) or long riding boots.
  • Yellow Tagged Helmet. No other helmet is acceptable, please check with the head coach if you are unsure.
  • Clyde Pony Club saddle blanket

Clyde jackets, hoodies and short sleeve rally tops are welcome to be worn after Roll Call.

The uniform order form is available in the 'Need to know information' on this page. 


Pony Club Certificates

During their time at Pony Club, riders are encouraged to work through the NZPCA syllabus of learning. This provides learning opportunities for riding in flatwork (dressage), jumping (show jumping and cross country) and mounted games. It also provides learning about looking after and safely handling a pony, with a strong focus on ensuring pony welfare.

The certificate progression starts at D certificate for new riders and works through D+, C, C+, B and A / H certificates. As riders progress, learning is signed off by coaches on the riders record of learning card. When all learning for a certificate level is signed off to show competence, riders are examined on their knowledge and riding and then move to the next level.

At Clyde Pony Club, we will offer several opportunities for riders to complete certificate exams throughout the season. Our aim is to encourage as many participants as possible to achieve their certificates, while ensuring that all candidates are thoroughly prepared. Getting all learning signed off does require consistent attendance at Pony Club rallies. Please note that only current financial members are permitted to sit for certificates and have their cards signed off during rallies.

Clyde PC is currently moving to recording riders certificate learning on the NZPCA app and parents will be able to access this record through the app.


The Rally

RSVP's

  • Once you are a member, you must let us know via the NZPCA App (free download) that you are coming to rallies. This closes several days before the rally date to allow coaches time to plan.

Arrival

  • Arrive early to allow time for tacking up and helping set up as needed.
  • Bring pony club manuals, grooming kits, horse cover, hay and water bucket.
  • On arrival, park in front of the horse yards. Please clean all yards after use, and dispose of poo in bins while taking loose hay home. ยท
  • Riders working towards C certificate or higher should tack up their mounts independently.
  • Parents are expected to assist with rally setup during tacking up - please ask on arrival if you're not sure where to help

Roll Call 

  • This is held outside the Tote building (clubrooms) at the beginning of each rally.
  • Arrive promptly and assemble in house groups for notices and turnout judging. 
  • Attendance credit for the rally will not be given if arriving more than 45 minutes after the rally commences. Participants are required to remain for a minimum of 1.5 hours for the rally to be counted as attended.
  • Please remember that ALL coaches are volunteers and give up time for your riders. While we all understand that sometimes things are out of our control, we expect our riders to turn up on time for every rally.

Unmounted attendance

  • To record attendance for an unmounted rally, riders must arrive on time, participate actively, stay with their group, assist the coach, and engage in learning activities to ensure the rally is counted.

Tack

  • At all rallies, your mount must have a saddle and bridle on (unless requested by your coach during the rally)
  • Snaffle bits are to be worn at all times at a rally unless you have spoken to the head coach and received permission. If you are unsure if your bit is a snaffle please ask any one of our coaches for verification.

All-weather arena

  • The DEC arena is available for the pony club to use on our rally days/nights. However, it is not available to individual riders before or after our rally without an individual booking or DEC membership. Please respect this.

End of the rally

  • At the end of the rally riders please don't continue riding. Horse welfare is of utmost importance and although you may not think your rider/pony has done a lot, we can assure you they have.
  • Once your coach has finished instructing, cool your pony down if needed, dismount and walk back to your float/truck and untack.
  • Please remember to thank your coach!