By Erin McGavin, National Operations Manager
When we talk about developing future athletes, it is easy to focus on the destination. The discipline. The results. The championships. The pathway to elite sport.
But long before a young rider steps into a high-performance arena, they need something more important: a strong foundation.
This is where Pony Club plays such an important role.
At Pony Club, young people don’t just learn how to ride. They learn how to communicate, adapt, regulate their emotions, work with others, solve problems and keep trying when things don’t go to plan.
Because horses don’t respond to what we say we are feeling. They respond to what we bring.
A nervous, tense or frustrated rider often needs to learn to soften themselves before they can ask the same of their horse. Riders learn to recognise their own energy, body language and behaviour, and adjust it to help their horse feel safe and confident.
In many ways, that is a powerful lesson in empathy, self-control and emotional intelligence.
Pony Club also develops athletes through community. Friendships, teamwork, shared experiences and the simple joy of spending time together all matter. Sport is not just about developing physical skills. It is also about developing confidence, connection and belonging.
And then there is the all-rounder experience.
One weekend, a rider might be practising dressage. The next, they might be jumping, playing mounted games, riding bareback, learning horsemanship or simply having a laugh with friends.
That variety is more valuable than we might realise.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine, in an International Olympic Committee consensus statement on youth athlete development, recommends a holistic approach that recognises young athletes as developing people — not just developing performers. It encourages children to experience a variety of structured and unstructured activities, develop a wide range of athletic and social skills, and prioritise enjoyment and long-term participation.
Pony Club gives young riders something incredibly valuable: a broad base before they narrow their focus.
They learn to become horse people before simply becoming specialists. They develop balance before precision, confidence before pressure and enjoyment before expectation.
As they grow older, they may choose to focus on dressage, eventing, showjumping or another discipline. But by then, they have a foundation to build from.
They understand different ways of riding. They have experienced different challenges. They have learnt how to manage nerves, setbacks and success. They know that horses are individuals and that sometimes the answer is not to push harder, but to listen better.
And perhaps Australian equestrian sport gives us some of the best proof that there is no rush to have it all figured out. From Laurie Lever making his Olympic debut at 60, to the extraordinary international careers of Pony Club alumni Mary Hanna and Andrew Hoy, our sport reminds us that excellence can take time and that a strong, broad foundation can stay with an athlete for a lifetime.
That is one of the great advantages of equestrian sport. We don’t need to rush young people towards being the finished product. We can give them time to grow, explore, make mistakes, build confidence and discover where their strengths and passions lie.
Perhaps that is the real strength of Pony Club in future athlete development.
We are giving young people time to explore.
Time to play. Time to learn. Time to make friends. Time to fall off, get back on and try again.
And in doing so, we are developing more than riders.
We are developing resilient, adaptable, emotionally intelligent young people with the foundations to become whatever kind of athlete they choose to be.
Because the road to elite performance doesn’t always begin with specialisation. Sometimes, it begins with a Pony Club rally, a group of friends, a horse and the freedom to have a go.
- Reference: Bergeron, M.F. et al. (2015). International Olympic Committee consensus statement on youth athletic development. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(13), 843–851.
