I feel like I'm corrupting the pony club kids

[Mischievous]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7976568]
In 1987?[/QUOTE]

Yup…we had both rules and manners, even in the dark ages! lol.

There are reasons this is not, and never was, ok.

For one, if a fence is not flagged, it is not planned to be used for the event. Therefor, it has not been prepared for the event, checked for safety, etc. There may be holes, rotted wood, bee’s, or any number of other issues.

Second, while there may not have been anyone there at that moment, it is important for the rules to be the same for everyone throughout the competition. If you can jump it at 7:30, but your competitor can’t at 9:00, that is not rule consistency. It they CAN jump it at 9:00, so can everyone else, and it is NOT FLAGGED, so everyone jumping it becomes a safety issue.

Third, you are a guest of whoever owns the jumps and the facility. As their guest, you have been invited to jump the fences the are willing to share with you…the flagged ones.

Jumping any other fence is like going in the fridge as a dinner guest at someone’s home and fixing yourself a sandwich because you don’t like what they prepared for dinner. Just rude, and would probably make one unwelcome at future dinners. If enough people do it, perhaps no dinner guests will be invited again.

Manners should be taught to everyone who participates in competitive horse sports. We loose so many venues every year that it is more important than ever to insure our continued welcome at the ones that still exist. I like to think that Pony Club does that, and teaches our members WHY it is so important, particularly with the addition of our Land Conservation curriculum.

It was important then, and it is even more so now.

[Lady_Eboshi]

Oh, PLEASE. The fence was there to be used for the warm up. It was a cross-rail. The kiddies just hadn’t hung the red and white cupcake plates on the standards yet because “somebody forgot.” I rest my case about “anal.”

And this would be why I trail-ride instead of “compete” these days . . . :lol:

[Highflyer]

Well they probably weren’t expecting you to jump during dressage warmup?

[Mischievous]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7976623]
Oh, PLEASE. The fence was there to be used for the warm up. It was a cross-rail. The kiddies just hadn’t hung the red and white cupcake plates on the standards yet because “somebody forgot.” I rest my case about “anal.”

And this would be why I trail-ride instead of “compete” these days . . . :lol:[/QUOTE]

Well, I guess a property owner who is willing to host shows, events, etc., for any manner of equine activities has a right to be “anal” about rules being followed. Here’s to hoping we can keep enough of these unreasonable folks in the game to have continued use of their properties!

I get what you are saying, I really do. I am sure it was very frustrating for you at the time. The fact that it is still remembered almost 30 years later is evidence of just how evil PC is I guess, and in a small way, equally anal. My apologies on behalf of the organization! LOL

Take care.

[charismaryllis]

So, what’s figure eighting a bridle? :uhoh: i assume it’s not referring to bridles with flash nosebands or dropped cavessons? Is it crossing the reins before hanging it up?

Ad OP, no, you are not there to be an example to anyone’s child. That’s the parent’s/instructor’s job.

[Sticky_Situation]

[QUOTE=charismaryllis;7976688]
So, what’s figure eighting a bridle? :uhoh: i assume it’s not referring to bridles with flash nosebands or dropped cavessons? Is it crossing the reins before hanging it up?

Ad OP, no, you are not there to be an example to anyone’s child. That’s the parent’s/instructor’s job.[/QUOTE]

It means making a “figure 8” with the throat latch and looping the reins through. It’s just a way of keeping the bridle neat when it’s hung up. And yes, I did learn it in pony club, but it’s definitely not mandatory!

[Highflyer]

Like this: http://www.fitchfarm.net/images/bridle_rack.jpg

I also learned it in pony club, but I’ve also ridden at several H/J barns where it was required.

[charismaryllis]

Ah, thanks. At my barn, if the reins are off the floor, we figure we’re doing pretty well. :lol:

[Pennywell_Bay]

I learned the figure 8 at an A show barn. PC is like any other club type, there will be crazies, normal kids and everything in between.

[Renn_aissance]

Our non-Pony Club barn kids (private school with riding program, both school students and community lesson riders) are expected to clean and figure-eight the school bridles after every ride to keep the tack clean and the tack room tidy (and the reins off the floor.) Students with their own tack can do whatever they want. The actual quality of both the cleaning and figure-eighting varies substantially by age, but I strongly agree with the idea of “take care of equipment that doesn’t belong to you!”

[Foxtrot_s]

A swept and tidy tack room with tack hung up uniformly does lend a certain atmosphere that says we are pro and here know what we are doing and have discipline…
not that mine looks like that.

I’ve done Pony Club since I was a kid, my kids have too, and I’ve done very job there is from National positions and DC down…and it is a shame that a few picky power grabbers can give PC a poor reputation. Clubs do change depending on who’s in charge, but then they can change back again.

We have a saying that says no kid was ever worse off for being in Pony Club.

[Mango20]

@Eventer13;7976047

1. feeding treats by hand: at one point, this was actually on one of the D-level test sheets

As of 2014, “safely feed a tidbit by hand” was still on either the D1 or D2 test sheet.

Other than that, I defer to Mischevious’ excellent posts about Pony Club. I would question that you’re really getting the stink eye for the things you’ve mentioned, which really are no big deal at all. If that is the case, you’ve got a badly misguided Pony Club on your hands. I was a member for 8 years (through A) and have now been a Pony Club mom for 7 years, and have not seen that level of nit-pickiness at any club, regional, or national level Pony Club event.

[myvalentine]

Well yesterday was a pony club day and I have a nice story to share. I was at Val’s stall, feeding him a carrot, and there was a mom with her kid standing not too far away, waiting for the bathroom to free up. The kid was staring at me with a wide eyed look of awe on her face, and I couldn’t resist… I said “Would you like to give him a carrot?” At which point, the kid turns to the mom and says “Can I Mom?? PLEASE?” The mom got a real apprehensive look on her face at this point and said “No, we don’t feed horses by hand”, at which point the kid started with “Oh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE …” I said “It’s ok, he won’t hurt her”, and then the mom looks over her shoulder to see if any of the other moms are watching!!! The coast was all clear, and she says “Ok, but you do EXACTLY what she tells you!” So I got to show this delighted young girl how to safely feed my gentle giant a carrot. The little girl said “we’re not allowed to feed the ponies” and I said “well, that’s because some horses eat fingers along with the carrot, so you should always ask the horses owner for permission before you do this” (I hope that was good enough thing to say). Anyway, mom and kid thanked me, mom even complimented Val on what a pretty horse he was, and they went on their way. Makes we wonder now if it’s not really all the mom’s that are onboard with the strict rules, maybe they just go along because they don’t want their kid to be the troublemaker.

Anyway, thanks again COTHers!

[Mango20]

Sounds like you handled that well. If you are at a barn designated as a Pony Club “riding center” where the kids are riding lesson ponies and not their own, I could see how the barn might implement a no feeding rule to try to keep the numbers of treats the ponies get to a minimum, and avoid any kids getting bitten. The riding center pony clubs are more at the mercy of the barn/instructor then regular pony clubs.

[jeta]

Never did pony club, but I did purchase the 1st two USPC manuals quite a few years back to see if there were holes in my general knowledge…I find they are very informative and written with the beginner horseman and parent ( if they want to get involved ) in mind…

They are easy to read and use as a reference…I found that for the most part I handle horses and passed down those habits to my daughter in a similar way as recommended in the book…They explain a safe way to approach horse handling and even though I had been around horses for years it was a great refresher…

I like to see what my horse offers before I trust him completely…Any of us that bends the “rules”, no doubt did things the most safe way the 1st couple of times with a new horse…I think it is good for a beginner to realize all the possible scenarios of how a horse might react in any given situation and to be prepared for it…

BUT, I see them as guidelines, not gospel…I think that there are people out there that have to be “right” and are somewhat rigid in their thinking…They can take the joy out things by not being able to see the big picture of life…

You did a good thing in teaching a child the proper way to give your horse a treat and to ask permission…I do think no good deed goes unpunished and some anal retentive part of the group is going to pitch a fit at you when they get wind of it.:o…

[SuzieQNutter]

With the EFA we were given the New Zealand Pony Club Manuals to work from. Once we worked out that the horses have feed instead of hooves and covers instead of rugs, the information was very good.

[Mischievous]

[QUOTE=myvalentine;7977619]
Well yesterday was a pony club day and I have a nice story to share. I was at Val’s stall, feeding him a carrot, and there was a mom with her kid standing not too far away, waiting for the bathroom to free up. The kid was staring at me with a wide eyed look of awe on her face, and I couldn’t resist… I said “Would you like to give him a carrot?” At which point, the kid turns to the mom and says “Can I Mom?? PLEASE?” The mom got a real apprehensive look on her face at this point and said “No, we don’t feed horses by hand”, at which point the kid started with “Oh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE …” I said “It’s ok, he won’t hurt her”, and then the mom looks over her shoulder to see if any of the other moms are watching!!! The coast was all clear, and she says “Ok, but you do EXACTLY what she tells you!” So I got to show this delighted young girl how to safely feed my gentle giant a carrot. The little girl said “we’re not allowed to feed the ponies” and I said “well, that’s because some horses eat fingers along with the carrot, so you should always ask the horses owner for permission before you do this” (I hope that was good enough thing to say). Anyway, mom and kid thanked me, mom even complimented Val on what a pretty horse he was, and they went on their way. Makes we wonder now if it’s not really all the mom’s that are onboard with the strict rules, maybe they just go along because they don’t want their kid to be the troublemaker.

Anyway, thanks again COTHers![/QUOTE]

Perfect answer!

Many lesson barns (and PC Centers) do not allow hand feeding of treats. First, it does allow control over what lessons horses, and in particular, ponies, get to eat. Many of them are poster ponies for metabolic disorders. It also prevents them from getting nippy.

My current mare can not be hand fed treats. It only takes one or two and she starts grabbing at fingers.

And yes, safely hand feeding a treat is part of the curriculum and is tested at the beginning level certifications!

[Appsolute]

[QUOTE=myvalentine;7977619]
Well yesterday was a pony club day and I have a nice story to share. I was at Val’s stall, feeding him a carrot, and there was a mom with her kid standing not too far away, waiting for the bathroom to free up. The kid was staring at me with a wide eyed look of awe on her face, and I couldn’t resist… I said “Would you like to give him a carrot?” At which point, the kid turns to the mom and says “Can I Mom?? PLEASE?” The mom got a real apprehensive look on her face at this point and said “No, we don’t feed horses by hand”, at which point the kid started with “Oh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE …” I said “It’s ok, he won’t hurt her”, and then the mom looks over her shoulder to see if any of the other moms are watching!!! The coast was all clear, and she says “Ok, but you do EXACTLY what she tells you!” So I got to show this delighted young girl how to safely feed my gentle giant a carrot. The little girl said “we’re not allowed to feed the ponies” and I said “well, that’s because some horses eat fingers along with the carrot, so you should always ask the horses owner for permission before you do this” (I hope that was good enough thing to say). Anyway, mom and kid thanked me, mom even complimented Val on what a pretty horse he was, and they went on their way. Makes we wonder now if it’s not really all the mom’s that are onboard with the strict rules, maybe they just go along because they don’t want their kid to be the troublemaker.

Anyway, thanks again COTHers![/QUOTE]

I have to say, I “grew up” in Pony Club. Was a VERY active member is a large, super successful club. Worked my way up to the B rating - my dad met my step mother in Pony Club (yes, she was a regional manager - and taught Pony Club). As I got older, I taught Pony Club (still do in my spare time).

I have never seen a production over “not feeding by hand” but really - each club is different, and only as strong as its members - but the clubs I have worked with, are not as “anal” as you describe!

And Pony Club is supposed to be about developing INDEPENDENT horsemen - that means no meddling mamas!!

Our parents were discouraged from meddling - the instructors were to be listened to and respected, and the parents were there to watch - but not get in the way (by the way, at Pony Club rallies - their horse shows - parent “help” and involvement is strictly forbidden!)

Sounds like you have a real bummer of a club at your barn - sorry OP, all of that would bug me as well!

As for those bashing PC - really depends on your club. Mine was fantastic, and they gave a young girl like me, on a small budget, from a “non horse” family all sorts of opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Through PC connections I was able to get full working student positions for both a big eventing and later an H/J barn - why? Because PC had installed good habits and work ethic that was valuable to those trainers.

Many active members of our club have gone on to become professional horsemen, long listed for the Olympics, renowned trainers etc - their pony club background is not an accident.

So many come on here asking - how do I get a working student position with BNT? My advice? Get thee to Pony Club, a GOOD ONE, work hard, get your upper level ratings - you will have something to offer those BNTs.

[Gloria]

[QUOTE=myvalentine;7977619]
Well yesterday was a pony club day and I have a nice story to share. I was at Val’s stall, feeding him a carrot, and there was a mom with her kid standing not too far away, waiting for the bathroom to free up. The kid was staring at me with a wide eyed look of awe on her face, and I couldn’t resist… I said “Would you like to give him a carrot?” At which point, the kid turns to the mom and says “Can I Mom?? PLEASE?” The mom got a real apprehensive look on her face at this point and said “No, we don’t feed horses by hand”, at which point the kid started with “Oh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE …” I said “It’s ok, he won’t hurt her”, and then the mom looks over her shoulder to see if any of the other moms are watching!!! The coast was all clear, and she says “Ok, but you do EXACTLY what she tells you!” So I got to show this delighted young girl how to safely feed my gentle giant a carrot. The little girl said “we’re not allowed to feed the ponies” and I said “well, that’s because some horses eat fingers along with the carrot, so you should always ask the horses owner for permission before you do this” (I hope that was good enough thing to say). Anyway, mom and kid thanked me, mom even complimented Val on what a pretty horse he was, and they went on their way. Makes we wonder now if it’s not really all the mom’s that are onboard with the strict rules, maybe they just go along because they don’t want their kid to be the troublemaker.

Anyway, thanks again COTHers![/QUOTE]

You BAD girl. Now you not only gone and corrupt a pony clubber, you also corrupt her MOM!

Lovely story by the way. Please do tell us more of corruption stories. I so love a good coup.

[yankeeclipper]

I have a very horse knowledgeable friend that was a pony club kid. I love her TBT child riding photo with no helmet (gasp), bare back and jumping a very large puddle that looks more like a pond. Occasionally you have to live a little. Relax and enjoy your horse.