2022 PCA Annual Report
[…] complexity and time commitment required to gain accreditations. Michelle Newham, PCA’s Member Services Of ficer, drew on her grass roots Pony Club experience as a rider, parent and coach to develop these programs. The education material and assessment tools for the PCA Gear Checker Cer tificate are online, enabling self-paced learning and assessment at the local club level. The PCA Foundation Coach is now the first step in the PCA coach pathway, with a series of on-demand webinars, a low cost manual and online assessment tools. The par ticipation model for PCA now includes PCA Accredited Riding Centres for people without access to their own horse. The pathway from riding centre to horse ownership and club membership works best when there is on-the-ground cooperation between riding centres and local clubs. Disappointingly, there are still barriers due to resistance by local Pony Clubs to admit riding centre members to local events. PCA appreciates the foresight of those clubs that recognise this par ticipation pathway and open their events. PCA welcomes the increased number of clubs that are accepting adult members. This membership group has long been impor tant in Queensland and South Australia and is expanding in other states. Pony Club of fers a community environment, education program and lower-level competition that this group of members seek. It is an area of increased attention for PCA. In conjunction with Dr Kirrilly Thompson from the University of Newcastle and collaborators, PCA conducted a survey of younger female members to investigate the impact of periods on par ticipation in horse spor ts, and practical changes that could make a dif ference. The survey told us that changes in uniform rules to include dark coloured jodpurs, ...
