By Anita Prowse
The Upper Yarra Pony Club gets a lot of enquiries about Pony Club’s Riders Without Horses Program, so here is some more information about this amazing program, the warmth of an animal to learn and grow with has immeasurable benefits.
The program is based on horse care and theory-based learning, they do ride but only when assessed to be safe and educated to the required extent ( some children already know how to ride but don’t have a horse and then kids that have never done much before groups are organised according to ability), it is going through all the processes of handling the horse on the ground first. All the grooming, rugging and feeding requirements that go along with the full extent of horse ownership. There are also some days that are demonstrations, for instance, where different riders come and show the kids what they can be aiming for and things like that, good social interaction for like-minded children and various activities.
Rallies are generally once a month on the first Sunday of the month unless extenuating circumstances arise.
In other news, the Upper Yarra Pony Club has applied for a grant to add some signage to the site area of the old Wesburn Race Track through the Local History Grants Program, and also to have some copies of the amazing achievements of the Upper Yarra Racing committee, in particular their huge input into female jockey participation, to encourage all young girls to follow their equestrian dreams. The Track has also been nominated for Heritage Victoria Listing.
Happy Riding everyone!
