The Irish Pony Club

The Irish Pony Club Annual Conference 2010

Monday 15 March at the South Court Hotel, Adare Road, Limerick

We encourage officials, parents, senior members, instructors and anyone with an interest in the Pony Club to attend the Conference. This is your chance to exchange ideas, ask for advice, and keep abreast of developments. The Pony Club shop will also be there.

CLICK HERE FOR AGENDA

Dressage Tests for 2010

The Dressage Tests for all competitions to be used in 2010 will remain the same as those used last year. For a list of the tests please see the Dressage page.

PROPOSED HORSE TRIALS DATES 2010

10th March - A list of proposed Horse Trials Dates for the coming season are available on the Horse Trials page. These are subject to change and more information will be available in due course. Please also note that the Dressage Tests for 2010 Horse Trials will remain the same as last year. These are also on the Horse Trials page.

Musical Ride Update

There will be a NEW category in Musical Ride at Pony Club Festival 2010. Please note NEW under 12 category. Please also note MAXIMUM ARENA SIZE that can be made available for 2010 is 60m by 30m. Click here to go to the Musical Ride page for more information.

Invite from Area 17 of the UK Pony Club

Northern Ireland is Area 17 of the UK Pony Club. They have sent us details of their Area competitions and have let us know they would welcome any IPC members wishing to go along.
Games 22 May Shanes Castle. Co. Antrim
Show Jumping 14th July Shanes Castle. Co. Antrim
Tetrathlon 16 & 17th July. Newtownards and Kircubbin. Co. Down
Dressage 26th July at Necarne Castle. Co. Fermanagh
Eventing 30th July at Tyrella House, Tyrella Co. Down
Home Championships 2 August at Tullymurry, Downpatrick. Co. Down

If you are interested in finding out more email Liz Lowry, Area Representative.

Ages for Tests

New Test Cards have been issued in 2010. A significant change to all the Standard of Efficiency Test Cards is the age requirement of a member taking the test. The age of the candidate is no longer "recommended" but is "minimum" (in the year of the test).

Note the minimum age applies to the 'Year of the Test'. For example with the C Test, the minimum age is 12 in the year of the test. In other words if a member was going to be 12 by 30th December they should be allowed take the test during the summer if ready.

Any member with queries about tests in their branch should speak to their D.C.

Rule Books 2010

Rule Books for 2010 for Horse Trials, Show Jumping and Dressage & CT are in production and will be available in the IPC Shop shortly. We would draw your attention to the principal changes below:

Horse Trials

a. HORSE & RIDER COMBINATIONS

I. Horse and rider combinations registered with or competing in Eventing Ireland CNC*, CNCJ**, CNCJ* and CNCP** classes in the current year are eligible to compete only in the Associate A and Members section of IPC Horse Trials.

II. Horse and rider combinations that have qualified for the Championships at any level may not compete in novice/Under 12 competitions

III. A horse that is eligible to compete only in the Members section but whose rider does not have the necessary experience may enter either Intermediate or Junior section for one year only. The combination must satisfy the following conditions:

a) The horse must not be registered with Eventing Ireland or British Eventing in the current calendar year.

b) The rider must satisfy the requirements of Rule 58a and have no previous relevant eventing or show jumping experience.

c) The combination must not have taken part in any form of competition at any level in any previous calendar year.

d) In very exceptional circumstances downgrading of a combination may be permitted.

A written application must be made to the Chairman of Horse Trials of the IPC. A form will be issued which must be completed and signed by the D.C. and the Horse Trials area representative. Application needs to be made early in order to complete the process. A panel of three will be appointed to consider the application and their decision will be final.

VI. Only one combination of horse and rider, qualifying under rule 58c) iii, may be on any team.

Show Jumping

For Robbie Bailey and Intermediate teams

The same combination of horse/pony and rider from a winning team (in any year) is not eligible to ride again in this competition. i.e. a member can take part if they ride a different horse/pony, similarly the horse/pony can be on a team but with a different rider.

For the SJ Classic - members who qualify at one qualifier may go to the final.

Dressage & CT

Revert back to straightforward show jumping for Combined Training (i.e. not equitation jumping)

Combinations which have competed and completed the course at Eventing Irl. Two Star Events or One Star Horse Events are ineligible at Pony Club Intermediate or Junior level.

GO! – Cross Country

Two very successful and interesting talks were well supported in Limerick and Dublin. Very good feedback was received and thank you to all who came along. We hope all who attended enjoyed Williams presentations and thanks must also go to Barbara Micks, Chairperson of Horse Trials who organised these sessions.

Annual Conference 2010

The IPC Annual Conference 2010 will be held on Monday 15th March in South Court Hotel, Raheen, Limerick.

Hotel booking for overnight stay is €69.00 per room, twin or double - including breakfast if anyone would like to stay.

More information will be posted here and sent to D.C's., but please put this important date in your diary now.

We would welcome you input into planning the conference. Click here for more..

International Hunting Exchange

The International Hunting Exchange took place in November. It was a great success and one of the Irish Participants, Marina Williams of the Louth Branch has written a diary to share her experiences. When you read it you will wish you had been there, despite the weather at times!! Thank you Marina.

Click here to read Marina's Diary

Click here for link to Irish Times Slideshow of Waterford Foxhounds and Hunting Exchange Riders

Click here to read blogspot by US Pony Club member who was part of the International Hunting Exchange.

A Message from Alice Mernagh, Chairman

As 2009 comes to an end let us look back on our achievements with pride.

They were many and diverse; each one of you individually will know what your high points were. It may not necessarily be the winning of rosettes or being part of international teams, but simply moments of happiness at camps, rallies, tests or qualifiers. Achievements can be measured in many diverse ways unique to each young person.

When I think of 2009 I think of the word tenacity. In spite of the awful weather conditions, branches, areas and championship chairmen managed to keep our programme intact for the summer.

Members-- do you say thank you? I say thanks on your behalf for the magnificent organisation that is The Irish Pony Club. For the endless, selfless and unheralded acts of volunteering that makes it so. The continuous planning that brings to each member, fun, friendship and learning. We have managed to keep the subscription the same for the past three years thanks to judicious planning by lots of people, thank you. The web site is a great success - thank you.

“For all those whose cares have been our concern,the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die”. These words were spoken by the late Ted Kennedy when defeated in 1988 for the democratic nomination. Are they relevant to us? YES - for that is what we say each year in spite of setbacks, knock backs and unwarranted criticisms.

“If a man does his best-what else is there” again a quote from General Patton, 1885-1946.

To you all, on behalf of our Directors, Executive and Administrative Staff, a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

Bliain nua fa shean agus fa shonas agaibh go leir.

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Junior International Tetrathlon

The Irish Pony Club has been invited to send a Team of Junior Boys and Girls to an International Tetrathlon Competition in Bedale, North Yorkshire, UK on June 18, 19, 20, 2010.

See Tetrathlon for nominated names.

For further information please contact John Flood 087 2228850.

Lillingston and Carroll Points 2009

Lillingston Cup Points 2009

Trophy Points 2009

Click here to view Points System

Notice from Headquarters - November 2009

Subscription Fees 2010
There will be no increase in Membership fees for 2010. It will remain €90 per member as it has been for the last three years.

A. Test Result
The successful candidates this year were Bernice Gaffney, Winterdown Branch and Sam Dempsey, Bray Hunt Branch. Congratulations to both candidates.

H Test
Congratulations to all 24 candidates who were successful in the H test held in Gurteen College.

B+ Test
5 candidates were successful in the B+ test in September. Congratulations to Mairead Power Waterford, Fionn Corcoran Limerick, Alison Mortell Westmeath, Sally Mahon North West, David Bourke Bray.

Annual Parents Meeting
Each branch should call an Annual Meeting of Parents and Associate Members (over 18 yrs.) before November 30. At this meeting, a report of activities for the year should be presented by the DC and the Treasurer should produce an Annual Income and Expenditure account. This account should include an opening balance, closing balance, a reconciliation of the final balance to the Bank Statement which the DC must see and sign off.

Medical Armbands
It was agreed IPC members could use any of HSI Affiliate armbands (i.e. Ev. Irl. Dressage Irl.) Please make sure that all members update their photos on a regular basis!

Postage and E-Mail
Please inform the office of any new Email addresses in your Branch or indeed of any that are not in use as we need to delete these. We would like to encourage all Branches to have an E mail address.

Members Annual 2009
Please keep your stories, poems, jokes, pictures etc. coming in to us for the 2009 Annual – by email only. The closing date for articles has been extended to 10 November. Please put names on the back of pictures that are sent into the office, not too many pictures – maximum of 4. We will return the photos as soon as possible. After the 10 Nov it will be on a first come first served basis for articles in the Annual. We will have a junior section this year – any ideas for that section are welcome. We will also, sadly, have a Bereavement page – let us have tributes/picture that you may wish to include. Some branches have their articles in with us, but the rest of you need to get moving! Please emaill your articles to cynthia@irishponyclub.ie

Mounted Games
Congratulations to all our games teams that went abroad this year. Nomination Forms for International Teams for 2010 have been sent out to D.C.'s. Please inform Mounted Games players under 15 yrs. 1 January 2010, that selection days will be organized and anyone wishing to be considered must be nominated by their DC. Those nominated must be approved by the D.C. as good ambassadors for the IPC. Parents will have to pay for cost of the trip on Selection Day in January. Please contact your D.C. More information will be available in due course.

Show Jumping Classic (l m,1.10m and 1.20m classes):
The Final of the Show Jumping Classic took place at Mullingar Equestrian Centre on Sunday 1 November. This was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by participants and parents. See Show Jumping page for results. The winner of the 1.20m was Áine Sheehy from Warrington Branch and Gemma Drennan, also from Warrington won the 1.20 League. We are delighted to announce that the Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks are once again providing a five day training bursary to our winners starting on Monday 15 February 2010. The Show Jumping Classic is sponsored by the Irish Pony Club Shop.

Passports
Since the change in the law regarding passports for equines and the requirement for a microchip for all new passports, The Irish Pony Club is no longer an approved passport issuing body. Members requiring a new passport must now obtain this through Horse Sport Ireland. The new Passport Application Form is available from your D.C. and also on the website.

Provisional Dates for 2010
Annual Conference – Monday 15 March, 2010 (Venue TBA)
Hunter Trials Championships – Saturday 10 April, 2010 in Ballon, Co. Carlow.
Minimus – 12 & 13 June, 2010 at Bramblestown, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny.
Festival – 28 & 29 July, 2010 (Venue TBA)
Horse Trials – 10 & 11 August, 2010 (Venue TBA)
Tetrathlon – 28 & 29 August, 2010 – Tattersalls Ireland Ltd., Ratoath, Co. Meath.
H. Test – 25 August, 2010 in Gurteen College
A. Test – Wednesday 1 September.

Mary, Angela, Cynthia and Melissa in the office would like to acknowledge and thank all for the wonderful work done on behalf of the Irish Pony Club for our 4,300 members. The above information is taken from Notice No 253. The full notice and attachments has been posted out to D.C.s. and is also available from the Branch Officers section of the website.

IPC CALENDAR 2010

We have produced a lovely colourful calendar for 2010 with lots of lovely pictures reflecting all the fun we have in the Irish Pony Club and includes key dates for 2010.

These are available through D.C.'s and the office. If you get them through your branch they will cost €5. They can also be purchased through the office at a cost of €6.30 = €5.00 + €1.30 postage.

Ask your D.C. about getting one or contact Cynthia in the office if you would like to buy one or more.

Lookback in pictures at the IPC Championships 2009

(If you have a good quality photo to included send it to webmaster@irishponyclub.ie)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Members Blog - Starting with Tetrathlon

We have set up a Blog/Forum for our Members to add comments. We have opened a discussion board about the Tetrathlon to try out this feature and see if it is something you would like to use.

All comments will be read before being posted.

If you would like to share your experiences about the Tetrathlon Championships and add a comment, check it out HERE

Check the Noticeboard for branch notices.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRESS RELEASE

A D.C. has drawn a recent Department of Agriculture Press Release to our attention and suggested that we bring it to the attention of our members etc.

Click here to view/print

IPC GUIDE TO COMPETITIONS 2009

Brother and sister win RDS Combined Training at the Dublin Horse Show

This year the RDS ran a Combined Training competition for Irish Pony Club Members. Competitors qualified to take part by winning Intermediate and Members Sections of the Irish Pony Club Combined Training at the Area Qualifiers held around the country. Winners had to be on Irish Bred horses to be eligible in accordance with RDS rules.

Both sections of the competition were won by a brother and sister duo from the Meath Hunt Branch, Jamie and Katie Nolan, Congratulations!

Well done to all competitiors in this exciting new venture instigated by the RDS. All were immaculately turned out and displayed excellent riding skills to fulfill the aim of this competition and were all worthy representatives of the Irish Pony Club.

Thanks also to Kate Harvey, Chairperson of the Dressage/Combined Training Committee of the IPC who liaised with the RDS on behalf of the Irish Pony Club. Full results available on the Results Page

Rule Clarification
CLARIFICATION Pure Dressage and Combined Training Rules

Please note that under the heading 'Combined Training' on p9 the Rule should read:

'Combinations which have competed at Eventing Ireland 2 STAR Pony Events are ineligible at Pony Club Intermediate Level'

Under 'Eligibility of Horses' P10

'ALL PONIES ARE ELIGIBLE' should be deleted.

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