Guide to Competitions

There are many qualifiers for Area and National Level Competitions across the year. Hopefully this page will give you some information, however if you are unsure, please contact the DC. The main questions asked by parents are: 

1. When are the qualifiers/competitions taking place?

The calendar for all Area/National Events is available here on the Irish Pony Club website. It is routinely updated so check back often.

2. Is my child eligible to compete? 

The answer to that is as long as your child satisfies the eligibility criteria for any qualifier/competition, they are able to take part. 

The Eligibility criteria for each competition is available here. 

Please also make sure you refer to the Rule books for each competition to ensure eligibility, which can be found here. 

All Dressage Tests can be found here.

Tack Sheets can be found here. They are currently being updated so not all may be available at the moment.

Frequently asked Questions

1. What are Hunter Trials?

A Hunter Trial is a competition to test the ability of the horse and rider to negotiate a course of typical natural fences at a fair hunting pace. It provides members with an opportunity to gain experience and find enjoyment in riding across nearly natural fences.

2. What is Showjumping?

Show Jumping is the competitive riding of horses over a set course of fences and obstacles in an arena in which the winner is judged according to ability and speed with penalty points for errors.

3. What is Dressage?

Dressage itself is a way of training and riding your horse. The actual word "dressage" is French and evolved from the verb dresseur meaning to train. There are many different equestrian disciplines of horseback riding from classical dressage, through to show jumping, and eventing to name a few. Work on the flat, ie dressage, is essential for success in any equestrian discipline. Dressage itself is an Olympic discipline and it is enjoyed all around the world through the various levels with Grand Prix being the highest level that is performed internationally and Grand Prix musical freestyle being the real crowd pleaser as this is where the movements are performed to music.

Here in the IPC, we strive to foster a love of Dressage in our members. Every member is encouraged to take part in all relevant levels of Dressage to improve their pony's way of going and make the riding more enjoyable!

For those members who may be shy about starting their journey to compete we hold Virtual Dressage Competitions. These competitions can be recorded at home and provide useful feedback from the judges to help riders improve their performance. More info on Virtual Dressage Competitions can be found here. 

National Dressage Competitions take place at the National Dressage Day and the Area Qualifiers which are held before the National Festival Championships. All Dressage Tests can be found here.

4. What is Combined Training?

Combined Training consists of a Dressage Test (in a 40m arena) followed by a Showjumping course (around 13 jumping efforts, including a double and related distance). All Dressage Tests can be found here.

The aim of Combined Training is to help the participant develop confidence in their partnership with their pony. Area Qualifier winners in the Intermediate and Open riders categories are eligible to enter the Combined Training competition at the Royal Dublin Horse Show.

5. What is Eventing?

Eventing is one of the Olympic equestrian sports. It consists of three disciplines – dressage, show jumping and cross country. The dressage phase is always completed first, followed by show jumping and cross country, in either order.

The same horse and rider combination must complete all three phases.

6. What is Minimus/Tetrathalon?

Minimus is a 2-day competition consisting of three disciplines, swimming, running and riding.

Points are awarded to competitors for their performance in each discipline. The overall winner is the competitor with the most points after all three disciplines. Minimus works off a positive scoring base, meaning that if you fall of you are not eliminated, instead you are deducted points for each fence remaining on the course to be jumped. Don't worry though, there is always the possibility of regaining back those lost points through a very good Swim or Run phase.

Tetrathlon is a challenging four phase competition requiring practical horsemanship and general athletic ability involving running, riding, swimming and shooting.

Members compete in teams of four and also as individuals. Boys and girls compete separately. There are no mixed teams as in Minimus.

The Aim of the Tetrathlon Committee is to get every child around the course as safely as possible.

For the past number of years we have introduced Option fences at those jumps that may be a bit more difficult for a member starting out or their pony. Option fences are an easier fence to jump, and only incur minimum point reductions that can easily be made up in the Running, Swimming or Shooting Phase (Tetrathlon Only).

7. What is the Pony Club Musical Ride?

Musical Ride is a group of riders performing a series of movements to music. Teams consist of between 4 and 20 members and all riders must be over the age of 6 on the 1st of January of the current year. Any size of horse or pony may participate, once they can be safely controlled by their rider.

The display may proceed for a total of 8 minutes plus one minute to enter and exit the arena respectively. Musical Ride is a really enjoyable experience that you can undertake with a group of friends, ideally with your instructor. Branches may enter the Musical Ride competition at the annual Irish Pony Club Festival.

8. What are Mounted Games?

Mounted Games is a team competition that requires courage, determination and all round riding ability from team members in combination with the careful and systematic training of their ponies. Teams consist of five members participating in a variety of games where speed and breath-taking accuracy are the norm.

Competitions are held during the summer at various locations and shows throughout the country at Under 10, Junior and Senior level culminating in the Under 10 and Junior Championships at the Pony Club Festival in July and the Senior Competition at the RDS Dublin during the International Horse Show. The games are exciting and fun to watch and are one of the top attractions at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS.

9. What is Pony Club Race Day/Jockey Skills?

The Jockey Skills Training Course is one of the most exciting aspects of this initiative. Ten Pony Club members are selected to participate in the course at the world renowned Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare town prior to the Race Day. The course is open to Irish Pony Club members aged 14 to 16 years who hold a minimum C test certificate and who are under 9 stone weight.
The overall winner of the Jockey Skills course will be announced at the Race Day. During the exhibition race at the Curragh, the members who completed the Jockey Skills course will ride the pony/horse they usually ride at Pony Club activities.