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The History of The Pony Club 1970 - 1989

1970

Hon Guy Cubitt retired as Chairman of The Pony Club after 25 years, and was made Life President of The Pony Club.

1971

TGG (Tubby) Cooper became Chairman of The Pony Club.

Pony Club Show Jumping Championships started.

The Pony Club hosted teams from Australia, Canada, Eire, South Africa and USA for a three-week visit spent touring the country, and ending in riding and competitions at Stoneleigh.

1972

H Test Introduced.

	1952	1962	1972
Membership (U.K.)	18,905	31,349	39,526
No. of Branches (U.K.)	201	255	298

1973

Miss Catherine Moir became Secretary of The Pony Club. Upper Age limit was reduced to 20 years of age.

1974

Riding and Road Sense Certificate introduced.

1975

Roger Ward made Chairman of the Pony Club.

1976

The Pony Club of Great Britain hosted two teams from Canada and the USA for three weeks spent touring the South of England, ending at Mounted Games Competitions at Windsor.

1977

The Pony Club Dressage Championships were started.

1978

The Pony Club was host to a team of Tetrathletes from America and Canada, who competed in Area Competitions and the Championships, and a polo team from America.

1979

Patrick Langford became Chairman of The Pony Club.

The Pony Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee; Branches took displays to over 100 Shows all round the country. Badges, patches, pens, greetings cards, brasses, sweat shirts, mugs and key rings were produced as souvenirs. The cartoonist Norman Thelwell designed a Christmas card especially for Jubilee year. A reception was held in London for past Council Members and representatives of other organisations connected with horses. A trophy was specially designed, and John King was commissioned to paint a picture to commemorate the Jubilee. A souvenir booklet with photographs from nearly every one of The Pony Club’s 50 years, and many of the jubilee displays, was produced.

Hon. Guy Cubitt, life president of The Pony Club, past Chairman and Council Member died on August 23rd.

Upper age was changed back to 21 years.

1980

For the first time, the Annual Conference of District Commissioners and a repeat of the Annual National Instructors’ Conference was held in Scotland.

1981

James Pinney became Chairman of The Pony Club. The totally revised edition of The Manual of Horsemanship was produced.

1982

The Pony Club hosted teams from Canada and USA who took part in Mounted Games and Tetrathlon Competitions.

	1962	1972	1982
Membership (U.K.)	31,349	39,526	43,817
No. of Branches (U.K.)	255	298	365

1983

The Pony Club Horse Trials Championships moved from Stoneleigh Park to Weston Park, Shropshire.

8 senior instructors courses were organised throughout the country for combined areas.

1984

The Pony Club Dressage and Show Jumping Championships moved from Stoneleigh Park to Weston Park, Shropshire.

1985

The Pony Club hosted an inter-Pacific Rally with Pony Club Members from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and The Philippines. Bill Lithgow retired as Executive Officer.

Ernest McMillen became Chairman of The Pony Club.

1986

Tadzik Kopanski became Executive Officer of The Pony Club. The Pony Club was host to teams from Canada, Republic of Ireland and USA who took part in Tetrathlon competitions.

1987

The Pony Club hosted teams from Canada and USA who visited three Areas and took part in mounted games competitions. The Pony Club magazine was launched.

1988

The first Riding School Branch was started at Hyde Park, London.

1989

Patrick Langford was made Vice President of The Pony Club. Patrick Langford, Vice president and a past Chairman of The Pony Club and past Chairman of both Polo and Tetrathlon Committees died.

Ernest McMillen became Vice-President of the Euro Pony Club Association.