The Charlottetown Pony Club is marking a major milestone this year as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The anniversary celebration and reunion will be held Sunday, Aug. 11, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Haviland Club, located on the corner of Haviland and Water streets in Charlottetown. All past, present and alumni members, family, friends, volunteers and members of the Island horse community are invited to attend, renew old acquaintances and share memories. Pictures, souvenirs and stories are all welcome.
Light refreshments and birthday cake will be part of the agenda, along with a short presentation at 2:30 p.m. For information about the event or about joining the Charlottetown Pony Club, contact district commissioner Tracy Singleton at [email protected].
Founded in 1969, the Charlottetown Pony Club provides horse- and pony-related activities for young people. The club is a branch of the Canadian Pony Club, the national body which was begun in Ontario 85 years ago. The original clubs drew on the model of the British Horse Society equestrian organization for young people. Today the pony clubs operate in 20 countries world-wide and have over 50,000 members.
The goal of pony club is to provide horse-related experience and education to young people. It is not necessary to own a horse or pony to participate. Members learn stable management and horse care skills along with mounted activities. Mounted games (the Prince Philip Games), horse-related quiz meets, competition with other clubs and the disciplines of dressage, stadium jumping and eventing are all part of the pony club program. The club motto is: "Loyalty, Character, Sportsmanship".
While the goals of the organization are fun, education and safe riding skills on a recreational level, many of Canada’s top equestrians have pony club roots. In Atlantic Canada, Olympians Kara Grant (modern pentathlon) and Rob Stevenson (eventing) are former pony clubbers.
