PENTUCKET PONY CLUB

Established 1976

CLUB POLICIES[1]

 

PENTUCKET PONY CLUB (PPC), a registered club of the United states Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC), has adopted the following policies for directing Pentucket operations and activities, in accordance with USPC By-laws.

 

MISSION STATEMENT:  The mission of Pentucket Pony Club is to provide opportunities for participating members to develop their proficiency in riding and the care of their ponies, thereby developing responsibility, leadership and self-confidence.

 

OFFICERS:  The duties and responsibilities of the required Administrative Officers and Club Officers are defined by the By-laws of the Registered Clubs of the United States Pony Clubs.

 

MEMBERSHIP:  Membership in the club is open to children who meet the following criteria:

          Are between 8 and 25 years of age.

Have regular access to a suitable mount for use in Club activities are able to ride independently at the walk and trot in a small group.

Are supported by an adult who is willing to be an active participant in Club activities.

Have read and signed The PPC Policies (member and parent).

Have transportation for their pony for Club activities.

Members and their supporting adults must exhibit good horsemanship and sportsmanship at all times.

Paid all USPC and PPC dues and fees.  Note:  National, Regional and Club dues and fees are NON-refundable.

 

CLUB SIZE:  The size of the Club is not capped, but may be limited at any period at the discretion of the Executive Board.

 

DUES AND FEES:  Pentucket is required to submit dues to the USPC organization in a timely manner.  The amount of these dues is set by the national organization.  Our club requires that these dues be submitted in full no later than November 1st of each year.  It will be assumed that the member is not re-enrolling if dues have not been received.  The Club is also required to submit Regional dues to the Central New England Region and these dues are also due Nov 1st.  Club dues are set by the PPC executive board at a level required to cover administrative and support activities of the club.  All mounted meetings and rallies are an extra fee.  A reduced club rate is given to families with multiple siblings in the club.

 

PARTICIPATING MEMBERS:  Members are expected to arrive on time for any meeting, rating, rally and other planned activity.  To remain a member in good stating, members must attend a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the mounted meetings and fifty percent (50%) of the unmounted meetings for their rating bracket.  Educationally related absences are excused.  The District Commissioner may, at their discretion, excuse an absence for good cause of extenuating circumstances.

 

VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION

A.    Member’s, parent’s, and other volunteer’s active participation in Pentucket              activities is essential to our ability of fulfill and finance Pentucket’s mission.  Each family (a parent or designated adult) is expected to contribute a minimum of twelve (12) hours per year of service to Pentucket.  Service is defined as any activity approved by the DC that promotes PPC’s mission and typically includes working at fundraisers, newsletters or mailings, coordinating rallies, lessons, meetings, repairing and maintaining equipment.

B.    When a member participates in a regional rally, it is required that an adult volunteer accompany the member.  This volunteer participation does not count toward Pentucket’s service requirement.

C.    Prospective members and their families should be aware of their participation requirement and agree to it before their membership is accepted.  The DC may at their discretion, decline to accept the membership renewal of members whose families fail to meet this minimum participation requirement.

 

COMMUNICATION:  Almost all Pentucket communication is done via E-mail.  All families must have access to E-Mail to receive schedules, updates, and club news.  Members are responsible for checking E-mail on a regular basis.

 

MEETINGS: 

  1. Attendance is required at all mounted and unmounted meetings.  Attendance will be taken at all meetings by the coordinator.
  2. It is always the member’s responsibility and courtesy to notify the meeting coordinator of an absence prior to the meeting.
  3. Parents are responsible for their children during meetings and should remain at the meetings.  If a parent is unable to remain at a meeting, they must notify the meeting coordinator which adult at the meeting has agreed to take responsibility for their child.  Under no circumstances should members be left at a meeting location after the meeting has ended.
  4. The group instruction provided at mounted meetings is intended to supplement, not replace, a member’s lessons with their own instructor.
  5. Regular mounted meetings will be held weekly, generally from June through September.  Attendance at mounted meetings is necessary for club leaders to assess members’ riding skills and in preparation for ratings and rallies as needed.  There will be a fee for mounted meetings.  Dates and times will be E-mailed to members.  Members are responsible to RSVP.  If members are scheduled to attend and do not show or provide late cancellation they will be responsible to pay the fee for that lesson or clinic.
  6. A Pony Clubber’s mount must be properly kept at all times.  The pony should be well groomed, mane and tail neat and clean, hooves regularly shod or trimmed, and the animals general condition kept up.  Any suspected lameness or bad and/or dangerous behavior on the part of the mount will not be allowed.  Mounts must be safe and suitable for use at mounted meetings and Pony Club activities.
  7. An ASTM-SEi approved riding helmet, proper footwear providing a well defined heel and ankle support, and clean, safe tack in good repair are required.
  8. Proper dress for mounted meetings is:  Jodphurs with Jodphur boots or breeches with tall boots or Jodphur boots and half chaps.  No jeans.  Neatly tucked in shirt with a collar and sleeves and riding gloves.
  9. All riders should be ready to present themselves and their mounts for a safety check 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
  10.  To ensure a young rider’s safety at mounted meetings, the parent or adult responsible for a young rider must be able to assist them in handling and preparing their pony, but should refrain from doing so unless absolutely necessary.
  11. Parents are not allowed in the ring during mounted lessons and should refrain from distracting the instructor or riders.
  12. Members whose mounts are unable to be at a mounted meeting should attempt to attend the meeting dismounted to audit and assist.
  13. C-1 and higher level members are expected to assist D level members as requested by their Pony Club instructors.
  14. C-2 and higher level members are expected to demonstrate proficiency in teaching an unmounted lesson to D level members under the supervision of their Pony Club instructor.
  15. C-3 and higher rated members are expected to assist with instruction at mounted and unmounted meetings as requested by their Pony Club instructors.
  16. Unmounted meetings will be held approximately twice a month January through March.
  17. Pony Clubbers and parents are responsible to park in designated areas at meetings, to clean up any manure, and not to borrow or move equipment (jumps for example) unless given permission to do so.
  18. The member fee for PPC mounted meetings and clinics (reflecting a special rate reduction from typical costs) will range from $15 - $50 and is payable to PPC before the meeting begins.  Occasionally their may be a special event that requires a higher fee.

 

RATINGS:  Pentucket Pony Club will have at least one rating exam a year.  The ratings can occur in the spring, summer, or fall at the DC’s discretion.

1.     The prospective candidate must be a member in good standing to be eligible for the rating exam.  (see Participating Members)

2.     The DC’s approval must be obtained to be eligible for the rating.

3.     The Pony Club instructor in coordination with the DC will make recommendations as to the candidate’s readiness for the rating exam.

4.     The regular Pentucket instructor will not perform rating exams within the club beyond the D2 level.

 

RALLIES: 

  1. Only members-in-good standing will be eligible and receive invitations to participate in a rally.
  2. Eligible members entering a rally must fulfill all requirements (paperwork, entry fees, chaperone, coach, volunteers, etc.) of the rally organizer.
  3. The DC, in consultation with the Pony Club instructor and the PPC coordinator of instruction, must approve the horse/rider combination as being able to compete safely at the level entered.
  4. Team members will be chosen by the DC, or his or her delegate (typically the PPC organizer for the rally, the coordinator of instruction, or a Jt-DC).
  5. It is the policy of PPC that all eligible members fulfilling the organizer’s requirements and able to compete safely should be afforded that opportunity.  Accordingly, entries will be submitted for all such members.  However, members should understand that rallies are regional events not under the direct control of PPC.  The region sometimes limits entries to rallies and the organizer may not accept all entries.  In this event, the team members will be selected according to such criteria as PPC attendance and other criteria as established by the DC.

 

SPONSOR’S MEETINGS:

  1. Parents of members who have paid all national and annual Pentucket fees and officers of the club are the sponsors of record.
  2. A quorum of one-third (1/3) of the sponsors is required to conduct business.
  3. The annual sponsors’ meeting will take place between Oct 1st and Nov 10th.
  4. The purpose of the annual meeting and agenda shall be as specified in the By-laws of the registered Clubs of the United States Pony Clubs, Inc.

 

PPC MAILINGS:  The PPC E-mail and mailing lists are the proprietary property.  These lists may not be used for any private reason by an individual member of their family.  The DC or JT-DC must approve all notices.

 

AWARDS AND HONORS:

  1. Championship team members:  The club will make a monetary award to members who qualify for and participate on a Championship team.
  2. The club recognizes member’s achievements through an annual award ceremony.

 

 


[1] As amended through November, 2007.