http://www.ponyclub.org/news/72894/Pilot-Western-Track-Application-to-Participate.htm
Looks like western riders will be able to experience pony club too!
Good for Pony Club. 
There are a lot of western youth who would benefit from the good standards and goals of Pony Club.
Two thumbs up!
It is about time. I suspect that they are doing this in part because membership has been declining. They should have done this long ago.
oh… they didn’t already do western?! Color me surprised! :eek:
Very good idea. They’ll also get more boys involved.
[QUOTE=pds;5852460]
It is about time. I suspect that they are doing this in part because membership has been declining. They should have done this long ago.[/QUOTE]
The USEF has been pushing them to do it because they want the Western disciplines under their control at some point. That has been on the table since the formation of the organization but they didn’t make any inroads into getting that done except in the past few years when they courted the leadership of other governing bodies in Equestrian sports.
[QUOTE=lolalola;5852673]
Very good idea. They’ll also get more boys involved.[/QUOTE]
The floodgates are not going to open if that is what you are thinking and this isn’t some expansion of Pony Club territories into places where they had no reach before. They are just attempting to add Western curriculum for those who are interested in it because there are a lot of places in prime Pony Club territory where both English and Western disciplines are practiced by Pony Club members.
Does this mean that ALL Pony Clubs wil (eventually) have to offer a western program? Quite frankly, our local club is having enough trouble organizing lessons, instructors, arena use/times, ratings,rallies, etc without offering more options to members.
I would guess that that is - like in 4h then a matter of availability and interest.
They’re offering polo too, from what I hear.
[QUOTE=Miichelle;5853026]
Does this mean that ALL Pony Clubs wil (eventually) have to offer a western program? Quite frankly, our local club is having enough trouble organizing lessons, instructors, arena use/times, ratings,rallies, etc without offering more options to members.[/QUOTE]
certainly not, most clubs only focus on a couple of the events anyway. Pentathalon and Polocrosse aren’t stressed in very many clubs. I imagine there’s the possibility of a western-only pony club, although they could do quiz and games too.
