North Dorrigo Pony Club

07/05/2026

Glenreagh Pony Club Winter Camp

Thankyou for the overwhelming response to Winter Camp!

Camp is now sold out. If you have missed out, please email [email protected] to join the wait list.

07/05/2026

07/05/2026

Macleay District Pony Camp
6th - 8th June
Kempsey Showground

06/05/2026

Bucking. Rearing. Bolting. Repeated spooking.

These are often labelled as “naughty” or “hyper” behaviours.
But in many cases, they’re something else entirely.

They’re conflict behaviour.

Conflict behaviour occurs when a horse is struggling to cope with what’s being asked. It can be linked to confusion, discomfort, pain, fear, or a combination of pressures the horse doesn’t understand how to respond to.

It’s not disobedience. It’s a response. And importantly, it’s both a welfare issue and a safety issue.

There can be a tendency to encourage riders to “push through” or “ride it out”. But when a horse reaches the point of bucking, rearing or bolting, they are already over threshold.

At that point, continuing to ride often escalates the situation rather than resolving it. Instead, the focus should shift to de-escalation:
• Pause the session
• Remove pressure
• If needed, dismount
• Take time to understand what triggered the response

From there, the question becomes not “how do we stop the behaviour?” but: “what is the horse trying to tell us?”

Addressing the underlying cause, whether that’s training clarity, physical discomfort, or environmental stress, is what leads to safer outcomes for both horse and rider.

🟢 This is reflected in the Pony Club Australia Horse Welfare Policy (Domain 5: Mental Experiences), which states that hyperreactive or conflict behaviours - including bucking, rearing, bolting or repeated spooking - should never be ridden through, and that riders should be supported to de-escalate the situation before continuing.

02/05/2026

Save the date 13th/14th June
Mounted Instructors Clinic

02/05/2026

Glenreagh Pony Club

Glenreagh Winter Camp on 6-8 June 2026 is coming up fast.
We are so excited to have some of our favourite instructors back and it's looking to be a wonderful camp. Registrations will be open on Justgo from 6pm Saturday 2nd May using this link: https://pca.justgo.com/Workbench/i/r/EventsAndBookings/booking-details/BB7AE7970D38429A3FE8B8105897DE6DEE820C98

29/04/2026

At Pony Club activities and events, lungeing is often part of how riders prepare their horses to work.

With that in mind, the Pony Club Australia Horse Welfare Policy asks coaches and officials to monitor for horses being lunged for more than 20 minutes.

As a guide, that looks like:
• 5 minutes warm-up
• 10 minutes work
• 5 minutes cool-down

This isn’t about being restrictive. It’s about understanding what lungeing actually asks of the horse.

Horses did not evolve to move continuously in circles. In a natural setting, their movement is varied… straight lines, changes of direction, changes of pace.

On the lunge, every stride places load through the same side of the body. The inside limbs and joints absorb repeated forces, while the outside limbs stabilise and push. Over time, that asymmetrical loading adds up.

That’s before you factor in surface, speed, balance, and the horse’s level of training.

Research has shown that in an average round pen, a horse may cover around 5km in just 20 minutes of lunging, all on a constant curve.

That’s a significant amount of repetitive circular work, particularly if it’s happening before the horse has even started its ridden work.

There’s also a training consideration.

Fatigue affects coordination, balance, and the horse’s ability to respond clearly to aids. A horse that is tired, physically or mentally, is more likely to lose quality of movement, struggle to concentrate, or show signs of discomfort.

🐴 What this means in practice

Lungeing has a place. It can help a horse settle, stretch, or prepare to work.

But it should be short, purposeful and planned, not something done continuously beforehand or used as a default.

More is not better here. In many cases, it’s the opposite.

A horse that’s already fatigued before it begins is not being set up to perform well, or feel comfortable doing so.

23/04/2026

🌟 The 2026 Bellingen Show Horse Schedule is Now Live!
Exciting Horse Events for Everyone! 🐎🏇 The Horse Schedule includes some fantastic show jumping events to suit all levels - starting as low as 50cm, perfect for beginners looking to try something new!

Come and enjoy a new experience with your horse and soak up the incredible atmosphere of the Show.

🗓️ Entries are on the day only. See: www.bellingenshow.com.au/entries-horses.

🏇 Classic Favourites Include:
- Led Classes
- Hacking Competitions
- Pony Club Showcases
- Showjumping Challenges

💖 What Makes This Year EXTRA Special:
- Riding for Disabled Program
- Grand Prix Showjumping
- Fashions off the Field for both juniors AND seniors - horse of your choice!!

🤠 Why Attend?
- Learn new horse skills
- Experience incredible equestrian talent
- Connect with horse lovers
- Enjoy a fulfilling weekend for all ages

❓ Questions? 📧 Contact Chief Horse Steward & Ring Master Elaine | [email protected]

With thanks to our amazing sponsors! AgriSolutions - Coastal Stores | | www.waterfallfp.com.au

21/04/2026

Does your horse really like being patted?

Reward training is a really important tool in your toolkit.

It works by giving your horse something he wants immediately after he does the right thing.

For example, if your horse comes to the gate and you give him a handful of pellets, you’re using reward training.

Because you’ve rewarded the behaviour, he’s more likely to do it again.

🛑 But here’s the catch…

For reward training to work, the reward actually has to matter to your horse. Not all horses like the same things.

Try this quick experiment 👇

Grab a friend or family member:
1️⃣ Give them a big, loud pat on the back
2️⃣ Then gently rub their back

Ask them which one made them feel more relaxed. Most people will choose the gentle rub. Horses are no different.

Now try it with your horse 🐴

You’re going to find the exact spot your horse enjoys.

What you’ll need:
• your horse
• a helper to hold him safely

Step 1
Start at the base of the neck, near the wither. Use your fingertips to gently rub for at least two minutes.

Step 2
Watch closely for signs your horse is enjoying it:
• a soft or sleepy eye
• slow blinking
• head lowering
• a relaxed, droopy lower lip

Step 3
If you don’t see those signs, move to another area (like the middle of the neck) and try again. Some horses prefer gentle scratching rather than rubbing.

Take your time, you’re not in a hurry. Eventually, you’ll find a spot your horse really enjoys.

🤷‍♀️ Why this matters

That “favourite spot” becomes a powerful reward you can use during training. And it’s often more effective than patting.

Because horses don’t pat each other in the paddock. They groom each other along the neck.

That’s why most horses prefer:
✔️ stroking
✔️ light scratching
✖️ firm patting

When should you use reward training? Any time your horse does something you’d like him to do again. That’s how you build understanding, confidence and willingness.