Questions that we may be able to Answer here!
We hope this page helps to answer some of the questions you may have when you first join our branch. If you don’t find the answers here please feel free to contact the relevant Committee member or organiser. We will be more than happy to help.
What Rallies/Events do you have and how do you book them?
We have a variety of rallies that are organised by our volunteer organisers. Rallies and Events can be found under the Rally Calendar or Event & Shows Calendar sections of the website. You can book and pay for one rally at a time or choose a selection of rallies to book. These can be paid for by PAYPAL, debit or credit card via the website.
What can I expect to find on the members facebook page?
We have two Facebook pages, one public page and one private members only page. The members only page is for members, their parents/guardians. The private members page is used by the branch for posting keeping our members informed, cancellations, results and members photos. Members can also post events and photos that they would like to share and find events that other members have posted also.
If you could like to join this group please email facebook@chhpc.org
What is covered under the Pony Club member’s insurance
Our insurance policy is provided by Howden Insurance Brokers Limited.
All Members of The Pony Club are covered by our insurance policy. It is strongly recommended that you review the information below regarding our policy.
Q. What cover do Members receive?
A. Branch and Centre Members are insured for equestrian related Personal Liability 24 hours a day up to £ 30,000,000 for any one claim, excluding business activities. The liability of one member to another is covered, as are authorised legal costs.
Q. We are loaning a Pony and I wish to make sure that The Pony Club membership covers my child for any accident she may have whilst looking after or riding this pony.
A. Yes – the policy covers all your non-business equestrian activities, including riding any pony and including such things as any of your ponies escaping from its paddock and causing an accident. However, injury to the pony or the Member would not be covered.
Q. Are there any excluded activities under the Members’ Personal Liability cover?
A. The policy does not cover racing, point to point, steeplechasing or team chasing. The only exception to this is Official Pony Club Race Days and Training Days. Also, business activities are excluded and your pony must not be used for hire or reward.
Q. If my friend borrows my pony, are they covered for Personal Liability?
A. Yes, provided you or your parents have given them permission to borrow it and your friend is not insured under another policy.
Q. Am I covered by the Personal Liability policy if I borrow a friend’s pony?
A. Yes – the policy covers all your non-business equestrian activities, including riding any pony and including such things as your pony escaping from its paddock and causing an accident. However, injury to the pony would not be covered.
Q. My parents occasionally pay a friend to help look after my pony. Is there any cover?
A. Unless they hold their own insurance, your friend would be covered for his/her own liability if he/she was held legally liable for causing accidental bodily injury or property damage as a result of the work, despite the fact that he/she was paid. However, your parents would need to take separate Employers’ Liability insurance, in case of injury to your friend: this cover is a legal requirement and may possibly be included under some household contents policies.
Q. What is the difference between Public or Personal Liability Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance?
A. Public or Personal Liability provides cover against being sued for legal liability in the event of accidental bodily injury to a third party, or damage to their property. It is up to the injured person to prove that legal liability exists. Personal Accident covers Insured Persons for specific amounts in the event of accidental death or disablement, in specified circumstances. The benefit is payable without the need to prove legal liability and consequently paid out much sooner.
Q. Does the Public Liability Insurance would cover temporary stabling our Branch is hiring for our summer camp?
A. The Pony Club Public Liability Insurance does not cover any property in your care, custody or control so hired in equipment would not be covered, neither is Branch owned equipment.
Q. Is our Branch equipment covered under The Pony Club insurance Policy?
A. There is an optional ‘Branch’ Policy available from Howden Insurance Brokers Limited, 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS Tel: 020 7133 1300, Fax: 020 7133 1500 or look up Howden Insurance Brokers Limited – www.howdengroup.com
Q. I have been told by my D.C. that if I don’t wear the correct clothing I will not be covered by insurance.
A. This is not correct. Organisers cannot use insurance to enforce their rules. However, the Insurers require organisers and Members to take all reasonable precautions to prevent injury or damage and do expect The Pony Club Rules to be followed, regarding hats and other clothing.
For full details visit the puck.org website
What should be worn for training ?
Please ensure that you make yourself familiar with the Tack and Turnout Guidelines as different disciplines require a different dress code.
For most working rallies and training, members should wear polo shirt or shirt and tie, club sweatshirt, dark, beige or white jodpurs (no coloured panels) dark riding boots, and riding hat to British Safety Standards. Tack should be clean with no bling for training sessions.
Alot of children wear body protectors for jumping. It is not obligatory but we would recommend this for the safety of your child in case of a fall.
What are training times ?
Once you have booked onto a rally, the organiser will then put all entrants into groups of similar level or age, you times will be emailed to your 48 hours before the Rally or Training session.
We do try to put siblings as close as possible but this may not always be possible. Please remember that the organisers will group teams according to their age and riding level.
It is best to arrive for the training session at least 20 minutes before your time slot to ensure that you are tacked up and ready to ride at your time.
What is expected from parents & guardians ?
How does the branch communicate with us ?
The branch will often communciate via the members facebook page but we also send out group member emails, we try not to overload you with emails but we do need to communicate changes to rallies, events, what’s happening or asking for help.
If you do not want to be contact by the branch for any reason please let us know and we will remove from our mailing list.
What club uniform do I need to buy ?
You can see what clothing we have on offer on our shop page.
We don’t expect parents to buy everything but would suggest as a minimum that the member should have;
long-sleeved polo shirt (members cannot jump in short sleeves)
Sweatshirt (members add their achievement badges to the sleeves)
Tie (needs to be worn it choosing to wear a shirt and at all shows)
Can I become an event organiser ?
If you are interested in becoming a rally organiser please speak with one of the committee members. Organisers must be First Aid trained so it is an advantage if you already have a current First Aid certification.
Can members wear any riding hat ?
Members must wear an approved protective helmet, with chinstrap done up when mounted at all times. All hats must now be tagged. Please ask for yours to be done. Suzie Priest or Julia Martin are able to tag hats. In the event of a fall where it is obvious that the hat has been in contact with the ground, the hat should be replaced. It might appear from the outside that no damage has been done but the inner protective shell may well have been compromised.
Hats should be plain black, brown or blue. If wearing a jockey skull cap, hat covers must be plain coloured. Please note that a hat with a fixed peak cannot be worn for Cross Country activities – a skull cap must be worn.
Can I cancel a rally that I have booked ?
Cancellations by Members
Cancellations can be made up to 72 hours prior to rally start time and a refund via PayPal be issued.
Please email the relevant organiser to cancel and finance@chhpc.org to obtain a refund.
Unfortunately cancellations made within 48 hours of the rally are not eligible for a refund as Instructors and venues will have been booked and paid for.
Cancellations by Organisers
When rallies are cancelled by the organiser a refund in the form of a voucher will be issued. If payment was made prior to the new website launch please contact finance@chhpc.org.
Can members attend rallies at other Pony Club branches ?
You are not able to attend rallies at other branches unless you are a member, but you can attend their events, these are normally advertised on our FB page and our show & Events calendar.
What are the badges members have on their sweatshirt sleeves ?
The Pony Club offers Mini Achievement Badges for younger Members’ as well as both equine and non-equine Achievement Badges. Both types of achievement badge will help you to learn a wide range of skills like first-aid, farming, map reading, saddlery, road safety and grooming.
Is there a placement guide for achievement badges on sweatshirts ?
Achievement badges
Are generally placed along the sleeve of the sweatshirt from top to bottom, look at other members and you can see.
Camp Badges
The member will receive either a Junior or Senior Camp badge depending on which camp they attend plus a year badge each year they attend. The Camp badge is normally sewn on the top of the sleeve (closest to shoulder) with the year badges underneath.
Test badges
These are small circles of different coloured felt. You will receive one of these and a certificate when you pass a test. The circles of coloured felt should be worn under your pony club badge (pin) and are as follows;
E Test Pale yellow felt
D Test Yellow felt
D+ Test White felt
C Test Green felt
C+ Test Pink felt
B Test Red felt
Lunge Test Light Blue felt
B+ Test Pal Purple felt
A Test Blue felt
A with Honours Purple Felt
Can a child be a member of more than one Branch at any one time?
You cannot be a member of more than one Branch at a time. However it is possible, with the DC’s permission, to join activities such as camp with another Branch if for some reason you are not able to attend your own Branches’ activity