Parent's Guide to The Pony Club Show Jumping Members up to 25 2026

Pony Club Branches and Centres appoint officials to check hats and fit a Pony Club hat tag to each hat that meets the hat rule.

• A hat that already has a Pony Club, British Eventing (BE) or British Riding Club (BRC) tag doesn't need checking again. The Pony Club can still spot-check any hat.
• A tag only confirms that the hat's label meets an accepted standard. It doesn't mean the fit or condition has been checked.
• Parents and guardians are responsible for making sure the hat meets the standards and is tagged before the member goes to any Pony Club event, and for following the manufacturer's guidance on fit and replacement.

A yellow hat tag shows a member has passed the C+ Riding Test or the Spurs Test and can wear spurs.

When a body protector is compulsory
A body protector is compulsory for all Pony Club cross-country riding (including arena eventing) and pony racing, in training or competition. It must meet the BETA 2018 Level 3 standard (blue and black label).

Show jumping and general riding
Choosing whether to wear a body protector is up to members and their parents. If one is worn:

• it must fit correctly, be comfortable and not restrict movement
• the Pony Club recommends it weighs no more than 2% of the rider's body weight
• BETA recommends replacing it at least every 3 to 5 years

Air jackets

• In show jumping, an air jacket can be worn without a body protector.
• For cross-country or pony racing, an air jacket can only be worn in addition to a BETA 2018 Level 3 body protector. After a fall, the air jacket must be fully deflated or removed before continuing, and the body protector stays on.
• Air jackets must never be worn under a jacket, and number bibs should fit loosely over them or have elasticated fastenings.

Unless the schedule says otherwise, any member can enter any Pony Club show jumping competition. These eligibility rules apply to Area competitions and the Championships:

A horse and rider at PC70 or PC70 Plus also can't enter if they've jumped a double clear at 90cm+ this year or last. Combinations that have twice finished 1st to 3rd individually at the relevant Regional Championships or Championships aren't eligible for that level either.

All heights are maximums.

Membership: your child must be a Pony Club member at the closing date for entries and on the day to compete at Area qualifiers and Championships, including Regional Championships. The District Commissioner or Centre Proprietor certifies eligibility.

• Age: horses and ponies must be at least 5 years old to take part in Pony Club show jumping. In their first eligible year they must be at least 60 months old on the day. After that, the pony's birthday is treated as 1 January. For example, a pony born on 1 August 2020 can compete from 1 August 2025, and is treated as 6 from 1 January 2026.
• Height: there's no height limit.
• Stallions: can only be ridden with the District Commissioner's written permission. They must wear identifying discs on the bridle and tail ribbons, and be led in a bridle with a chain lead.
• Passport and vaccinations: a valid passport and vaccination record must go with the pony to every event and be available for inspection. All ponies must meet the Pony Club's current minimum vaccination requirements. Events at racecourses and some other venues may have stricter rules.

Kit doesn't need to be new, but it must be clean, neat, tidy and safe. Wearing the wrong kit can lead to disqualification.

• Jacket: a traditional jacket (collar, sleeves and buttons down the front) with a Pony Club tie or hunting stock. A Pony Club stock can be worn with any jacket. Jackets must be worn for the whole round but can come off for warming up if the shirt covers the shoulders. In hot weather the judges may allow riders to jump without jackets.
• Badge: the metal Pony Club membership badge on the left lapel.
• Jodhpurs or breeches: white, pale yellow, beige, grey, fawn, navy or black. Dark contrast seats are allowed. White, cream or beige is encouraged at Area, Regional and Championship competitions.
• Footwear: riding or jodhpur boots with a well-defined square-cut heel. Plain black or brown half chaps can be worn with jodhpur boots of the same colour. No wellies, yard boots, trainers or boots with interlocking treads.
• Hair: tied up and back, ideally in a hairnet.
• Hat cover, if worn: plain dark blue, black or brown, or Branch or Centre colours for team competitions. No pom poms or other additions.
• No brightly coloured accessories.
• Number: wear the competitor number at all times.

Spurs

• Pony Club members can only wear spurs at Pony Club activities if they've passed the C+ Riding Test or the Pony Club Spurs Test. Their hat must carry the yellow hat tag to show they're eligible.
• Only blunt spurs are allowed: no rowels or sharp edges, though a smooth rotating ball on the shank is allowed. Curved spurs must curve downwards with the shank pointing straight back.
• The Pony Club recommends spurs no longer than 2.5cm, and anything over 4cm isn't allowed.
• Misusing spurs, including any use that causes blood, broken skin or a weal, means disqualification and a report to the DC and Area Representative.

Whips (padded batons)

• Only a padded baton meeting the British Showjumping specification is allowed: 45–70cm long, with the contact area padded.
• It can be used no more than three times after entering the arena, only down the shoulder or behind the leg, and never overarm.
• It can't be used before the start of the course.
• Using it to vent anger, causing injury, using it after elimination, using it on the head or neck, or using it from the ground after a fall means immediate elimination.
• Carrying a non-compliant baton anywhere on the showground can lead to elimination.

Where Pony Club rules don't cover something, competitions are judged under British Showjumping rules. Where both cover the same point, the Pony Club rule takes precedence.

• In the ring: a fall of horse or rider during a round means elimination from that round.
• Before riding again: any competitor who falls or is seriously injured anywhere on the competition site must see the medical personnel on the day and be passed fit to ride before riding that horse in another class, or riding any other horse.
• First-round falls: if your child falls in the first round and a medic passes them fit, they can jump in the second round or jump-off.

If your child is diagnosed with concussion, the Pony Club's 21-day concussion rule applies.

If your child is diagnosed with concussion, they must not ride, or take part in any Pony Club activity that involves close contact with, handling or riding horses or ponies, for 21 days. This may be extended on the advice of the treating doctor if symptoms persist.

• All concussions must be reported to Pony Club Head Office, using the online accident report form, or by email if the concussion happened outside the Pony Club.
• Medical suspension: if your child is suspended from any activity or sport for medical reasons, the suspension applies to all Pony Club activities until a medical professional passes them fit. A medical letter from the hospital or specialist is needed before they can take part again. Making sure this happens is the member's and parent's responsibility.

The rule should be read alongside the Pony Club Concussion Advice and the UK Government's concussion guidelines.

• A member can ride no more than 3 horses or ponies in the same class, including second rounds and finals they've qualified for. Different rules apply at Summer Area competitions.
• Each horse or pony can compete in no more than 3 classes a day.
• At Area competitions and the Championships, a horse and rider can compete at two adjacent levels (for example PC70 and PC80, or PC90 and PC100). No horse can be ridden more than once at the same level in any one year in the qualifiers or at the Championships.