With 2019 coming to an end, it's time to think about 2020 and all the exciting equine adventures that lay ahead - oh, and all the stories you can send in for our Newsletter
PRESIDENT'S PIECE
Hello fellows Pony clubbers
In September PCASA and Pegasus PC ran the first Pony Club Horse Archery competition in Australia. It was a fantastic day with training in the morning and the competition in the afternoon. We were lucky to have channel 7 news come and do some filming and we got a spot on the news that night.
A huge thank you to Bianca Stawiarski for her help and letting us run under her Insurance. Bianca is so supportive of PCASA and our Horse Archery.
Thank you to Sylvia Usher who put a huge amount of time and effort in to the day. Congratulations to those riders who competed and to those that achieved their Horse Archery patches. Hopefully this will lead to more competitions in the future and a State Championship event.
Mt Gambier PC on behalf of South East Zone hosted the State Championships ODE on 21st, 22nd September 15 riders made the trip to Mt Gambier for a wet and cold weekend. Congratulation to all riders. Thank you to Mt Gambier PC, it is a great venue and a wonderful cross country course.
Nationals were held in Sydney this year and we had 36 Riders represent PCASA. Our riders were amazing with their performances, team spirit, sportsmanship and the support they showed to their team mates when not riding, it was fantastic to see groups of red at every discipline, we really did stand out in the crowd. We had so many comments on our presentation, how good it looked with the horses and their rugs, the uniform our riders wore and the fact that we were always in a uniform even when not riding. I must say the riders did look fantastic. Congratulations to all the riders, you were fantastic ambassadors for PCASA. A big thank you to the coaches, managers and all the volunteers and parents for your support to the SA team.
PCASA had its AGM in October with Kylie Weltman being voted in as one of our Vice Presidents congratulations. The membership voted to adopt the proposed changes to our constitution. A full review of all 3 constitution will begin shortly.
We are looking for a liaison person to liaise between PC and EA. There will be a job description for the liaison person out soon. We are looking for a volunteer to help PCASA with Promotions and sponsorship if you or anyone you know is interested please let us know. We will be doing a major overhaul of the saddlery section of the rule book in 2020, any thoughts please let us know through your club and zone delegates.
I have planned a General meeting for June 2020, this meeting is open to all members to attend and have their say. Venue will be advised closer to the date.
Working with Children checks (WWCC): All members who interact with children need to get their WWCC done. Your current National police check is good until 30th June 2020, you DCSI check is ok until it runs out but it is advisable to apply for your WWCC now. So if you haven’t done your WWCC yet please do so ASAP it is free for volunteers, lasts 5 years and is a legal requirement. If you have done one please ensure your club and the State office have a record of it.
I look forward to another great year for PCASA in 2020 I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Ride safe and enjoy your family and friends.
Happy Riding
Ann Olsen
State President Scroll down below for our exciting new QUIZ WIZ feature!!!
KAYLA'S NATIONALS STORY
"I was in the Junior Dressage Team and also the Junior gymkhana team where Wicky and I placed third in the hack class. I had an amazing experience representing South Australia at the Thoroughbred Industry Careers PCA National Championships at Sydney International Equestrian Centre. To ride at SIEC was an unforgettable experience and I made lots of friends within my team as well as new friends from other States.
After devastating bushfires swept through the Pony Club Grounds, our friends at Port LIncoln are needing some help to get back on their feet - so they've organised a fabulous raffle/auction - many great donations from quality Equestrian companies from around Australia.. take a look and see what you can get!! (and help our PC friends at the same time) (The headline is a link to the FB page with the auction info)
Note: When you click these links the documents will download separately onto your device or into your download file.
NORTHERN HILLS SCOOPS THE TROPHY POOL
Northern Hills started the year with a fun group beach ride with a massive turn out of members. A lovely way to start what was to be a crazy busy year. We headed into the year starting with Zone Showjumping Day and Finishing it in October with the Zone Gymkhana. We had members represent the club at every single Zone event and we couldn’t be prouder of our riding members…. You guys represented the “bumble bees” beautifully all year. We had members travel far and wide and often for no return other than a whole lot of laughs and memories that can never be taken away, friendships formed and some valuable lessons as well – From Mt Gambier to Moonta and Kadina and everything in between we were there. Our bumble bee family, lost a few members but we gained a few as well – we lost our grounds, but gained new ones – We are the little club that can!
Our biggest fund raiser/event for our club was the Zone Gymkhana and we would like to thank every single rider, supporter, judge, steward, helper, and anyone that did anything to help us make it a successful day and congratulate everyone out there doing their best on their horses, it is hard to keep up at a gymkhana, it is fast, sometimes furious but always a fun day in the end. Thank you for supporting our raffle and our canteen on the day, it all meant a little bit more was raised for our new grounds and we are truly grateful.
Metro Zone Presentations – Northern Hills finished the year with a bang! Congratulations to all our members who won and placed at the presentations, you have to be out there competing, early mornings, long days, time without family to reap the rewards, and wow didn’t those rewards come thick and fast!
To end the year on our final rally, we had an early start to the day and did a xmas themed trail ride throughout the lovely cool town of Kersbrook who have welcomed our club with open arms - we incorporated our road safety patches and finished with a beautiful xmas lunch all provided by our wonderful Prez - Shazza and her mighty team. Madam Secretary, Helen and Chief of Staff Katie and all the little bees in the background that you don’t often hear about. On behalf of the entire Northern Hills family – we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a safe, prosperous and Happy New Year – See you in 2020!
Submission thanks to Nanon Mijolic
GET RIDER FIT IN 2020
THE BEARDED EQUESTRIAN
Sunnybrae Pony Club is one of the few clubs with an adult male rider in the Metropolitan Zone. Last weekend, Chris Conlan and his horse Bonnie Go Lucky won the Club's Senior High Point award. Chris only started riding late last year after watching his partner Kristee enjoying all the saddle time. He is coached by Dale Flynn, and supported by Chief Instructor Julie Gilbert. Follow his adventures on Instagram @ the_bearded_equestrian. Congrats also to Junior High Point winner, Satine Lavender and Sunday Stroller (pictured below)
ZOE & SUNNY GO TO COLLEGE
Zoe Zekov from the Gawler River Pony Club has been accepted into the Marcus Oldham College for 2020 to study a Diploma in Equine Management.
It has been Zoe’s dream to go to Marcus Oldham College and her hard work, persistence, perseverance and dedication has paid off. She has regularly volunteered at Pony Club and the Trinity College Equestrian Program with Helen Barnes which has helped her along the way to achieve her goal. She is a credit to herself and the pony club ethos and will represent her club and our zone with pride.
The college is well known for its excellence in the equestrian education and is world renown. Only 25 students are accepted from Australia and some International. She will study there fulltime to gain her Diploma in Equine Management.
“Internationally recognised by major sectors of the horse industry, the Diploma of Equine Management aims to equip students with the practical husbandry and business skills necessary for a successful career in their chosen field. The intensive one-year Diploma of Equine Management is structured equally into three broad areas: practical and horse management skills, equine science and business management.” https://marcusoldham.vic.edu.au/courses-enrolment/equine
Zoe has to take her quarter horse Gil Park Sunshine -‘Sunny’ as they have to take a horse to work with while they are there. He too will come back with a college education! She will partake in an international study tour of New Zealand and an eleven-week industry training program in Australia and overseas.
The Diploma will lead her into the Equine Industry allowing her to follow her dream to work with horses. Whilst in Victoria she will visit the local Pony Club to keep up her connection and hopes to compete over there in some local competitions. She hopes to finish her K certificate and coaching qualifications whilst she is there and we will put to good use when she returns.
Submission thanks to Jackie Zekov, Gawler River Pony Club
PCA YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
Gawler River Pony Club representative on the PCA Youth Advisory Council.
Zoe Zekov has been selected along with 9 other pony clubbers around Australia to represent the youth element of pony club. She volunteered as she is passionate about the future of Pony Club as she has enjoyed being a member for over 10 years.
She values its comradery and friendship as well as the tuition and assistance with her horsemanship. If anyone has suggestions they wish to raise to Pony Club Australia do not hesitate to contact Zoe on zoe.z13@bigpond.com. Even though she is leaving for one year she will remain in contact and report back to us information from their meetings.
Extract below from the PCA Newsletter. November Edition. PCA Youth Advisory Council
The PCA Youth Advisory Council for members 16-28 years is a consultative forum for PCA to engage with its riding members on matters including the PCA Syllabus, leadership programs and relevant PCA policies. It will also be a training ground for future Pony Club leaders.
Zoe Zekov.
Zoe is passionate about horse welfare, the education of young riders and helping them achieve their goals. She wants to promote the mental health benefits of being a member of Pony Club and its friendships and support. She has been the Junior Committee rep for several years and is now on the senior committee. Zoe is a qualified show jumping course builder, who plans to get her Pony Club coaching certificates.
ARE YOU A QUIZ WIZ?
Ann Olsen LOVES Quiz - so each newsletter there will be a quiz. It may be horse related or we may just throw something in for everyone. There is a prize for the Quiz Wiz of 2020 - SO - answer the questions and email your answers to ann.olsen@bigpond.com.au ..or if you prefer "snail mail" you can post it to: PO Box 75 Wudinna 5652 remember to put your name on your entries!
