Mounted Games| The Pony Club UK

Mounted Games

 

 

What is Mounted Games?

Mounted Games is a team sport that combines a love of ponies and friends with various races. Teams of four or five riders and ponies take part in a series of exciting and exhilarating races that involve a mix of turns, handovers, skill, vaulting and galloping against other teams.

 

Often run on grass or all-weather surfaces, Mounted Games is an adaptation of Gymkhana and is great fun for you, your pony and your team. You can develop skills such as accuracy, agility, concentration, speed, hand to eye coordination, team work and sportsmanship whilst having lots of fun playing some thrilling games.

How Do I Get Involved?

There is no need to purchase expensive equipment. When you are riding at home, you can use everyday objects to practice different techniques that you need for the races. For example, you can set up five buckets and practise bending in and out of them.

You can have lessons with a trainer who can teach you and your pony how to perfect your skills.
Lessons that you have at rallies and friendlies can also give you the opportunity to improve your riding and pony’s games training.

Every Area also has a Mounted Games Area Coordinator who is a great contact to reach out to if you are wanting to get started in Mounted Games and don’t know how to.

How Do I Progress Further?

There are many opportunities for you to take part in Mounted Games. You can join a team with your Branch or Centre and compete at local friendly competitions. For the more competitive Members, there are qualifying competitions which start around April time, these are called Area Competitions.

For the more advanced teams, there is also the opportunity to take part in Windsor representing their country, or qualify for the Prince Phillip Cup held at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). For older Members, there is also the chance to be nominated for the Great British team to take part in the International Mounted Games Exchange. The fun never stops!

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Key Competitions & Events

Mounted Games Championships 

The Mounted Games Championships form part of The Pony Club Championships and feature some of the most exciting action of any Pony Club sport! Teams battle it out across multiple days in Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Pairs classes – and with the final two qualifying spots for the Prince Philip Cup on the line for the seniors, there’s a lot at stake!

Prince Philip Cup – Horse of the Year Show

First held at Horse of the Year Show in 1957, the Prince Philip Cup is a world-famous Mounted Games competition featuring fast-paced action, as six Pony Club Branches and Centres compete for the coveted trophy. The four winning Senior Teams from Zones, and the winners and runners up from Championships qualify, making it one of the most hotly-contested events in The Pony Club calendar. Competing in fronts of thousands of spectators at Horse Of the Year Show (HOYS) is an experience not to be forgotten!

Royal Windsor Horse Show

Held annually at Royal Windsor Horse Show (RWHS), the DAKS Home International Mounted Games Championships is an invitational competition with Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland competing for the prestigious title. DCs can nominate members who hold their C test or above for their country’s Trials. Performance at each Trial determines the country’s Team who will compete at RWHS.
The opportunity to compete at a world-famous event like Royal Windsor will be one of the highlights of a Pony Club member’s career!

International Exchange

The Mounted Games International Exchange provides Pony Club members from across the world the chance to visit other countries and take part in cultural experiences, social activities and International Mounted Games competitions.

The host Nation rotates each year. In 2023, Teams travelled to Australia for the exchange, and in 2024 will be travelling to Canada.

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External and Friendly competitions

In accordance with Rule 21 in the Mounted Games rulebook, all Branch/Centre Friendly and External competitions must be publicised on the Pony Club website. To register your event, please use the links below. Organisers are strongly encouraged to use entry systems that link to their Branch and Area calendars.

Friendly competitions

Branches and Centres hosting friendly Mounted Games competitions are invited to list their fixtures on the Pony Club website. Please note, only competitions organised by Branches/Centres where the proceeds of entries go to the organising Branch/Centre are to be listed. Private companies are not to be included. The document below will be updated every two weeks.

External competitions

External competitions refer to shows such as Bath & West, Three Counties & Bramham Horse Trials where Mounted Games have been invited to have a display. We may be able to provide additional material and merchandise to assist with your Pony Club presence. It is assumed that competing Teams will be invited – if you require Teams to sign up, please include a link to the sign up page in the description box.

Contacts

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Annabel Stanley

Sports Officer
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Ian Mariner

Mounted Games Chairman (Volunteer)

Area Coordinator Contacts

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Elaine Barker

Area 4 Coordinator
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Clare Dawson

Area 5 Coordinator
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Caroline Chadwick

Area 7 Coordinator
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Simon Duddy

Area 8 Coordinator
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Alison Davies

Area 10 Coordinator
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Sheila Barbour

Area 11 Coordinator
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Nicola Way

Area 14 Coordinator
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Biffy Booth

Area 17 Coordinator
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Dennis Whitney

Area 18 Coordinator
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May Wylie

Area 19 Coordinator