<I>Kate Barrett/Chieftain</I><BR>Emma Survis of Lostine negotiates a daunting solid jump with her mount, Juliette, during last month's rating meet in Wallowa County.

The Wallowa Mountain Pony Club hosted over 50 Pony club participants from throughout the West at Dunham Ranch and Hostetter Ranch during the weekend of Aug. 18. Twenty-six candidates between the ages of 14 and 21 were in Wallowa County to have their skills tested at the HB, C3 and B levels.

The rating candidates came from as far away as Seattle, Wash., Missoula, Mont., and Salt Lake City, Utah. One of the candidates, Emma Survis, 17, of Lostine, is a member of the local Wallowa Mountain Pony Club, which has 12 local members.

Candidates prepare themselves through extensive riding, reading and independent study, which develops sophistication in riding and communication, as well as maturity and flexibility in riding and training horses. Emma Survis obtained her “B” Rating, which requires the candidate to ride second level dressage movements and jump 3 foot, 6 inch stadium and cross country courses. The examiners sent to test the candidates were professional instructors from Texas, Georgia, New Hampshire, Delaware, Oregon and Washington.

The Pony Club rating also tests candidate’s knowledge of common veterinary problems, tack fitting, nutrition, conditioning, horse conformation and lameness and other “unmounted” skills. The candidates lungze their horses to demonstrate their ground training abilities. Candidates designed and set up their own jumping grids and jump courses, and were tested on their ability to understand correct and related distances between jumps, as well as their ability to ride the courses they developed. Candidates also ride the movements and the jump courses on a “switch” horse to demonstrate their abilities on different mounts.

Pony Club is one of the leading junior equestrian organizations in the world, represented throughout 30 countries. The United States has over 600 individual clubs spread throughout 48 states and the Virgin Islands, with more than 12,000 members. It is not necessary for a child to own a horse or pony, but he or she must have access to one when needed. Programs are offered in dressage, eventing, show jumping, mounted games, tetrathlon, quiz, vaulting, foxhunting, and polocrosse. During “unmounted” meetings, members learn about feeding, shoeing, veterinary care, and other areas of horse management. Pony Club lessons are often taught by older club members under adult supervision.

For information on the local pony club please contact Kate Barrett at 569-2499.

– Sumitted by Kate Barrett