PCASA News June 2019

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June 2019

Keep the Club Submissions coming in to make this an interesting, informative, entertaining and enjoyable place to spend a bit of time so keep an eye on the Pony Club Association of SA Facebook page where you'll see call out for stories, pictures and content. Whenever you have something at your club worth sharing, email it to the PCASA News Editor at carolneller@hotmail.com
or send it into the office and Helen will forward it onto me.

PRESIDENT'S PIECE

Hello fellow Pony clubbers,

We have continued to be quite busy with competitions most weekends. Zones have been busy with clinics and Elimination weekends etc.   For the first time we have split the State Championships and State ODE competition.    Mount Gambier hosted the State ODE competition on behalf of South East Zone for Grades 4 and 5 alongside of their ODE on 30^th,31^st March, with riders from several clubs competing. Congratulations to Mount Gambier and all riders who competed.
Thank you to those clubs and individuals who sent feedback in on our information booklet and flow charts. They are in use and hopefully making your offices bearers and member’s lives easier.   Thank you Kylie for helping with the formatting of documents.
I spent the weekend at Two Wells ODE on 27/28 April, it was fantastic to see so many grade 1 riders. Great weekend had by all.   Congratulations to those grade 1 riders who are now part of the eventing team for nationals.
Big month in May with it being PCA 80^th birthday. I hope clubs celebrated this amazing milestone. Can’t wait to see some pictures.   Just a reminder to members if you want to suggest changes to gear rules etc., send your thoughts and suggestion in to the Rules Advisory Committee. We can’t help with your issues if we don’t know about them, but please put them in writing through your club and zone.
Carol Neller has put a survey together to help with research into why people leave Pony Club or don’t join. Thank you Carol. (SEE STORY BELOW FOR THE LINK TO THE SURVEY)
We now have to two new MPIO’s in Kylie Weltman and Carol Neller. Their details will be put on the web page and Facebook in the coming days.

Happy Riding
Ann Olsen
State President

STATE WIDE PCASA SURVEY

Click here to do 2 minute Survey!

Throughout June, Pony Club Assoc in South Australia will be conducting extensive market research to find out what our equestrian community think about Pony Club. We're looking for honest, insightful, constructive feedback, genuine opinion - we want the good, the bad and everything and anything in between. It's only from your honesty that we are going to be able to grow and build and keep connecting people to a lifetime with horses through our mutual love and passion for all things horsey! This survey is also on our Pony Club of SA Community FB page (links below), and we encourage you all to share and share and share it .. Horseland have donated a magnificent Collegiate saddle which will be won by one survey participant. That person doesn't have to be a PC member - the winner will be chosen using a random number generator, the survey number that matches that number will be the winner.. During the month we'll have other incentives to keep you actively sharing.

Pony Club of SA Community Facebook page

Pony Club of SA Buy, Swap and Sell Facebook page

PCASA Official Association Facebook page

HOLLEY SHOWS 'EM HOW IT'S DONE!

16 year old Holley Picken from Mt Gambier Pony Club entered the challenging McDowells Australian Brumby Challenge at Equitana in November last year, up against a field of red hot contenders. Over the 4 days Holley and her horse VBA Bago competed in a variety of challenging events .. she was named Dolly's Dream yearling Overall Champion and earned the respect and recognition of judges, spectactors and her fellow competitors. Holley comes from a non-horsey family, but from the age of 10 she began using natural horsemanship techniques to overcome difficulties with her horse. Great to see our Pony Club members excelling in other areas of horse sport. Well done Holley and Bago.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - Di Birmingham

DIANA BIRMINGHAM

My Mum’s family were all living on farming properties, all my cousins were farm kids and I lived in a suburb of Adelaide. School holidays were spent on the farm where I absolutely loved spending time with my cousins and their ponies. All I wanted was a pony of my own.

I attended riding lessons at a local riding school every Saturday morning and I am sure my parents were hoping this would be enough for me ……….but that was just the start. With the assistance of some “Horsey Friends” Mum and Dad leased a 14hh buckskin mare for me and together we joined the South Park Riding and Pony Club which was based in the South Parklands on Greenhill Road.

Needing somewhere close to home to keep a horse Mum and Dad found stables at Cumberland Park and realizing that I really really did want a horse bought me a lovely grey Galloway named “Roxanna”.

Together we continued to attend South Park Pony Club each Sunday.

“Roxanna” and I competed successfully at many agricultural shows throughout South Australia and also the Royal Adelaide Show.

After moving to a property north of Adelaide and with room for more horses I joined the Salisbury Hunt Club and spent many fun filled years with my three hunters “Wayfarer” “Alcazar” and “Gold Rush” hunting with Salisbury and attending visiting hunts with Adelaide, Murray Bridge and Clare Hunt Clubs.

During this time I was still involved with show horses and became an EA Show Horse Judge, a job which took me to many parts South Australia. The highlight of my Show Horse judging was when I was invited to be one of the judges for the Champion Equestrian Class at the Adelaide Royal Show four years ago.

Following our move to the Gawler area I joined the Gawler River Pony Club and began Eventing with two lovely thoroughbreds “David Copperfield” (Davey) and DV8 (Bruce) and had many fun filled years competing and camping at Pony Club events.

Just 5 short years ago, we sold our agistment property and that is when I stopped competing formally. That hasn't kept me out of the saddle, a few years ago I joined with friends from Gawler River Pony Club on a ride in the Victorian High Country in the area where “The Man from Snowy River” was filmed which was just fabulous.

I am now kept busy with my Pony Club involvement as Chief Instructor for Gawler River Pony Club and the Lower North Zone – Level 1 Coach and Coach Educator, member of CIP, RAC, State Executive and Vice President of PCASA. Nationally I am the South Australian delegate on the Pony Club Australia National Coaching Committee.

The experience and skills I learned in Pony Club have guided me through my lifetime with horses – I am passionate about Pony Club and was honoured to be awarded Life Membership of Gawler River Pony Club and the Jim Toole Memorial Award in 2011, PCASA Merit Award in 2013 and Life Membership of PCASA in 2018. I enjoy sharing the love of horses and skill development that comes from being involved with Pony Club together with the many wonderful friendships made over the years. This is what motivates me to stay involved.

This year South Australia will be sending a team to the Pony Club Australia National Championships in Sydney and I am looking forward to being a part of “Team SA”.

NORTHERN HILLS PC OUT & ABOUT

Starting a little sadly – we have left our grounds at One Tree Hill. A huge thank you to the entire committee, members and anyone else that came along and helped clean up so we could leave our grounds in lovely condition for the land owners. We are in the process of securing a new site and hopefully good news is just around the corner. Our members have been busy supporting rallies, events, comps and clinics in the past 3 months. –

A special mention to our 12 & under superstars Lily Shea winning her first Zone Finals after being eliminated last year, and to Tarly Borgas for winning her first ever ODE that she has ever entered! Tarly and her sister Mackenzy have also achieved their D & D* certificate / patches.

Our newbies – Netty & Rebecca (aka Thelma & Louise), Little Helen all breaking through their own personal barriers. Lemara, Elyce, Olivia & Chelsea embracing their various first tries at different events, some even placing & Hannah Synnett has also enjoyed success with Combined Training, winning at Williamstown and placing at Two Wells and trying out some Hunting!

Last but not least – SHAZZA – YES WE LOVE YA! our club president, who leads by example and broke through her own nerve barrier & entered D Grade in her category at our Metro Zone Finals and WON!!! Some pics below and we wish we could include a pic of everyone, but that isn’t always possible - hopefully, we will get one entire NHPC group shot soon. STOP PRESS: Northern Hills PC have now secured new land near the Football Oval at Kersbrook so work will commence on establishing facilities here - great news for a passionate and enthusiastic SA Club.

Pic and submission thanks to Nanon Mijolic, NHPC

PCA 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Mountain Pony Club celebrated during their Rally Day on 5th May. A call out was given to club members for a cake to celebrate this occasion. Our members never disappoint and some lovely cakes were made – much to the joy of our young riders, who certainly enjoyed eating the tasty cakes so much so that one cake had already been half eaten by the time we were ready to celebrate the occasion! At the bottom the cake made by Sue Young and devoured with great gusto by riders after Metropolitan Zone finals recently.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR JEAN!

Central Zone held Zone Elimination Finals at NYP on May 26^th, riders contested Prelim, Novice, Elementary, Junior & Senior Horse & Rider of the Year, as well as C & B Grade Show Jumping. At the end of the day Kadina Pony Club member Jean Riedel was awarded the Pony Club Australia Living Legends award. Jean has been involved with Kadina Pony Club since moving to the area in the late 70’s, instructing and taking on roles within the Committee throughout the years. Jean has watched her daughters and now her Granddaughter riding through the ranks at Pony Club, upholding the family legacy of Pony Club.

Article submission thanks to Kylie Weltmann, NYP

MEANWHILE... AT LE HUNTE...

Wow 80 years on and Pony club is still going strong, teaching thousands of riders around Australia how to not only ride but have good horse care and good sportsmanship. The friendships made through Pony Club last a life time. LeHunte Pony Club celebrated PCA’s 80^th Birthday with a special rally, the members had a lot of fun doing some working equitation obstacles including a noodle race, bridge, see saw, gate, bow tie bending, the L and backwards can and picking the ring of the bull to name a few. Mother’s day was also celebrated. Claire Olsen is also celebrating 50 years in pony club, Claire joined LeHunte Pony Club in 1969 as a mum and over the years Claire has done most jobs from Instructing, cleaning, cooking the BBQ, cleaning toilets, painting and all jobs in-between. Claire has been our Secretary/Treasurer since 1977 with only 3 years off, so 39 years. Claire was Eyre Peninsula Zone secretary/Treasurer for 35 years and has seen 44 zone schools and countless State Championships as Zone secretary and has helped at many others outside of the zone. Claire has supported 3 children through Pony club with one going on to be State President of SA. Over the years Claire and her family have travel all over the state supporting Pony Club events. Although Claire has slowed down due to health reasons she still attends what Pony club functions she can and helps out where she can. She has been EP Zone delegate for many years and still attends meetings on behalf of EP Zone. Claire has been honoured with life memberships to LeHunte PC, EP Zone and PCASA. She has also being the recipient of the Jim Toole award. Claire will receive her Living Legend certificate from PCA at our June rally.

Article submission thanks to Ann Olsen, Le Hunte PC

As sponsors of Pony Club Australia, Mitsubishi Motors offer all members of Pony Club Association in Sout Australia a discount on your beautiful new Mitsubishi! Complete the discount form linked here and take it to your Mitsubishi Dealer!

Mitsubishi Motors Pony Club Members Discount Form

PONY CLUB AUSTRALIA JUNE NEWSLETTER

Click here to read latest PCA Newsletter

JAMES TO THE RESCUE

Click here for the full story!

IT'S MOMENTS LIKE THESE..

SMILES & RAINBOWS

WORDS OF WISDOM - Stuart Tinney

‘THINGS I KNOW NOW that I WISH I KNEW WHEN I STARTED WITH HORSES’
By- STUART TINNEY Gold and Bronze Olympic Medalist OAM

My story with horses began when I was very young. Starting with just some ‘rough riding’ like rounding up the cows at home with my dad Brian, who was a stock and station agent in mid Queensland, I had no idea of dressage or jumping, just how to stay on and go fast. Following my time in Qld which did include pony club and some Eventing, I moved to NSW to work with Wayne and Vicki Roycroft, both being a huge influence on my successful career in the sport.

There are a few things I wish I knew before embarking in a very ‘outside’ dominated sport, one is the use of sunscreen and cover up! I spend many trips to the skin specialist now with little knowledge back then on its' severity.

Secondly, I know now that the work ethic to be at the top of your sport is paramount! Its no lazy life with very long hours which can be exhausting.

Maybe thirdly its tough to make a living as an elite athlete and you will need a lot of support from friends, family and owners to keep in the sport.

Next issue will come out mid September - please send story submissions and photographs to carolneller@hotmail.com
Would especially love to see Pony Club Team Pics for 2019