6 minute read
In 2025, Swan Zone Pony Club — part of Pony Club Western Australia — took a bold and meaningful step forward by establishing a youth-led Junior Zone Committee designed to strengthen youth voice, leadership and peer mentorship.
The initiative was led by Woodridge Horse and Pony Club, with the vision of creating genuine opportunities for young members to contribute beyond the arena and develop meaningful leadership skills.
Swan Zone includes Woodridge Horse and Pony Club, Central Midlands Riding and Pony Club, Horsemen’s Pony Club, Swan Valley Horse and Pony Club, and Wanneroo Horse and Pony Club, bringing young members together across clubs to collaborate, represent their peers and develop leadership skills that extend well beyond the arena.
This is not a symbolic committee. It is a structured, values-driven initiative that places young people at the centre of decision-making, event planning and leadership development.
As Swan Zone President Morag Gemmell explains:
“As a Zone, we are very much committed to supporting young people to develop lifelong learning and leadership skills.”
She adds:
“As this is the first time the initiative has been implemented, it is very much a learning experience for all of us. I am genuinely looking forward to the possibilities and opportunities these young Pony Club members will gain through being trusted with responsibility, supported to lead and encouraged to have a voice.”
A Genuine Application Process
Positions on the Swan Zone Junior Committee were not simply handed out. Young members from across the Zone were invited to apply and demonstrate the values and qualities required to represent their peers.
Successful applicants were selected based on their ability to:
- Uphold Pony Club values
- Represent others, not just themselves
- Communicate respectfully
- Show leadership potential
- Demonstrate responsibility and integrity
The result is a diverse group of young leaders who are learning not only how to speak up, but how to listen, collaborate and lead with maturity.
Leadership Begins Off the Horse
In January 2026, the newly selected committee members attended a non-horse residential leadership weekend at Swan Valley Outdoor Centre.
The focus was teamwork, confidence and real-world leadership skills.
Over two days, the group:
- Worked through practical committee training
- Explored leadership styles and strengths
- Developed responses to real-life scenarios
- Identified what an “ideal junior committee member” looks like
- Built an action plan for their first competition event
The weekend laid the foundation for what would become the Swan Zone Junior Committee Toolkit — Committee of 2026.
As Morag shared:
“The scenarios included were developed by the young people, their responses reflect their own thinking, and the tools were selected by them as solutions they felt were appropriate.”
This is youth leadership in action – young people developing their own standards and solutions.
For many of the junior members, the camp was a highlight.
Elaria Atheis, 13, from Horsemen’s Pony Club said:
“I love being on the junior committee and the camp was awesome… I’m so excited to help run an event.”
Molly Hill, 14, from Wanneroo Horse and Pony Club reflected:
“The team-building exercises really helped us learn to work together.”
Kaleesi Page, 13, added:
“The weekend was lots of fun and I got to make some new friends along the way because we had to use our minds and trust each other.”
A Toolkit Built by Young People, For Young People
The Swan Zone Junior Committee Toolkit is more than a handbook. It is a structured leadership framework grounded in Pony Club values and aligned with the Pony Club Australia Member Protection Policy.
It includes:
- Clear expectations and a code of conduct
- Positive digital citizenship guidelines
- Defined committee roles that recognise different strengths
- Scenario training for managing challenging situations safely
- Practical planning tools for meetings and competitions
The committee uses “committee signs” to help young people understand their natural leadership style, reinforcing that no style is better than another. Balance builds strong teams. Sometimes you lead. Sometimes you support. Sometimes you listen. That is teamwork.
The scenario training is particularly powerful. Junior Committee members worked through situations such as managing an angry parent, witnessing unsafe treatment of a pony, addressing gossip, and responding to inappropriate online behaviour.
The message is clear: Junior leaders are not expected to manage conflict alone. Their role is to stay respectful, keep themselves safe and seek adult support when needed.
Real Event Planning Skills
The committee is already putting these skills into practice.
The group is currently planning a small event on 11 April and is involved in every aspect, from administration and scheduling to liaising with judges and organising logistics. The committee meets fortnightly and works in sub-groups across three focus areas: showjumping, dressage and administration.
Later in the year, they will evaluate their competitions, reflect on what worked well and what could be improved, and then move into planning the Zone’s end-of-year camp, consulting with members at their individual Pony Clubs and feeding that information back to the Swan Zone Junior Committee.
This is hands-on leadership development. Not theory. Real responsibility.
Chloe Bright from Wanneroo Horse and Pony Club shared:
“It has given me the chance to find out how the club is run, get to know our community and the work involved to put together equestrian events.”
Sophi Davis, 14, from Swan Valley Horse and Pony Club said:
“I am enjoying being on the committee and learning to work as a team… I am excited about our upcoming event and proud to be involved with this.”
Peer Mentorship in Action
One of the most inspiring aspects of the Swan Zone initiative is the way experienced members are stepping into peer mentor roles.
Chenin Hislop from Woodridge Horse and Pony Club reflected:
“Being involved in organising, planning and supporting others has taught me far more about leadership, communication and management… I’ve been able to see real, positive change happen because young members were given a voice.”
She believes this is what Pony Club is truly about:
“Building the future of the sport through its young people.”
Similarly, Sadie Gemmell shared:
“Speaking up in meetings and taking on responsibility wasn’t always easy. But it built my confidence in ways I didn’t expect.”
She now values the importance of listening:
“One of the most important things I’ve learned is how powerful it is to truly listen to and validate every young person’s opinion.”
A Safe and Inclusive Environment
The Swan Zone Junior Committee is built on the belief that:
- Young people should feel heard and valued
- Quiet voices matter as much as confident ones
- Mistakes are part of learning
- Online behaviour is held to the same standards as face-to-face conduct
- Leadership looks different for everyone
As Skye Boshetti, 14, from Swan Valley Horse and Pony Club put it:
“I love how we can share ideas without judgement, and then put it all into one big idea together.”
Amelia Speed, 16, from Horsemen’s Pony Club reflected on the camp experience:
“Going on camp was a great way for our committee to get to know each other and learn to work as a team… with logic, heart, confidence and trust.”
Together, their words capture what the Swan Zone Junior Committee is building – a culture where young people feel safe to contribute, collaborate and lead.
The toolkit closes with a powerful statement:
“We are the future leaders and educators. Our voices, views, and ideas matter. Together, we can make a difference today.”
Looking Ahead
The committee’s first major goal is to host their own competition event, putting their planning and leadership skills into practice.
But the broader impact is already clear.
Swan Zone, as part of Pony Club Western Australia, is demonstrating that meaningful youth engagement:
- Builds confidence
- Strengthens welfare awareness
- Improves digital citizenship
- Develops future coaches, committee members and administrators
- Creates a culture of shared responsibility
This is more than a committee. It is an investment in the future of Pony Club – and the young people who will one day lead it.
Download the Swan Zone Junior Committee Toolkit and explore how young people are helping shape the future of Pony Club.
