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 ran 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 improving accuracy, agility, concentration, speed, hand to eye coordination, team work and sportsmanship whilst having lots of fun playing some imaginative 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 practice 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. A list of these can be found by clicking here.

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 practice 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. A list of these can be found by clicking here.

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 or qualify for the Prince Phillip Cup held at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). 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. Teams go through a series of Area Competitions and Zone Finals to 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 which sees Pony Club members from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland competing for the prestigious title.

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 to visit other countries with their sport and take part in Competition, Cultural experiences and social activities.

Each year the Pony Club International Alliance (PCIA) meet to discuss the Exchange and select the country who will host for the year- this means it could be an in bound (visiting our country) or an Outbound (visiting other countries) exchange dependent on the agreement of the meeting.

 

Novice Games and Friendlies

 

Contacts

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Annabel Stanley

Sports Officer

Ian Mariner

Mounted Games Chairman (Volunteer)

Area Coordinator Contacts

Elaine Barker

Area 4 Coordinator

Clare Dawson

Area 5 Coordinator

Caroline Chadwick

Area 7 Coordinator

Simon Duddy

Area 8 Coordinator

Alison Davies

Area 10 Coordinator

Shelia Barbour

Area 11 Coordinator

Nicola Way

Area 14 Coordinator

Biffy Booth

Area 17 Coordinator

Dennis Whitney

Area 18 Coordinator

May Wylie

Area 19 Coordinator