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Frequently Asked Questions ~  Redwood
Hills Pony Club (RHPC) is a local Pony Club affiliated with
the regional Middle California Pony Club and parent United States Pony Club.
The
mission of United States Pony Clubs is to provide a program
for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of
horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral
judgment, leadership, and self-confidence. The
Redwood Hills Pony Club is
headquartered at the Skyline Ranch
Equestrian Center, in the Oakland hills (just across the bay
from San Francisco). Our
club is made up of young horse lovers from around the East Bay,
and is run entirely by parent volunteers and others interested
in the promotion of good horsemanship. The
club meets on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month, from 9:00am
- 12:00pm
(approx.) from September through June. Each meeting
consists of a mounted lesson, dismounted lesson (covering horse
management topics), and finally doing chores around the
stables. If
you'd like more information,
please check out our "Parents
Guide to RHPC".
FAQ
(Frequently
Asked Questions):
Do
I have to own a horse?
Ownership
of a horse or pony is not required for membership, but
arrangements for obtaining a suitable mount must be made on an
individual basis. Please contact the Redwood Hills District
Commissioner or the barn manager at Skyline Ranch. Stallions are
unsuitable mounts for Pony Club activities. Horses and ponies
must be at least five years of age for USPC activities (see USPC
Policy 0135 for complete information). Please note: The first
year is considered to be Jan. 1 following date of foaling.
How
often does the club have meetings?
Redwood
Hills Pony Club meets twice a month, on the first and third
Saturday mornings from 8:00am to 12noon. We have both mounted
and dismounted meetings each time we meet unless rain prohibits
riding or another event is planned. During dismounted meetings
members learn about feeding, shoeing, veterinary care, and other
areas of horse management. Under adult supervision, the more
experienced Pony Clubbers instruct and assist younger members.
How
old do I have to be?
There
is no national minimum age for joining Pony Club, but we prefer
the child have at least one year of riding lessons and be able
to read and write, and have access to a horse. (Skyline Ranch
rents horses to Pony Clubbers for $15 per PC lesson.) Children
may remain in Pony Club through December 31st of the year in
which they turn 21.
What
if I don't have a pony, what if I have a horse?
It
doesn't matter, so long as the mount is suitable according to
Pony Club policy. The word "pony" in United States
Pony Clubs comes from the British Pony Club and was originally
used to refer to the size of the rider, not to the size of the
horse.
What
if I don't have my own horse trailer?
You
don't need a trailer, but you do need to be aware that
trailering a horse costs at least $1.00 per mile, and since we
sometimes trailer a fair distance, costs can run $250 to $300
per event for trailering.
What
kind of clothes do I have to buy?
USPC
is committed to safety. It is a membership requirement that Pony
Club members wear a riding helmet meeting the ASTM/SEI standard
when attending mounted meetings. Parents should be prepared to
purchase this item and the minimum basic riding equipment, such
as jodhpurs, boots, etc. We encourage you to buy used riding
clothes and equipment through the Redwood Hills Pony Club
"Pony Club Closet".
Do
I need to/can I take riding lessons in addition to Pony Club?
Most
members take riding lessons in addition to Pony Club. You are
not required to take lessons at Skyline Ranch, but we do
encourage members to take lessons in addition to participating
in Pony Club.
Do
my parents have to "know" horses?
Parents
play an important role in Pony Club. There are many areas in
which parents are needed, not all of which require equine
knowledge. Parents may share one of many roles within the Club
such as Club leader, chaperone, webmaster, camp organizer, jump
judge, or assist in activities, events and fund-raisers.
For
more information check out the USPC
Fact Sheet.
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