DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS REPORT

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 3, 16 June 1987, Page 6

DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS REPORT

The Pony Club has had a good season with an enthusiastic club membership but it has been marred by poor weather on many occasions particularly for competitions. We had a glorious day for the Dressage Day in Raetihi and on the Games Day we finished just before the rain set in. Raetihi's F.E.I. Day and the Waimarino O.D.E. were held in cold showery weather and the Ohakune Tetrathlon and Adult Gymkhana and the Waimarino Gymkhana were cancelled. The karioi Sports Day was rained off after lunch and the Waimarino A & P Show was cancelled following ground re-seeding. However, many rallies were held by both branches. Raetihi had a riding membership of 26 riders and Ohakune 14 with both having about a 60-70% attendance. Both branches were fortunate with instructors and normally had three which allowed the different riding levels to be catered for and much individiual instruction. At some stage of the rallies all members got together for pony management and games. Raetihi members gained 8 'D' Certificate and 6 'C' Certificates and Ohakune riders 5 'D' Certificates and 1 'C' Certificate, all indicative of the riding improvement due to good instruction and hard work from the riders themselves. On several occasions members travelled to

Sports Meetings O.D.E.'s and Games Days and gained valuable experience against riders from outside the district. However, it should be remembered that all members gain much from local competition without the expense of travelling, and especially the junior members who in later years will still have adventures to pursue. Overfacing riders and ponies can be a major problem and was seen on many occasions this season within our club and from visitors, and it has a very adverse effect on riders and ponies. Often riders themselves want to bite off more than they can chew but parents too can expect too much. This is especially true in jumping events and in some cases a winter of quiet hacking will be required to rebuild confidence all around. Congratulations to Tania Taylor and Rodney McCoubrie who made the King Country Team for New Zealand Pony Club Association Championships in Auckland and to Mrs Ann Roke who became the NZPCA Committee of Management Training Committee Chairman. Ann's job involves a lot of travelling for the Association and we are lucky to have such a dedicated person continually working for the good of our riders. The visit of Sue Anderson, a top Instructor from the U.K., to the Waimarino was a highlight in April and it was disappointing that more Ohakune parents did not take advantage of

this cheap first-class instruction that was available, even though mid-week attendance is difficult for many. While I recognize that riding can be a very expensive sport it is worth it for the enthusiastic youngster for whom looking after a pony can be a full time job. Unmounted members are always welcome at rallies and enquiries should be made to branch secretaries or head instructors. Young riders need a lot of help and it is imperative that primary school age children have full parental support, even small ponies are big animals to 8 and 9

year olds. The Waimarino Quiz was a great success last July and from this, Branch teams were selected to compete in Taumarunui, where five branches had a close contest with Ohakune being the winner and Raetihi third. Hopefully a further quiz will be held this winter. Finally I would like to thank everyone who has helped Pony Club in any way this season, for transport, instruction, secretarial duties, judges, examiners, parents and ponies, without any of whom there would not be a Ponv Club.

Evelyn

Cooper