Pony Club comes to Wheatland County

Times Reporter    

 

Owning a pony, or at least getting to be around them often, is almost every little girls dream. There is a new club coming to Strathmore that will see that dream come true for some. The Canadian Pony Club is a worldwide horse organization for people ages 6 to 21. There are over 100,000 members worldwide and 3,500 members in Canada. 

The Wheatland Pony Club is a branch of the Canadian Pony Club and for now is located on the corner of Hwy 564 and RR 262, at Wheatland Equestrian Centre. 

Cailin Kopetski moved to the area about four years ago. She is a Level 2 Equine Canada Certified Coach and has been involved with Pony Club at a regional and national level in the past. After talking to a few parents and realizing there was the need and interest, Kopetski decided to bring the Pony Club to the area. 

“Pony Club is English so they’re (club members) doing dressage, stadium jumping, and cross country jumping and as well Pony Club incorporates Tetrathlon which is riding, jumping, shooting and swimming,” said Kopetski.

“The motto of Pony Club is loyalty, character and sportsmanship so we’re teaching that in all aspects of riding and horse related activities. They will become well-rounded in horsemanship, horse mastership, all aspects of stable management which some of the topics would be footing, shoeing, feeding, grooming, tack, saddlery.

“It’s not mandatory that kids have their own horses. There’s lots of activities and everything they can do without a horse, I mean ultimately they all end up wanting to have one and ride.”

At the beginning of February Barn Lessons began which is theory and knowledge based and held once a week. Kopetski eventually plans to offer riding lessons.  There are a few lesson horses available for kids to learn to ride, and off horse kids could groom at rallies and different competitions. They could also go to ‘Quiz,’ which is a regional competition for a knowledge-based game.  

The cost is the same for everyone, whether you have your own horse or not. The full price of the membership, which is $220 per year, is also eligible for child tax credits for all kids under the age of 16. 

Tthe stable management lessons begin on Feb. 6 and run until April 10.  The regional Quiz competition is held in March. 

“Then everything kind of goes from there we’ll figure out riding lessons and whatnot after that,” said Kopetski. 

To find out more about the Canadian Pony Club go to www.canadianponyclub.org. Kopetski is still looking for volunteers to lend a hand. Anyone interested can give her a call at 403-669-9303.