Introduction

A rally is the Pony Club equivalent of a horse show and is an opportunity for Pony Clubbers to compete on a team in one of the Pony Club disciplines. Rallies are intended to be fair and friendly competitions organized at both the regional and national levels. Mounted rally competitions are held in dressage, show jumping, combined training, tetrathlon, games, and polocrosse. In the winter, an unmounted rally -- called Knowdown -- is held, which is an oral test of equine knowledge.

Rallies have specific starting and ending times. All participants are expected to be on the grounds during the entire rally and must stay through the closing awards ceremony. Rallies differ from horse shows in that there are no post entries, and each rider competes in all phases of the rally barring injury to horse or rider.

Rally teams are generally made up of 3 or 4 riders and a non-riding horse manager. Each team must have an official adult chaperone. At rallies, teams compete and earn final placement ribbons in horse management and in the combined phases or riding and horse management. A written test is also scored at regional rallies. The written test scores are added to both the horse management and final combined scores. The horse management phase of each rally evaluates the competitor's knowledge of sound, practical horse care. The horse management score is based on the team's combined written test scores, the formal inspection scores, the team's required equipment score, and scores for additional "spot" inspections carried out during competition. For more information on horse management rules and procedures, refer to the most current edition of the Rules and Regulations for USPC Rallies.

Parental Responsibilities at Rallies

*** ONCE A RALLY BEGINS, PARENTS MAY NOT ASSIST ANY PONY CLUBBER IN ANY WAY!!! ***

Teams will be penalized if there is any unauthorized assistance given. Parents should try to relax and enjoy having only the responsibility of getting the Pony Clubber to the rally on time and volunteering to help.

Parents are responsible for getting their child to the rally at a time predetermined by the rally team. They should assist their child in collecting the items that they have agreed to bring for their own personal use and those items to be shared by the team. Each parent is expected to volunteer at the rally in some capacity. Every rally is run by volunteers, and the rally organizer counts on the clubs to provide volunteer help. Parents will be contacted by the DRHPC rally organizer to help at the rally. Parents are usually expected to arrange for their own overnight accommodations. Overnight accommodations for official team chaperones are usually paid by the team members. Although every parent is not designated an official team chaperone, the presence and assistance of all parents is needed. Although we do not expect ALL parents to attend EVERY rally, parental involvement is needed as often as possible.

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Regional Rally Teams

A rally team consists of three or four riding members and a non-riding horse manager whose job is to assist in caring for riders and ponies. (In some disciplines, there is no horse manager and the number of riders may vary). One member of the team acts as the Captain. Generally, the lowest riding score is dropped, and the best three scores of each riding phase are added together for the team total.

It is DRHPC's policy to form teams in an equitable distribution of abilities. In other words, we do not "stack" our teams, placing the most competent members on one team to increase the odds of winning. If the rally is a mixed-rating rally, teams will be composed of members of different levels, thereby allowing the older, more experienced members an opportunity to help and encourage the younger, less experienced riders. This exemplifies the Pony Club ideal of "giving back" to someone else what you have gained as a member. In the case of a single-rating rally, every attempt will be made to have an equitable mix of experience and ability on each team. Occasionally, there are not enough DRHPC members participating to form a full team. When this happens, "scramble teams" are formed with extra Pony Clubbers from two or more clubs.

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Attitude

DRHPC expects all members to demonstrate positive and cheerful attitudes at every activity, particularly rallies. Team members are expected to work together with an attitude of respect, cooperation, and mutual encouragement.

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National Championships

Regional rallies are qualifying competitions for National Championships. Team selections for national rallies are based on individual scores at regional rallies. Every three years, the USPC National Championships and Festival of Friends are held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Festival may be attended with or without a horse and includes opportunities to participate in clinics and seminars. The USPC Championships include teams from throughout the United States. In the intervening years, the USPC holds separate Championships for the East and West. Fortunately for us, Championships East are usually held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia.

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Rally Commitment

Rally dates are announced far in advance of the actual event, and all paperwork must be completed and submitted to the DRHPC Rally Coordinator in order to be sent to the rally host. ONCE A PONY CLUBBER HAS COMMITTED TO A RALLY TEAM, HE/SHE IS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE. If a bona fide emergency arises (e.g. lame horse, sick child, death in the family), we will attempt to substitute another participant and will refund any fees paid only if DRHPC is not charge for the entry. Whenever a team member is not available and a team has to ride "short," it leaves the team at a scoring disadvantage.

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Rally Fees and Paperwork

Rally teams are charged entry fees by the host organization to cover costs of the rally. Rallies are not fundraisers, so entry fees are kept as low as possible. DRHPC will cover all or part of the rally fee for the first rally a member attends during the year. DRHPC pays fees for non-riding horse managers. The lodging bill for all chaperones and Pony Clubbers is totaled and divided equally among the number of participants. Male and female Pony Clubbers are housed separately. Rally participants must remember to bring money for meals and incidental expenses. Rally participants must be prepared to reimburse chaperones for ice, drinks, and meals before returning home from the rally.

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The Team Captain

The team captain is selected by the DC and/or Rally Coordinator and is chosen according to age, experience, rating, and attitude. The horse manager may also serve as Captain. The job of the Captain is to:

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The Horse Manager

The Horse Manager is NOT a groom or "slave," and team members are expected to help the Horse Manager whenever possible. Riders are ultimately responsible for their own equipment and pony care. The job of the Horse Manager is to:

Horse Managers may also qualify for horse manager positions on national championship teams. This is determined by the horse management score at the regional qualifying rally.

All members of DRHPC should plan to serve as a horse manager occasionally.

DRHPC maintains team equipment tack trunks and saddle and bridle racks. These items are kept in the old beagle kennel building at Deep Run, along with club banners and other equipment. The Captain and Horse Manager should arrange to check the team trunks a week before the rally in order to have time to get replacement items if needed. The Equipment Chairperson stocks the trunks at the beginning of rally season, but the Captain and Horse Manager must double check the contents before leaving for rallies.

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Coaches

Rally rules are very specific about the involvement of coaches. When a coach is needed, DRHPC provides the coach. Individual coaches are not allowed at Pony Club rallies, and the team may be penalized for unauthorized assistance if unauthorized persons attempt to coach or otherwise assist participants.

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Attire (See USPC Horse Management Handbook , 1998, p. 29-30)

Attire at rallies must be neat, clean, and in good repair. Long hair reaching below the shoulder must always be neatly secured away from the competitor's eyes and identification number. Jewelry can be hazardous to the rider and is inappropriate at all times. Watches and emergency alert jewelry are permitted. A Pony Club pin must be worn for formal inspection and may be worn for riding unless specifically forbidden in the rules of the discipline. Pony Club pin, identification, and pinny must be worn at all times during the competition, even when unmounted. Proper headgear and footwear are required. Participants must make sure they are neatly turned out for the jog to show respect for the attending veterinarian, the officials, and the sport. DRHPC strongly encourages wearing khaki Bermuda shorts or long pants with collared polo shirts during rallies. (Horse management judges are often impressed with teams who coordinate shirt colors, etc.). Do not wear sleeveless shirts, tank tops, or tube tops -- sleeves are necessary for protection from sunburn and abrasions.

When riding, Pony Clubbers may wear either formal or correctly informal attire.

Formal attire :

Correctly informal attire :

NOTE: IT IS THE COAT WHICH DETERMINES WHETHER THE RIDER IS FORMAL OR INFORMAL, NOT THE TIE.

SHOW BOWS WITH METAL FASTENERS ARE NOT ALLOWED, AS METAL MAY CAUSE INJURY.

DURING EXTREME HEAT, JACKETS MAY BE WAIVED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ORGANIZERS. If jackets are excused, competitors must wear a plain-colored or white shirt with collar and sleeves. Short-sleeved, plain polo shirts are allowed. No tee shirts are permitted. Sleeveless shirts may NOT be worn.

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Sample Rally Schedule

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Dressage Rally

The Dressage Rally was historically the only rally that allowed all pony clubbers, regardless of age or rating, to compete together on teams. However, since we no longer have the use of a facility large enough to handle everyone, the dressage rally has been reduced (hopefully temporarily) in size to accommodate only riders rated D3 and above. A separate Dressage Rally for the D1 and D2 levels is planned.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED DRESSAGE RIDER TO ATTEND. Competitors are free to ride at the dressage level they believe is appropriate for their own abilities as well as the ability and experience of their horse. The competitor is judged on a specific set of dressage tests. Pony clubbers receive bonus points for riding more difficult tests, but it is also generally true that it is easier to get better scores by riding less demanding tests. D level riders are encouraged to start with simple dressage tests showing the rider's equitation skills and the rider's control of his mount. As the rider moves up the ratings levels, competitors are encouraged to choose tests where the amount of skill necessary to perform the dressage test also increases. The tests used at USPC dressage rallies have been developed either by the US Dressage Federation (USDF) or the USA Equestrian (formerly the American Horse Show Association).

Each pony clubber may choose to compete in a musical freestyle section of the rally by riding a kur and/or pas de deux (two riders) or quadrille. These are dressage rides choreographed to music with specific movements required. Riders who desire to qualify for national championships in dressage MUST participate in a pas de deux or kur. Riders who are C1 or above and 13 years old by the first of January of the current year and participate in a musical freestyle are eligible to qualify for national championships.

In preparation for the dressage rally, DRHPC holds at least 4 dressage clinics and/or fix-a-test opportunities with a dressage judge. These are valuable lessons, particularly for those who do not normally ride with dressage instructors.

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Combined Training (CT) Rally

CT rallies test the participants in horse management and the riding phases of dressage, cross, country, and stadium jumping.  All riding members of the team must participate in all three riding disciplines on the same horse.

The Virginia Region offers CT rallies at several different levels.  For D level riders, rallies are held according to rating levels (the D2 Rally and the D3 Rally).  For C level riders and up, rallies are organized by competition level (Pre-Novice, Novice, and Training Level).  To qualify for National Championships in CT at the Preliminary, Training, or Novice level, the Pony Clubber must be at least 13 years old by January 1 of the current year and rated C2 or above.

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Show Jumping (SJ) Rally

Show jumping is an exciting rally with riders and their mounts attempting to jump courses -- set in a ring -- with the fewest number of knock-downs, refusals, and run-outs.  The course is often very colorful with a wide variety of brightly painted jumps.  Bushes and other props are used to increase the level of difficulty.  These courses are considerably more technical and difficult than the stadium rounds at combined training events.  The jumping rounds are timed with an optimum time limit for preliminary rounds and the fastest speed determining the winner of the jump off.  The SJ rally is generally for C level riders and above.  Historically, strong D3s with previous rally experience and show jumping experience have been allowed to participate with permission of the DC.

The height of the jumps for the regional SJ rally are determined by the size of the mount, the skill of both rider and horse, and whether the rider is attempting to qualify for national championships.  To qualify for national championships in SJ, the rider must be 12 years old as of January 1, a C1 or above, and compete in the qualifying section of the SJ rally.

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Tetrathlon Rally

The Tetrathlon Rally provides Pony Clubbers with a challenging competition, requiring sound, practical horsemanship and general athletic ability.  Its objective is to encourage the all-round athlete to further an interest in riding, pistol shooting, swimming, and running.  Point systems are correlated with timed performances to produce an overall total after the four phases are completed.  This is the only Pony Club competition that is judged on an individual scoring basis.  There are three divisions:  Seniors -- 15 to 21 years of age; Juniors -- 12 to 14 years of age; and Novices -- 11 years of age and younger.

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Quiz

Regional Quiz (formerly Knowdown) Rally is a one-day unmounted rally.  It tests the Pony Clubbers knowledge of riding, horsemanship, and horse management.  Each team member must answer questions verbally and correctly to score points for the team.

The regional Quiz Rally is open to all Pony Clubbers and is the only rally that members can attend before being rated for the first time.

DRHPC prepares for Quiz Rally generally throughout the year as we hold instructional meetings, mounted and unmounted, camp, and rating prep sessions.  Specifically, the midwinter meetings held in January and February are especially helpful in preparing for Quiz.  We usually participate in a Mock Quiz before going to the regional rally.

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Games Rally

Pony Club games competitions were originated by Prince Phillip in Britain in the 1950's to give riders the opportunity to participate in fun competition on backyard ponies.  Games competitions are great places to have fun while improving riding and balancing skills.  All games are played as team relay races.  Both speed and precision riding enter equally into whether a team wins.  Ponies used for games may not exceed 14.2 hands.  Games that may be played include

:

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Polocrosse Rally

Polocrosse is the newest Pony Club sport, and the Virginia Region does not currently sponsor a regional rally.  However, rallying opportunities are available in other regions.  DRHPC has purchased polocrosse racquets and balls so that our members may begin to develop skills in this sport.

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