While the name 香蕉视频直播淧ony Club香蕉视频直播� might sound a bit like a child香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 Katie Thielman and Vernon香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播榩ony,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the magic of what can be done on a smart phone,香蕉视频直播� she smiled, noting the alliance does a great job of getting riders in distant pony clubs together in any way possible.

香蕉视频直播淲e all love horses and competing at a high level 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 nice to compete with people with the same goal and seeing what each different country香蕉视频直播檚 standard is.香蕉视频直播�

Because it香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t was so much fun!香蕉视频直播� Katie said, emphasizing what a refreshing outlook the trip provided.

香蕉视频直播淚t was amazing 香蕉视频直播� such an awesome opportunity to be able to go there and see a different Pony Cub culture 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 a lot bigger in New Zealand than here香蕉视频直播� It was inspiring to see a larger scale.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淲e had dinners with the owners, we toured all over the place and people were so happy to meet us.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檚 car and a Delorean car all decked out like Back to the Future.

香蕉视频直播淎 different type of horse power, we were calling it,香蕉视频直播� she smiled.

Throughout the trip the teams toured on the same bus, stayed at the same Airbnbs and got to know each other well 香蕉视频直播� everyone got along.

香蕉视频直播淚t was just so cool to meet everyone. By the end of the trip, it was really hard to say goodbye to everyone,香蕉视频直播� Katie said.

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Back to the International Virtual Dressage competition, Vernon香蕉视频直播檚 Ellie Rayner is thrilled to be participating.

She said she started going in horse shows just before Covid, so she hasn香蕉视频直播檛 done many 香蕉视频直播� four jumping and one dressage.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 very excited for it. Even though it香蕉视频直播檚 online, it香蕉视频直播檚 a bigger deal to me, because it is international,香蕉视频直播� Ellie remarked.

Ellie has had a few problems with horses, so she香蕉视频直播檚 pleased to be able to borrow an experienced mare for the international competition.

香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 very good,香蕉视频直播� Ellie said happily.

Ellie香蕉视频直播檚 mom Carla Rayner said they香蕉视频直播檙e very grateful for Katie and her family.

香蕉视频直播淜atie has been a bit of a mentor for Ellie; she knows the ins and outs of Pony Club. Our family doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have a horse background,香蕉视频直播� Carla said, expressing her family香蕉视频直播檚 gratitude at having a supportive team like the Thielman family to help them.

Carla also extols the virtues of Pony Club.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 important for people to know it香蕉视频直播檚 a well-respected international association香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲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香蕉视频直播檚 very cool for kids to get these opportunities in an industry that香蕉视频直播檚 kind of a rich person香蕉视频直播檚 sport.香蕉视频直播�

Katie agrees Pony Club has a lot to offer.

香蕉视频直播淪o many good resources. I support the local Pony Club as much as I can.香蕉视频直播�

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