Tack & Turnout Guidelines
All members must have a Pony Club badge, tie and Branch sweatshirt.
Uniform details are below the tack & turnout guide, there are additional requirements for camp.
Full details for required tack & turnout at branch events can be found below by clicking on this link.
PLEASE NOTE ALL PONIES SHOULD BE PLAITED FOR TEAM AND AREA COMPETITIONS
Pony Club runs very much under traditional lines.
Members attending Pony Club events must be correctly dressed at all times.
To be ordered on your new membership form, however replacements can be ordered on our website.
This can be worn directly on the white shirt or the sweatshirt or on the lapel of the jacket
The Body Protector Rule 2019
The Pony Club does not make the use of body protectors compulsory, except for all Cross Country
riding and Pony Racing whether it be training or competing. If a Body protector is worn for any Pony
Club activity it must meet BETA 2009 Level 3 standard (purple label) or BETA 2018 Level 3 standard
(blue and black label) – see below.
For general use, the responsibility for choosing body protectors and the decision as to their use must
rest with Members and their parents. It is recommended that a rider’s body protector should not be
more than 2% of their body weight. When worn, body protectors must fit correctly, be comfortable
and must not restrict movement. BETA recommends body protectors are replaced at least every
three to five years, after which the impact absorption properties of the foam may have
started to decline.
BETA 2009 Level 3 (purple label) body protectors will continue to be accepted at Pony Club
competitions until 31
st December 2024.
Riders who choose to use the Woof Wear Body Cage EXO must lodge a key with the Event Organiser
when they collect their number.
Air Jackets
If a rider chooses to wear an air jacket in Cross Country or Pony Racing, it must only be used in
addition to a normal body protector which meets the BETA 2009 Level 3 standard (purple label) or
BETA 2018 Level 3 standard (blue and black label). Parents and Members must be aware that
riders may be permitted to continue after a fall in both competition and training rides for Cross Country
and/or Pony Racing, provided the rider has been passed as fit to continue by First Aid Providers. In
the event of a fall, it must be fully deflated or removed before continuing, after which, the conventional
body protector will continue to give protection. Air jackets must not be worn under a jacket and number
bibs should be fitted loosely or with elasticised fastenings over the air jacket.
The long rubber boots of past years are very much out of date. They are not always very comfortable, and even if they are, they are not good for riding as the rubber is not very flexible and does not allow free movement of the ankle.
Short jodhpur boots either worn on their own with jodhpur clips are good, or short jodhpur boots worn with either plain chaps or gaiters are also very good.
Chaps must be completely plain and the same colour as the boots ie. black or brown. Gaiters are good because although they are a little bit more expensive they can be worn for Competitions and Exams unlike chaps which cannot.
Long leather boots are allowed but are very expensive.
All footwear must have a SMOOTH sole and a well defined square cut heel.
For safety reasons wellington boots, muckers or trainers should never be worn when mounted. Please be careful when buying boots as some of the fashion boots are not allowed either.
If buying new boots please ensure there is one finger width each side (7mm clear on either side of the boot) in the stirrups.
A plain coloured waterproof jacket is sensible.
Navy is preferred but any dark plain colour is ok.
No hoods allowed !
Plain coloured proper riding gloves although are not compulsory are recommended (navy, black or brown)
Please do not buy gloves that are not meant for riding.
Hats
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. In the event of a fall where it is obvious that the hat has been in contact with the ground all hats 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 some of the very fashionable hats available these days do not conform by way of their appearance even if they meet the current safety standards or even exceed them. Some of these hats may be worn at Rallies but never for tests or exams.
Must be neat and tidy and off the face.
A hairnet should be worn when hair is long but not long enough to tie back. Very long hair should be plaited or worn in a low bun or similar.
Pony tails for very long hair are not acceptable (unless in a hairnet)
Metal hair clips should be removed before riding.
It is the responsibility of the member that their dress is in accordance with the rules.
Hat and body protectors are items of huge importance as they are worn specifically for safety purposes. It is therefore extremely important that they fit properly.
Please make sure that when you purchase these items you do so from a reputable shop where there are staff qualities to fit them properly. We all know that accidents happen but a cheap hat bough from a friend that doesn’t fit properly could potentially mean that a child ends up seriously injured.
(Tweed/navy/black)
In the old days it was compulsory to wear jackets for all events but rules have now been relaxed and jackets are only required at certain events so please do not rush out and buy one as it will probably stay in the cupboard gathering dust.
A tweed hacking jacket or plain navy or black riding jacket should be worn at certain events over a long sleeved shirt with Pony Club tie. The metal badge must be worn on the lapel of the jacket . A coloured felt showing the current test standard achieved by the Member should be displayed behind the metal badge.
Is not allowed (including sleepers).
Earings are NEVER allowed for exams so if you can’t take them out do not book in for an exam.
It is compulsory to wear beige, white or plain dark colours ie. navy, brown or black may be worn for some training days, dismounted rallies and fun events.
Jodhpur clips should be worn with jodhpurs when wearing short boots. These prevent the jodhpurs from riding up the leg and showing the socks.
For competition members should wear beige or white jodhpurs.
These are only available to purchase on our website, please do not order one them from anywhere else as theirs are different.
We also sometimes have some secondhand ones available as the children grow so fast they don’t wear out.
The achievement badges should be sewn on to the sweatshirt, usually down the sides of the arms.
Either a white shirt (long or short sleeved) with collar and pony club tie or short or long sleeved pony club branch polo shirt.
For competition and tests members should wear shirt, tie and jacket with badge.
Must be plain colours. Brown or black preferred.
Riders of a certain level should have 2 whips, one long and one short for the appropriate discipline.
Please ask if you are not sure.
Horse and Pony what not to wear
All numnahs, saddle cloths, brushing and over-reach boots should be a solid colour with no bling.
Saddles and bridles should be either black or brown leather.
All tack should be clean and in a safe condition.
Horses and ponies should be well turned out.
