The newsletter can also be downloaded for printing as an Acrobat Reader PDF document (234 KB).

The Pony Express

Newsletter for the Canadian Pony Club
Western Ontario Region

Editor for this issue: Linda Agnew, 4152 Millcroft Park Dr., Burlington, Ontario L7M 3V1
Telephone: (905) 335-8859; Email: agnew@sympatico.ca

Volume 101 Number 2 (December 2002)

Season's Greetings to WOR,

As I write this, Christmas Eve is a week away – it won't be long before the new year is upon us and it becomes time to plan our Pony Club adventures for another year. To help in the process, this newsletter includes a copy of the WOR Contact List which we updated at the AGM in November. I hope there are no errors but I'm sure there may be some changes and/or additions so please keep in touch. I have also put together a temporary calendar – once I am fully initiated in the roles, responsibilities and “stuff” of Regional Chair, we can put together one with much greater detail.

I want to thank everyone who has expressed support for my new position with the Region. I'm delighted with the leadership group we have (see below) and hope that the few vacancies (A/B/C Rally; Education; Communications) can be filled as soon as possible. As you can see, the team approach to chairing disciplines seems to be catching on. Please give consideration to helping with a discipline – find a partner – give it a try!

And to all our members – I am your new Regional Chair. I have met many of you over the years since Abby joined in 1996 and I anticipate being a part of your Pony Club experience in the future. I can't think of a better way to spend time and energy than with young people and their equine friends. I look forward to all our upcoming activities and to meeting as many of you as I can. I encourage you to share your ideas and energy – Pony Club is about you – we can only be as good as your participation let's us be.

Speaking of participation – Congratulations to Guelph Pony Club who earned 110.65 points and the Regional High Point Trophy for 2002. They were followed by High County in 2nd with 88.75 points; London – 3rd with 85.76 points; Mill Ridge – 4th, 59.8 points and Grand River – 5th, 59.5 points.

I have included a small gift in this newsletter which you may wish to print for future reference (see Trials and Tribulations). I found it when I went to England for a brief visit last March. It was enlightening to know just how truly international our experiences can be (although this particular view is somewhat one-sided).

Have a wonderful holiday season –
…..Let the stockings be hung by the stall doors with care –

In hopes that a carrot or two will be there….

Catherine Miller, WOR Chair

Western Ontario Region Slate of Officers for 2003
CHAIRCatherine Miller, London
VICE CHAIR Ralph Rainford, Esquesing
FINANCIAL CHAIR Tom Harris, Niagara
SECRETARYLani Harris, Niagara
SENIOR TESTING(C2 and above) Helen Baird, Guelph; Pam Bechard, Albion
JUNIOR TESTING (D through C1) Jackie Field, Caledon
EDUCATION VACANT
A/B/C RALLY VACANT
D RALLY Filomena Humphries, Albion; Diana Dunn, Caledon
PPG Alison Rainford, Esquesing
TETRATHLON George Daunt, Guelph; Colin Peace, Guelph
DRESSAGE Darlene Haines, High County; Sue Eagleson, London
SHOW JUMPING Pam Bechard, Albion; Chris Anderson, Albion
MEMBERSHIP Crawford Dales
COMMUNICATIONS VACANT
O.E.F. Anne Peace, Guelph
QUIZ Cynthia Cowper, Guelph
NATIONAL DIRECTOR Ralph Rainford, Esquesing
2003 Tentative Calendar of Events
Jan. 19 11a.m.
1p.m.		 Quiz Workshop
DC/ADC Workshop (possible Safety Presentation) OVC-Rm. 1715
Feb. 7-9  National Disciplines Conference, Winnipeg
Feb. 16 1p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
(Discipline Meetings: A/B/C Rally; Tetrathlon?; PPG?)
Mar.13-16  Equi-Fest, London
Mar. 23 1p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
Discipline Meetings: Dressage?; Show Jumping? D Rally?
April 27 1p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
May 3   Regional Quiz, Fergus
May 21 7p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
May 24-25   Checkmate Spring Event
(Jump Judge volunteers needed)
June 18 7p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
June 28-29 (TBC)  Regional Tetrathlon
July 5  Regional PPG, Fergus
July 23 7p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
Aug. 1-3 (TBC)  Regional A//B/C Rally, Checkmate
Aug. 4-20  International PPG Exchange (Aug 5-8 for WOR)
Aug. 20 (TBC)   Regional Meeting
Sept. 6-7   Checkmate Fall Event
(Jump Judge volunteers needed)
Sept. 21 7p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
Oct. 19 7p.m. Regional Meeting, OVC Rm. 1715
Trials and Tribulations

We've driven for miles to the pony club trials
With their usual ghastly frustrations
And, likely as not, it will all be for what?
Just two more e-liminations.

When our daughter went first, we both feared the worst –
And how justified were all our fears –
For, just as I reckoned, she stopped at the second
And promptly dissolved into tears.

She baulked at the third and used a rude word,
Which was new to the judge (so he said),
And then at the fourth, when the pony took off,
She fell in the ditch on her head.

She got on again and grinned through the pain,
As she flew after five, six and seven,
But, turning too late, she never saw eight
And galloped straight on to eleven.

All over the ground the ponies rushed round
Under children of varying abilities.
And the standard of food? – Well, it's frankly, not good –
On a par with the toilet facilities.*

“Get on with it child!” shouts a father quite wild
And a mother comes galloping through.
As they run round the course, their voices all hoarse,
You would think they had entered it too.

“Now son, are you ready? Then just take it steady,
You're next to go after the grey.”
Oh! I say, what hard luck! Just a kick and a buck
And he's off, but in quite the wrong way.

He's quick to remount and the fall doesn't count,
He's away – and the family cheers.
But, alas, at the double he got into trouble
And the only hope now is the pairs.

When they set off again it had started to rain
And they came back all covered in mud.
They'd got caught together and broken a leather
And a fetlock was streaming with blood.

When you think of the sweat (and we're not back home yet)
And the tears and the rage and the sorrow,**
Though it's meant to be fun, I, for one, am quite done
And, my God! There's another tomorrow!

Taken from a placemat found in the dining room of Mallard Grange Bed and Breakfast, near Ripon, Yorkshire– March, 2002

*Thank goodness – we do this rather better in Western Ontario Region!

**Sometimes, things don't work out quite as we planned, but since we keep at it year after year, I think we can say that all in all, Pony Club is also fun and rewarding.
High Profile Equestrian Clinic Series 2002-2003 at Card Card welcomes the equestrian community to it's beautiful facility in North York, to benefit from the expertise of these high profile clinicians. This is a great opportunity to upgrade your coaching hours or get a head start on those spring goals with your horse.

Pony Club Special: Riders: $125.00-Register before Jan. 15th and get a free stall rental! (regular $25) PC Auditors: $25.00 ( regular $30)

Eventing Clinic
with Ian Roberts

February 2, 2003

CEF Level III Coach

1995 OEF Rider & Coach of the Year 		Dressage Clinic
with Tom Dvorak

February 16, 2003

International Dressage Competitor

96 Olympics, 98 World Cup 		Dressage Clinic
with Nancy MacLachlan

March 9, 2003

International Dressage Competitor

02 World Championships, 01 World Cup,
02 Champions of Americas-Gold 		Dressage Clinic
with Randy Roy

April 13, 2003

Renowned Trillium & A Circuit Hunter Coach
Holds both A.H.S.A & C.E.F judge's cards and course designing accreditation 		Jumper Clinic
with Jay Hayes

April 27, 2003

International Show Jumping Team, 2 Olympics, 2 World Championships

Just for Fun

Here are a few brain teasers to test your horse knowledge. You can find the answers below, but don't peek till you've had a try!

Click HERE for the answers...
Just for Fun - Answer Key
True or False? 1) T; 2) F; 3) F; 4) F; 5) T; 6) T; 7) T; 8) F.
Are you ready to ride? 1. c; 2. a; 3. b; 4. b.