Shetland Pony Agility

An introduction.

Welcome to Shetland Pony Agility. What is it ? It's a sport, much like dog agility, however it is much more than that, it's also a great way to have fun with your pony and to socialise with like minded friends.

Who can compete ?

Anyone can, EVERYONE can ! Shetland Pony Agility is for all ages and abilities.

The 10 groups of Shetland Pony Agility Obstacles

TOUCH - Whirly Bird.

The Pony has to acknowledge and TOUCH the obstacle. AIM - to show the pony is confident to reach out and TOUCH something with his nose.

STEP UP - Podium.

The pony has to STEP UP on to the podium, front feet only, and reverse and step back off. AIM - to show the pony has the confidence to STEP UP onto an unusual surface.

OVER - Tarpaulin.

The pony has to negotiate his way OVER the obstacle at the direction of the handler. AIM - to show that the pony can remain calm and confident moving OVER different surfaces.

MANOUVRE - S - Bend.

The pony has to negotiate his way through the poles. AIM - to show the pony is happy to be directed to move his feet within a small space.

AROUND - Bending.

The pony has to weave his way AROUND the obstacles at the direction of the handler. The pony should enter the weave through his off ( right ) shoulder. Aim - to show that the pony is happy to be directed by the handler in a calm and confident manner.

TRUST - Crazy Corner.

Handler and pony to walk calmly and confidently through flags and bunting.

CONFIDENCE - Narrow Gap.

The Pony has to pass through a small narrow space. Aim to show the pony has the CONFIDENCE to move into a narrow gap calmly at the direction of the handler

UNDER - Arch.

The pony has to pass UNDER the obstacle. Aim - to show to pony is calm and confident to pass UNDER something above his above his head.

COMMUNICATION - Gate.

The pony has to stand and wait, usually 4 secs, and only move at the direction of the handler. Aim - to show the COMMUNICATION between pony/handler.

HANDLING SKILLS - Control of paces.

A walk and trot section between markers, Walk - HALT - Slow Walk . Aim - to display HANDLING SKILLS of the person whilst directing the pony and controlling it's paces.

The Course

Shetland Pony Agility course design.

All our competition courses are designed around 10 obstacles and they include one obstacle from each of the 10 groups of obstacles.

Your course at home.

You don't need to spend a lot of money buying agility obstacles, they can be put together with stuff that you have at home and around the yard, the main priority is that they are built strongly, that they are stable and that they are SAFE.

Build confidence not fear.

Choose your obstacles from the different categories. Keep them simple, add different elements gradually, you will gain nothing positive from frightening your pony, remember you are aiming to build a relationship based on TRUST.

INSURANCE.

All ponies and people participating in the sport of Shetland Pony Agility MUST have their own third party public liability insurance or have signed an appropriate indemnity form and agreement.

PONIES.

Ponies must be 2yrs old and over to compete at Newcomers and Novice levels. Intermediate level, ponies must be 3yrs old and over. Advanced level, ponies must be 4yrs old and over.

WELFARE.

It is the welfare of the pony that must take precedence above all else. Anyone participating in the sport of SHETLAND PONY AGILITY must undertake to uphold and respect and adhere too, the "CORE VALUES" of our sport at all times.

JUNIORS.

Juniors - 14yrs and under. Children must be 5yrs old and over to compete in competitions, up until the age of 7yrs they must also be accompanied by an adult .

HANDLERS.

No equipment is needed by the handler, Juniors must wear an appropriate hard hat, it is recommended that they also wear gloves and suitable footwear, NO whips or sticks are allowed.

SPORT AGILITY.

No bridles are allowed to be used when competing in the sport of AGILITY. The only piece of equipment the pony needs is a comfortable well fitting headcollar and preferably a long rope.

Join us !
Adult membership £23 -Junior membership ( 14yrs and under ) £10 - Family Membership ( 1 adult, 2 children ) £30
Group membership £100 - to include at least 2 adults minimum - maximum 5 and an unlimited number of juniors.
For agility groups, riding schools and clubs, concessions available for charities.
Please contact us direct to apply.
Become part of the fun world of Shetland Pony Agility.
Enter and compete in all our Shetland Pony Agility shows and events.
Enjoy the added benefits of being a member with regular updates and news.
Join our "awards scheme" and see all your competition scores translate into points in our league ladder.
To become a member, just use the JOIN NOW button and fill in the forms provided.
We look forward to you joining us !

What's next ?

Joining the world of Shetland Pony Agility can open up a whole new world of fun for you and your pony, but how do you start, where do you begin, here are some ideas for you. Firstly familiarise yourself with the rules of the club and importantly take a note of our core values.

Training.

Preparation and practice are the key elements to successful training. Your training can begin at home, you don't need to purchase any expensive equipment, make use of the stuff you have at home and around the yard. Incorporate your agility training into the everyday handling of your pony, remember that everything you do with your pony you are teaching him "something" from the time you catch him up, to the time you let go of him, try to make all his experiences, positive ones.

Getting together with friends.

Get together with a few like minded friends, help and support each other, share agility equipment and have FUN. Why not start a small agility club yourself ? Its easy to do. First find a venue with ground conditions suitable for agility, work out training schedules and even run mini competitions. Shetland Pony Agility can supply you with the rosettes.

Clinics and Playdays.

Attend Shetland Pony Agility approved clinics and playdays. These training days are a lot of fun and are structured to provide you with all the help you need to improve your performance. The results from the competitions that run along side them can be added to your league score.

Approved Shetland Pony Agility Trainer.

Find an approved Shetland Pony Agility trainer. All our trainers are full insured to teach agility. They will help you with any problems relating to agility training. You can organise a playday with them at your own venue. They will supply all the equipment needed. ( please note we are currently recruiting new trainers, if this interests you please contact us using the contact form or ring Sally Young direct for a chat )

Find us on facebook.

Join the Shetland Pony Agility GROUP on facebook. We have over 1,400 members. Here you will find all the latest news an views. Our PAGE Shetland Pony Agility Training will help you with lots of Hints and tips and the whys and wherefores of competing and training.