Pony Club members don't have to own their own horse, but they must have access to one. Horses/ponies of many different breeds, shapes, and sizes are seen in Pony Club activities.

There are numerous benefits to participation in Pony Club. During competitions, the barns are closed to anyone other than the competitors and judges. Competitors prepare for formal inspections, which focus on the cleanliness of the horse, rider and equipment plus the safety of their equipment. They need to prepare for their rides and get to the ring with only the help of their teammates. The kids are responsible for everything. There are no grooms or moms around brushing horses, which is a great way to learn responsibility.

Since the final outcome is based on the entire team's scores in both horsemanship and riding, members have a chance to hone their leadership skills and their ability to work with others. They develop cooperation, respect for others and friendships as they meet the challenge of working with horses and a team of three to four others.

Although the barns are closed to parents, they play an important role in Pony Club. Parents provide hours of volunteer time to support the activities and structure of the organization.

Pony Club is not merely competitions; the main focus is education. Woodbine Pony Club meets monthly, with most of the get-togethers conducted on horseback. At these meetings, there is also time for an "unmounted" program to learn about such on-the-ground necessities as proper care and feeding of a horse, shoeing and veterinary care.

Learn more about the United States Pony Club by visiting www.ponyclub.org or contact Sally Young at 770-719-0268.