Why Pony Clubbers are learning lessons for life

It’s character building when things go wrong — and that’s something the Pony Club knows all about

AS July rolls on, my thoughts always turn to Pony Club camp. Surely this happens to other grownups too? Trapped in an over air-conditioned office, we look out the window and daydream about tack-cleaning checks, cross-country daring, late-night dormitory chats, last-day competitions and rosettes.

In my mind, the sun always blazes (but no one gets sunburnt), the showers are always warm and our ponies are always well behaved.

Of course, in reality it wasn’t all like that. Some days it rained, some days instructors yelled at us, some days our ponies refused to do the things we wanted them to do. Once, I fell off three times in one day; another time I ended up a bloodied mess after an accident involving a bicycle with a broom carried across the handlebars.

But our letter of the week writer says that these days are when the Pony Club really puts value on

its members — that triumphing over adversity and stubborn ponies fits riders for the challenges of later life. It’s a wonderful notion and I’m sure other ex-Pony Clubbers and their parents will agree with it.

If you’re packing for Pony Club camp this summer, make sure you enjoy it; if you’re stuck behind a desk, dream on and remember that when the going gets tough, Pony Clubbers get going.