Avon Valley and Kellerberrin Pony Club members helped to raise more than $1000 towards the fight against breast cancer at Pink Ribbon rally on May 5.
Thanks to everyone who supported the cause.
Club joins 80th celebration
At its May rally on the weekend, the Avon Valley Showjumping and Pony Club joined in the 80th birthday celebrations for Pony Club Australia, enjoying a delicious cake to mark the occasion.
Pony Club Australian's chief Dr Catherine Ainsworth said it was hoped many of the country's 800 Pony Clubs and 40,000 members would be taking part in this manner, with a birthday cake at their May rally or lesson day.
"On this day some clubs will also be acknowledging the contribution of longstanding members and supporters, with Pony Club Australia presenting commemorative certificates to our 'Living Legends', anyone aged 80 years or over this year," she said.
"Clubs will be sending in photos of the day and we are also giving prizes for the best birthday cakes."
Pony Club provides a great grounding for young riders and has helped launch the riding careers of many of Australia's best international riders, including our equestrian Olympians such as Gill Rolton, who bravely remounted Peppermint Grove after falling on the cross country at the Atlanta Olympics (1996) and continued with a broken collarbone and ribs, to help ensure Australia's team gold medal. One of her teammates, fellow gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer, was riding her Pony Club mount Sunburst, whom she had taken right through to the highest level of competition.
Some facts about pony clubs:
- Pony Club is represented in 29 countries with a worldwide membership of more than 110,000, making it the largest association of young riders in the world. In Australia, there are over 800 clubs and more than 40,000 members.
- Pony Club members now have the opportunity to represent Australia internationally in mounted games, tetrathlon (pentathlon without the fencing), showjumping, polocrosse and horsemastership quiz.
- The first recorded Pony Club was formed in Australia in Ingleburn, NSW in 1939 by Mrs Marjory Hirst and her family.
- Western Australia has almost 4000 members.
- Pony Club Australia has an exchange program in place with China. There are currently more than 1300 members in China.
