Talented Pony Club Members will be soon be able to benefit from additional training opportunities to develop their skills, thanks to support from Aberystwyth University.
The Pony Club Talent Pathway 2017 was unveiled at Your Horse Live. It is developed from the popular Rider Development Pathway which aided the development of Pony Club Members who showed an ability to progress in their chosen discipline of Show Jumping, Dressage or Eventing.
Applications will open early in 2017, when Members who feel they meet the expanded criteria can apply to attend one of training days being held in February and March all around the UK. Here, Members will benefit from top class coaching. Some will then progress to the Regional Assessment stage of the programme.
The minimum criteria has been altered to open the application process to a wider audience; enabling more Pony Club Members to take part and benefit from the coaching on offer.
Regional Assessment Days offer further training opportunities with some of the UK’s best known coaches, and will be held during April. Riders will attend two training sessions, with flat and/or jumping coaches as appropriate, and will receive feedback to help their future development. Thirty riders will then be selected for a weekend-long National Camp where they will work with top class discipline-specific coaches, as well as benefit from mounted and dismounted balance sessions, video analysis and help and advice with goal setting.
A final six riders will then be chosen to form The Pony Club Talent Pathway Squad; each receiving a training bursary, support from an experienced mentor who will continue to develop their progression and training within their discipline and other opportunities such as advice on gaining sponsorship.
Iain Heaton, Director of Operations for The Pony Club, said: “Our partnership with Aberystwyth University, who are one of leaders in the education field, will help us create the perfect platform to further the development of Pony Club Members who show the promise to compete at a high level. Through the scheme, we hope that each of the riders will gain in confidence and learn new skills to assist them on their journey to reaching their highest aspirations.”
Aberystwyth University is the oldest provider of equine university education in the UK and one of very few universities where you can take your horse with you – whatever you study. Their superb livery facilities are within a purpose built teaching unit where there are stables available and the setting is a beautiful one; with mountains behind and a beach to the front. Students who don’t have a horse of their own can ride one of Aberystwyth’s well-schooled horses in lessons or hacks. As well as numerous riding opportunities, the University is also home to a vibrant student community which boasts over 200 social clubs and societies.
Julie McKeown, Head of Marketing at Aberystwyth University, said: “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with The Pony Club and we look forward to working closely with them sharing equine expertise for the benefit of young, up-and-coming riders. Here at Aberystwyth University, we’ve always been very proud of our equine heritage and nurturing the talent of the future is part of our core mission.”
Further details of how to apply for The Pony Club Talent Pathway will be announced on pcuk.org towards the end of the year, and on The Pony Club’s social media channels.
