International Events

Pony Club Australia is part of an international competition circuit that allows Australian Riders to represent Australia at International Events. These events include the InterPacific Exchange (Showjumping), International Mounted Games (Prince Philip Mounted Games), International Tetrathlon Exchange (Tetrathlon) and the International Quiz (Quiz).

Team members are required to:

  • Act as ambassadors for Pony Club and Australia
  • Agree to abide by the Code of Conduct and Member Protection Policy
  • Cheerfully participate in all activities pre-departure and on tour
  • Provide details to Pony Club Australia and the team Coach and Manager promptly when requested, such as biographical information, medical certificate, photos and uniform sizes
  • Follow instructions from the team Coach and Manager at all times
  • Refrain from smoking or drinking alcohol whilst on tour

Information on upcoming International Opportunities and how to apply is advertised through the Pony Club Post as information becomes available from PCA.

Team Coach and Manager

It is a big responsibility and privilege to accompany a PCA team as a Team Manager or Coach. Responsibilities commence from the date of your appointment and conclude some time after your return, the Coach and Manager roles are awarded to Pony Club members with the requisite experience, personal attributes and skills. PCA is committed to selection based on merit, and to succession planning in these national leadership roles. A person cannot fulfil an international team role more than 3 times. Applications from across Australia are encouraged.

The Coach and Manager work as a team, to ensure that the riders/competitors have the best, safest and most successful experience possible, whilst upholding the impeccable reputation of Pony Club Australia.

Coach Manager Duties

Coaches and Team Managers wishing to attend these events apply through Pony Club Australia, all applications must be endorsed by Pony Club WA prior to submission.

Inter Pacific Exchange

Applications Now Open – 2023 Inter-Pacific Exchange

Requirements 

Each participant must:

  • Be a current financial member of Pony Club WA
  • Be 17 to 25 years of age as of January 1,2023
  • Must hold a full B Certificate or higher by close of entries (1st August 2022)
  • Demonstrated acceptable level of behaviour, citizenship and horsemastership.
  • Attendance at a minimum of three rallies in accordance to the Working Rally Document

Application link

 

About

The idea of an Interpacific Pony Club Exchange originated from a visit in 1960 of Victorian and New South Wales pony Club members to the Pebble Beach Pony Club in California.

This first “exchange” was such a success that the Pony Club Association of Victoria issued an invitation to the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and all Australian States, to participate in an “exchange” in Victoria in 1961. The USA was always a member of this exchange until their last attendance in 1975. They re-joined the Interpacific Exchange Rally in 1999, when they were hosts.

During this visit the first Interpacific Committee was formed. It was agreed that exchanges should take place every second year.

The Exchange consists of a minimum of two weeks, and a maximum of three weeks during which the participants will tour the host country, visiting various areas and various Pony Clubs. The teams also participate in three competitions and spend many hours in training for the competitions.

One competition is the Horse Trials, a three-phase combined event, consisting of Dressage, Cross Country Jumping and Show Jumping. The teams for this event are scrambled, that is teams are made up of one member from each country. They compete for the “Kangaroo Trophy”.

Another competition is a Teams Show Jumping Event for the “Goodwill Trophy”. The teams from each country compete against each other under Nations Cup Rules.

A third competition is held which is selected by the host country. Events which have been held have included a polocrosse competition, a Tetrathlon and a ride and drive event.

The purpose of this Exchange is summed up in the words of one of the Exchange Founders from the USA.

“The purpose of these Exchanges is to enable children of different countries, bonded together by their common interest, to visit each other, to live, play and work together with the idea of becoming friends, to learn about each other’s countries and customs and exchange ideas especially about horses and the various methods of riding, training and caring for them.”

At present the Interpacific Exchange Rally is open to teams of Pony Club riders aged 17 to 21 years (inclusive) representing the countries of Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, the United States of America and New Zealand. Essentially it is a youth exchange scheme aimed at furthering cordial relationships between the youth of the competing countries. A team usually consists of six riders.

The minimum pre-requisite for selection is the B Efficiency Certificate with proven experience in eventing and show jumping. Nominees for selection will need to have experience on a variety of mounts at top Pony Club level in both fields. The competition, on strange horses, is strong and the selected riders need to be the best available in their field.

Selection

Selection to represent Australia in the Interpacific is the ultimate honour available to Pony Club members. Nominees therefore should display additional talents to their proven horsemanship.

They should be enthusiastic and operative at club level to earn nomination. They will have a proven record of regular attendance at Pony Club Working Rallies.

As representatives of Australian youth, courtesy, deportment and grooming are important.

They will need to be a good ambassador for their State and Country and should be able to speak on behalf of the team (sometimes at short notice).

They should have current knowledge of Pony Club aims and objects and what Pony Club is all about. Candidates should also be expected to have a reasonable knowledge of their own State and Australia, and of the country hosting the Interpacific Exchange Rally.

Riders must have their B certificate and can be aged up to and including 25 years as of the 1st January.

The State Coaching Panel select the WA team member through either the submission of written applications, a ridden selection day or both.

Int. Mounted Games

About

In 1988 Australia was invited to compete in the International Mounted Games competition, which had been contested in previous years by Great Britain, Canada and the United States of America.

The International Mounted Games competition was held in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time in 1994, with the Pony Club Association of Western Australia Inc. hosting the visiting teams for three weeks. The competition was held at Beverley on 27 August 1994, as part of the Beverley Agricultural Show.

With seven States and Territories wishing to nominate riders for the International Teams, and only five riders comprising a team, a roster system has been put in place by the PCA Board. Two States annually are not eligible to nominate a representative in the Australian Team.

Selection

Applicants must demonstrate to the Selection Panel their ability to ride their own and other ponies through either the submission of written applications, a ridden selection day or both.

Must be able to demonstrate to the Selection Panel that they have met the necessary standards of discipline, behaviour, presentation, ambassadorial skills, team spirit and general conduct during their membership of Pony Club.

The successful Candidate and a reserve will be advised of their selection at the conclusion of the weekend.

International Mounted Games Roster 2017 onwards

Int. Tetrathlon Exchange

About

International Tetrathlon Exchange is held every second year and has been hosted by UK/Ireland, US, and Australia

Tetrathlon is comprised of Riding, Running, Swimming and Shooting, with slight differences in each country. For example, although most countries shoot with air pistols.

The Exchange is open to members aged between 16 and 24 years and consists of both competition and tour activities over a period of 2-3 weeks.

Pony Club Australia fields a team of 4 boys and a team of 4 girls.

2020 Tetrathlon – International Exchange

UK | 24th July – 11th August 2020

Selection

A Selection Panel makes recommendations to PCA based on performance and suitability to represent Australia.

International Tetrathlon Selection Criteria

Applications

Apply online HERE

Email Reference and Rally Qualification to development@ponyclubwa.asn.au prior to closing date.

Applications close 5pm, 27th January.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Int. Quiz

The Annual Quiz Competition is held in Canada and the USA. This event is held every three years at the US Pony Club Festival with all disciplines and States coming together to compete over the week.

In Pony Club Quiz, members compete as teams, without horses or ponies. Quiz tests knowledge, not skills. The Quiz has three parts: a written test, which each competitor does independently; a visual test where competitors identify strange… obscure… or unusual objects of a horsy nature by sight, again individually; and an oral test which may be done either individually or as a team (each team gets to confer before answering). Each individual’s scores go toward his/her team’s total.

Pony Club Australia Inc. was invited to send a team of four quiz competitors aged 16 years and under 26 years for the first time in 2014.

Selection

Int. Polocrosse

In 2018 Pony Club Australia has been invited for the first time to enter a team to compete in Polocrosse in the UK. PCA is seeking nominations for a junior team (ages 15 and under) and a senior team ( ages 16 to 21.)

Selection 

Use the 2018 PCA – Polocrosse UK Nomination Form to nominate directly with PCA.

Tri-Nations Cup

About

PCA invite a team of 4 from France and China to compete at the PCA Nationals in a Tri-Nations competition.

Selection

Members apply directly to PCA for Team Selection.

Must have attained their B certificate.

China

About

PCA organises a number of cultural tours to China each year. The tours last between 7-10 days, may include billeting with local families and friendly local competitions.

PCA regularly seeks experienced coaches interested in visiting China in a variety of roles including coaching riders based at a single centre for 3 months, coach instruction and assessment at a range of centres over 3-4 weeks.

Selection

Members and coaches apply directly to PCA.