A Pony Club rally is an opportunity for Pony Clubbers to compete on a team in one of the areas in which Pony Club instruction is given.  These rallies are fair and friendly competitions organized at both the regional and the national level. Rally competitions are held in dressage, show jumping, eventing, tetrathlon and mounted games.  The South Region also has opportunities for clinics/competition in polocrosse and vaulting.  Additionally, every year "a ground school" rally is held.  This rally is called "Quiz" and is an oral and practical test of knowledge.  Another type of unmounted rally, called Everything But the Horse (EBTH), teaches rally preparation and horse management; this rally is used to prepare new Pony Clubbers for rally experiences. 

At rallies, Pony Clubbers compete and earn final placement ribbons as a team in horse management and in the combined phases of riding and horse management.  The horse management phase of each rally evaluates the competitor's knowledge of sound, practical horse care according to the competitors' rating levels. Each team is made up of the team Captain and either three or four Pony Clubbers, depending upon the rally discipline.  All teams (except Quiz and Games rallies) have one team member assigned as a Stable Manager to assist in caring for riders and ponies.  Each rally has a different set of criteria used to select team members.

Horse care and stable management at rallies is based upon safe practices.  Pony Clubbers are expected to have fun in a safe setting.  Horses must be sound and must display a level of condition appropriate for the level of performance.  All horses and ponies will be checked by a veterinarian for soundness during the "jog out" at the onset of the rally.  Unsound horses will be excused from competition.

Rallies are for the Pony Clubbers. They gain valuable experience, knowledge and growth in responsibility by participating with the help of only their team members. Parents are responsible for getting their child and their mount to the rally at a time predetermined by the rally team, and may attend the initial briefing.  After the rally officially starts, however, teams will be penalized if there is any unauthorized assistance given. PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ASSIST COMPETITORS OR VISIT INSIDE THE BARNS FOR THE DURATION OF THE RALLY!  Most parents enjoy being spectators and rally volunteers, without the responsibility for their child's performance.

Members of HSPC are encouraged to participate in Pony Club rallies whenever possible.  Pony Clubbers compete on teams at rallies.  When HSPC sends a member to a rally, the DC must be confident that the rally experience will be safe and fun for that member.  For this reason, the Pony Clubber's age, experience, riding skill, rating, cooperativeness, and meeting attendance all enter into HSPC team placements.  In the case of an overnight rally, the DC will also take into account the parent’s ability to assist. 

At the national level, team membership is based on the rider's regional rally performance.  Every three years there is a National Festival and Championship, traditionally held in Lexington, Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Park.  The festival includes opportunities for Pony Clubbers to participate in clinics and seminars.  The Championships include teams from throughout the United States.  Festival takes place after the Championships are completed and is open to all Pony Clubbers. USPC holds separate Championship Rallies for the East and the West in the two intervening years. The Eastern Championships usually take place in Lexington, VA. 

We're proud of our Pony Clubbers' participation in regional and national rallies.  Check out their accomplishments on our Activities page.

We appreciate the assistance of the following Pony Clubs in preparing this material: Difficult Run Pony Club, Virginia Region; Great Circle Pony Club, Delmarva Region