Row over Pony Club grass rein ban
The organisation says the new rule came in after members complained, but others disagree
A ROW has broken out in the Pony Club over “grass reins”, after they were banned this year.
The organisation has outlawed what it describes as “side reins”, which connect a pony’s bit directly to its saddle and prevent it reaching grass. A spokesman said the move was due to members’ complaints that the reins hold ponies’ heads in an “outline”, giving riders an unfair advantage.
But Woodland Hunt branch district commissioner (DC) Suzi Swete is “absolutely furious”.
“We’ve already had accidents; children coming off because they haven’t had the grass reins/side reins on,” she told H&H.
Mrs Swete said she does not allow her own grandchildren to ride without the reins and that, as the majority of her members are very young, most also use them.
“So I’ve stuck my neck out,” she said. “I’ve got parents to sign disclaimers saying they know these are banned, but feel they’re important for the children’s safety. I’m sorry but I can’t enforce this.”
“Daisy reins”, which run via the headpiece, are allowed but Mrs Swete said these are less effective and many ponies do not like them.
Assistant DC and mother Emma Dag agreed, adding it is difficult to find “daisy reins”.
“They just don’t come small enough,” she told H&H. “You can get them to fit a 13.2hh, but not the greedy 11.2hh or Shetland who really needs them. It’s also more pressure on the headpiece, and it means the bridle gets pulled back.
“All our rallies are on grass and even being led, if a pony really wants to get its head down, it’s very hard to stop it. I’ve seen so many children go splat.”
A LIFE-SAVER
BRANCH instructor Stephanie Read agreed.
“If you’ve got six to eight kids whose ponies’ heads are on the floor all the time, they’re a lifesaver,” she told H&H. “Otherwise, kids are falling off left, right and centre, crying in sheer frustration. I’ve never seen them tight enough to inhibit a pony’s way of going, or to act like side reins.”
A Pony Club spokesman told H&H the rule originated with the training committee, in response to a large number of complaints.
“The ‘side reins’ were banned following pressure from members as it was thought some ponies
Ponies may still wear ‘daisy reins’ as shown
were getting higher marks because their heads were strapped down,” she said. “The Pony Club has always permitted grass reins [daisy reins], at rallies and in competitions up to 50cm. Side reins connected directly from the bit to the D rings or the girth are prohibited.”
Showing producer Julie Templeton told H&H the issue was a “very difficult one”.
“I can see the use of them for little ponies who are permanently hungry but the downside is, if something goes wrong and the pony rears, there’s potential for it to come over backwards on the child,” she said.
“I’m sure most ponies are in grass reins and nothing happens but there’s always that chance, with something fixed like that.”