Darwin Horse and Pony Club

10/11/2024

2025 Dates for Junior Rally and Exciting Events!

Mark your calendars!
Here are the key dates for our Junior Rally and other exciting events.

Note: We're also working on the Adult calendar, so stay tuned for updates!

28/10/2024

🐴 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🐴

Is your young rider ready to saddle up with confidence? At Pony Club, our D Certificate members start learning how to saddle their horses independently, under a coach’s watchful eye. Knowing the basics of saddling is a crucial part of safe and responsible riding—and we’re here to guide them every step of the way!

Here’s how we teach our young riders to saddle up:

1. Your horse will be more used to you working from the near (left) side.

2. Place the saddlecloth evenly over the horse's spine, after checking there is nothing in it to irritate the horse, e.g., grass seeds, burrs, or clumps of dirt.

3. Make sure the cloth is in front of the wither.

4. Check that the stirrups on the saddle are fixed out of the way (run up or crossed) so that they do not knock against the horse or get caught under the saddle.

5. It is better to place the saddle a little too far forward than back so that you can gently slide the saddle back to fit just behind the horse's shoulder blade, ensuring it does not interfere with the movement of the horse's shoulders.

6. Pull the saddlecloth up into the gullet of the saddle to remove pressure on the spine and wither.

7. Check that the saddle is sitting evenly over the horse's spine and that the saddle flaps and saddlecloth are lying straight on both sides of the horse.

8. You can now attach the girth or pull it down if it was already attached to the saddle. Make sure it does not knock the horse's front legs, and confirm that the girth does not have anything prickly or dirty on it.

9. Do the girth up with the lightest pressure at first, watching the horse's reaction in case they are sore or react by biting.

10. The girth should lie in the horse's girth groove behind their elbow.

11. Adjust the girth slowly from both sides to allow the horse's muscles time to adapt to the pressure, preventing girthiness caused by rushing the process.

12. You can walk the horse briefly before ensuring the girth is firm enough for you to mount and ride.

13. Make sure the girth points and buckles are not pinching the horse by being too close to the saddle or too close to the point of the horse's elbow.

14. The girth should be firm enough to keep the saddle in place at all paces—get someone to check it once you have mounted, but remember it is easy to overtighten a girth with elastic on the buckles. It’s also easy to overtighten when adjusting from the saddle due to the leverage from sitting higher than the girth points.

15. Use the reverse process to unsaddle your horse, taking care not to rush and monitoring your horse’s reactions throughout.

⭐ 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁? 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆! ⭐

Riding is more than just fun—it’s about building responsibility and care for our equine friends. Join us at Pony Club Australia to help young horse lovers learn lifelong skills. Find a club or accredited riding centre near you: https://ponyclubaustralia.com.au/join-us/find-a-club/

24/10/2024

✨ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2025!!!✨

20/10/2024

15/10/2024

Dear Members

We would like to remind you that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Darwin Horse and Pony Club will be held as previously advertised.

Date: Saturday 19th October 2024
Time: 5pm
Location: DHPC canteen area

This is an important opportunity for all members to participate in key discussions, vote on decisions affecting the club's future, and elect the new committee.
We encourage everyone to attend and contribute to the club's progress.
If you have any questions or agenda items you would like to raise during the meeting, please submit them by Thursday 17/10.

We look forward to your attendance and input.

21/09/2024

Thank you to our amazing participant for making a Fun Day even more FUN!!!
From what I can hear and see from photos everyone had an absolute blast. Feel free to tag all your photos from yesterday🐴
We love seeing all the smiles, thank you to our committee for making this even happen and thank you to other volunteers for helping out.
Khye and Sally for helping with event and the games
Ilana Eldridge and Melanie Brenton for dressage
Thanks Anna for agreeing to help out during your day off
Thanks Ruth and Vicki for all your help with jumping
Thanks Che for running the canteen 🩷

20/09/2024

Everyone!
Have a fantastic Fun Day🐴

20/09/2024

We will run the Father’s Fun Day all on Saturday 21/9
Jumping / dressage start at 8am
Games start at 4.30pm
Hope you all have an amazing and fun day 🐴

16/09/2024

UPDATE
SIGN UP TODAY!!!
Tomorrow will be the last day to sign up
If we don’t get numbers we will have to cancel the whole event

Father’s Day Fun Day
Saturday and Sunday 21/22 September at DHPC
This is a fun filled weekend of horse competition. It will be relaxed. Min dress required. No day membership and everyone is welcome.
Show jumping - Saturday morning
Mounted games - Saturday afternoon
Dressage - Sunday morning

Enter by signing up on the link below
https://pca.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=DA887DDD70E63122D9AC4D38BFED6301063BC6BD

Noonamah Horse & Pony Club
Litchfield Horse & Pony Club
Katherine Horse and Pony Club
The Berrimah Riding Club Group
NT Horse & Pony People
Darwin Dressage Club
Darwin Show Jumping Club
Darwin Horse and Pony Club

30/08/2024

Save the Date
DHPC AGM Meeting 19/10
Final time will be provided closer to the date

22/08/2024

Noonamah Horse & Pony Club
Litchfield Horse & Pony Club
Katherine Horse and Pony Club
Berrimah Riding Club
NT Horse & Pony People
Darwin Horse and Pony Club
Darwin Dressage Club
Darwin Quarter Horse Association
Darwin Show Jumping Club

15/08/2024

Clem Smith Jump Clinic 31/8 and 1/9

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE DUE TO FEW LATE CANCELATIONS!!!!

Open to anyone
No need to be member of pony club
No day membership required - DHPC hold special insurance for our grounds hire
Tickets are now available for you to purchase through just go or please email me based on first in first best If sold out your name will be placed on waiting list:)
Link for the event below: https://pca.justgo.com/workbench/public/events...

LLitchfield Horse & Pony ClubNNoonamah Horse & Pony ClubKKatherine Horse and Pony ClubTThe Berrimah Riding Club GroupNNT Horse & Pony PeopleDDarwin Horse and Pony Club
Following Classes and spaces:
poles/30 - 1 spot for adult rider
60/70 - 1 spot
80/90 - 2 spots
1/1.2 - 2 spots

30/07/2024

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - only couple left in total

Clem Smith Jump Clinic 31/8 and 1/9
Open to anyone
No need to be member of pony club
No day membership required - DHPC hold special insurance for our grounds hire

Tickets are now available for you to purchase through just go or please email me based on first in first best If sold out your name will be placed on waiting list:)
Link for the event below: https://pca.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=FD09E9C6532D1391049BBA03D5564467BF5AD114

Litchfield Horse & Pony Club
Noonamah Horse & Pony Club
Katherine Horse and Pony Club
Berrimah Riding Club
NT Horse & Pony People
Darwin Horse and Pony Club

Note some classes might change later depending on the numbers and requests
If you see the class that is sold out just enter into waiting list or send me a message as I have allocated numbers to sport vouchers:)

17/07/2024

Clem Smith Jump Clinic 31/8 and 1/9

Tickets are now available for you to purchase through just go or BRC please email me based on first in first best If sold out your name will be placed on waiting list:)
Link for the event below: https://pca.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=FD09E9C6532D1391049BBA03D5564467BF5AD114

Litchfield Horse & Pony Club
Noonamah Horse & Pony Club
Katherine Horse and Pony Club
The Berrimah Riding Club Group

Note some classes might change later depending on the numbers and requests
If you see the class that is sold out just enter into waiting list or send me a message as I have allocated numbers to sport vouchers:)