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Publication Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Woodside Pony Club membership rises
Woodside Pony Club membership rises
(March 23, 2005) Whoa! Membership in the Woodside Pony Club has doubled over the past two years.
Club officers say the roster, now at 24, could grow even larger if there were more facilities available to board horses in the neighborhood.
The club meets year round at the John Kiely Equestrian Center at 3375 Tripp Road in Woodside.
Membership is open to ages 7 to 21 who either own, lease, or borrow ponies and horses, and ride in groups on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings.
Several times a month members also focus on the educational and practical part of taking care of horses, by reading and discussing various topics, such as parasites, proper feeding, and causes of lameness.
Instructors rotate through on a regular basis and teach lessons in different disciplines, such as flat, jumping, dressage, and cross country riding.
Close to 30 years old, Woodside Pony Club is part of a national organization called United States Pony Club.
Two WPC officers recently attended a USPC meeting in New Orleans and say that compared to other clubs, WPC is unusual in that it offers riding and horse-management lessons so often, and encourages members to compete in Pony Club rallies.
WPC Co-District Manager Catherine Swent has watched WPC's membership grow over the last year or so, and observes, "It's because of all these wonderful things we're offering."
Her family leased a local horse for her daughter to ride over the last two years at WPC, and just bought a horse. The family spent weeks looking for another place to keep the new horse, and have found a temporary spot at a barn near the club's facility.
Most of the members ride to the lessons in Woodside, and some trailer their horses. Mrs. Swent thinks if more barns were made available in the area, more children would have access to the program and take advantage of it.
"It's an affordable option for riding, and fun, too."
For more information check woodsideponyclub.org.
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