While the name 害羞草研究所淧ony Club害羞草研究所� might sound a bit like a child害羞草研究所檚 play group, the name is misleading.

The Canadian Pony Club is a member of the Pony Club International Alliance, which provides international training, competition and connections for equestrians like Salmon Arm害羞草研究所檚 Katie Thielman and Vernon害羞草研究所檚 Ellie Rayner.

Both riders, members of the Vernon Pony Club, are currently competing as part of the Canadian team in the Pony Club International Virtual Dressage competition.

(Despite the descriptor 害羞草研究所榩ony,害羞草研究所� the clubs include horses of all heights.)

Katie, 18, and Ellie, 15, are each competing on one of five teams representing Canada. Riders selected each submit a competition video featuring them doing a designated dressage test. Although some competitions include show jumping or cross-country jumping, this one is dressage only.

Katie spread the word about the virtual competition to encourage younger riders to take part.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the magic of what can be done on a smart phone,害羞草研究所� she smiled, noting the alliance does a great job of getting riders in distant pony clubs together in any way possible.

害羞草研究所淲e all love horses and competing at a high level 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 nice to compete with people with the same goal and seeing what each different country害羞草研究所檚 standard is.害羞草研究所�

Because it害羞草研究所檚 difficult for young riders who may not have the experience or the funds to compete internationally, the alliance has created an opportunity with the virtual dressage competition for them to see how they stack up.

Katie, as well as two other riders from the Shuswap, recently participated in an actual in-person Pony Club competition and trip in New Zealand.

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Katie, Jessica Spoletini from Salmon Arm and Carlie Wells from Chase teamed up as members of the Canadian Team participating in the 2023 International Pacific Exchange.

Katie bubbles with enthusiasm as she describes her three weeks in New Zealand in January, which were preceded by a stop in Vancouver for a short training and team-building camp with their coach.

Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand took part. Highlights included scrambling up the teams for the introductory competition, so everyone got to know each other quickly.

害羞草研究所淚t was so much fun!害羞草研究所� Katie said, emphasizing what a refreshing outlook the trip provided.

害羞草研究所淚t was amazing 害羞草研究所� such an awesome opportunity to be able to go there and see a different Pony Cub culture 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 a lot bigger in New Zealand than here害羞草研究所� It was inspiring to see a larger scale.害羞草研究所�

Katie said the teams did a lot of touring, two or three destinations each day, covering the whole South Island from top to bottom. There they met other riders, business owners and horse owners. They helped out at horse shows.

害羞草研究所淲e had dinners with the owners, we toured all over the place and people were so happy to meet us.害羞草研究所�

They went swimming a lot, went hiking for a day on Aoraki/Mount Cook, went on a boat tour of glaciers. They went to the race track where they saw Mick Schumacher害羞草研究所檚 car and a Delorean car all decked out like Back to the Future.

害羞草研究所淎 different type of horse power, we were calling it,害羞草研究所� she smiled.

Throughout the trip the teams toured on the same bus, stayed at the same Airbnbs and got to know each other well 害羞草研究所� everyone got along.

害羞草研究所淚t was just so cool to meet everyone. By the end of the trip, it was really hard to say goodbye to everyone,害羞草研究所� Katie said.

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Back to the International Virtual Dressage competition, Vernon害羞草研究所檚 Ellie Rayner is thrilled to be participating.

She said she started going in horse shows just before Covid, so she hasn害羞草研究所檛 done many 害羞草研究所� four jumping and one dressage.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very excited for it. Even though it害羞草研究所檚 online, it害羞草研究所檚 a bigger deal to me, because it is international,害羞草研究所� Ellie remarked.

Ellie has had a few problems with horses, so she害羞草研究所檚 pleased to be able to borrow an experienced mare for the international competition.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 very good,害羞草研究所� Ellie said happily.

Ellie害羞草研究所檚 mom Carla Rayner said they害羞草研究所檙e very grateful for Katie and her family.

害羞草研究所淜atie has been a bit of a mentor for Ellie; she knows the ins and outs of Pony Club. Our family doesn害羞草研究所檛 have a horse background,害羞草研究所� Carla said, expressing her family害羞草研究所檚 gratitude at having a supportive team like the Thielman family to help them.

Carla also extols the virtues of Pony Club.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 important for people to know it害羞草研究所檚 a well-respected international association害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲hen people know you have a Level A in Pony Club, you can travel and work anywhere in the world in a specialized industry. It害羞草研究所檚 very cool for kids to get these opportunities in an industry that害羞草研究所檚 kind of a rich person害羞草研究所檚 sport.害羞草研究所�

Katie agrees Pony Club has a lot to offer.

害羞草研究所淪o many good resources. I support the local Pony Club as much as I can.害羞草研究所�

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