Pony club off to strong start

High Lakes Pony Club, based in Sisters, is racing to a great start with 31 members in its first year. Yvette Chandler, the area district commissioner, is certain this is one of the largest clubs in the U.S. The members range in age from five to 17 years old, with most in the 10- to 14-year-old bracket.

"We felt there was a need, but I had no idea we would have so many kids interested," said Chandler. "We're so pleased to be able to offer such a great program."

Pony Club's purpose is to foster all-around horse care and English riding skills, emphasizing safety, responsibility, teamwork and fun. Two meetings are held per month, one mounted where the riders are instructed in the various Pony Club disciplines.

The activities include dressage, show jumping, cross-country, mounted games, vaulting (mounted gymnastics), polo, polocrosse (a combination of polo and lacrosse), foxhunting (perhaps not in Central Oregon) and tetrathalon (riding, running, shooting and swimming).

High Lakes PC held non-mounted meetings through the winter. These concentrate on horse management skills, such as feeding, veterinary care, hoof care, grooming and care of equipment.

While Pony Club emphasizes instruction over competition, members do compete with each other at club, regional and national rallies.

A group of High Lakes PC members competed in a Quiz Rally on February 16 at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall. A Quiz Rally is a non-mounted team competition in which participants are tested over a variety of topics. These range from standards of proficiency to horse sports to practical barn applications.

None of the High Lakes members has achieved her first ratings yet. However, they were allowed to compete as unrated in the D-ratings section. (Ratings start at D and proceed upward to A.) Competitors are scored as teams and individuals.

The Senior (13 and over) team of Naomi McDonald, April Gerlicher, Taya Newton and a member from Wilksborough PC achieved 1st place.

The Junior (12 and under) team of Delaney Stevens, Emily Christen, Ellie Chandler and Patience O'Neal placed 3rd .

Olivia Chandler competed as a junior and worked in a team with two other juniors from different clubs. They placed ninth in team competition, but Olivia emerged as the highest scoring individual junior.

The High Lakes PC will soon start mounted meetings, held at O'Neal Farms in Sisters. Chandler plans to arrange ratings testing soon, with a goal of getting all members rated to at least the first level.

After that, members can proceed at their own pace, remembering the words of the Pony Club Pledge: "...I shall compete for the enjoyment of the game well played and take winning or losing in stride, remembering that without good manners and good temper, sport loses its cause for being...."