It is YOUR responsibility to learn. We are here to help you. Our unmounted lessons are to supplement your learning.

Proper Attire:

Unmounted meetings: neat and clean. Proper footwear at all times around horses. Professional clothing that is respectable, such as a polo shirt or other neat top. Pants or shorts should be neat and appropriate, keeping in mind how much moving you will be doing. Ladies and gents, please, no visible undergarments, cleavage, or "cheeks" visible, even if wrapping a leg. What impression do you want to give?

Mounted meetings: neat and clean. Clothing that fits and is full coverage: shoulders, backs, bellies, and legs. Shirt should be tucked in, belt should be worn if there are belt loops. ASTM helmet is REQUIRED! Do not get on a horse (or lunge) without helmet and proper footwear. Polo shirts with breeches are preferred. Breeches, jodhpurs, jeans, or riding skirts should be clean and well-fitting. Wear your medical armband, as this has emergency information. See "jewelry" below. Check HM Rulebook (p. 9).

Ceremonies, Ratings, and Rallies: Level appropriate. Check HM Rulebook (p.11) for formal, informal, and club attire. Pony Club pin on collar. Medical armband.

Jewelry: loose jewelry is not allowed. Visible piercings must be close to skin (studs, no dangles or hoops). Watches and medical ID bracelets/necklaces are allowed. Piercings on lips and in airways are not safe on horses, so are not recommended, but studs are allowed at parent's discretion. Wedding rings are allowed. Safety first!

Footwear: Proper footwear must be worn at all times near horses by members, parents, siblings, and friends, even if they are not in Pony Club. Footwear must have: thick soled, heeled boots (short or tall); cover the ankle; in good condition; made of leather or synthetic material; entirely closed; securely fastened. Failure to wear proper footwear in barn area or while handling horses can result in disqualification at Pony Club competitions and loss of insurance in case of insident.

Proper Tack and Equipment:

Halters and reins must have a breakaway component (i.e. leather piece or similar). Leather halters are accepted, as well as leather crowns or leather tabs or fuses. Reins should have leather or soft cotton connected to the bit.

Halters must be fitted properly: no more than 3 adult fingers space at the noseband and no more than a fist at the throat latch. Check HM Rulebook (p. 12-13)

Lead ropes should be cotton. Nylon leadropes can cause rope burn, so gloves should be worn. Horses tied to trailers can NOT use flat nylon leads to tie, as they can tighten when pulled on so that they cannot be untied. Round nylon leads can have the same problem, so they are not recommended.

What to Bring to a Mount:

- Proper attire and a positive attitude prepared to learn!
- A parent/guardian wearing safe footwear (unless they stay in the parent booth the whole mount)
- A safe trailer with your horse (unless using lesson/boarded horse)
- Safe, clean, cared-for tack that fits your horse
- Break-away halter and safe leadrope
- Water buckets and a way to hang them up (at the point of shoulder)

How to Advance in Moonlight:

It is your responsibility to study and practice your riding skills. As you go thru the levels, you will be expected to increase your study time and riding work. Use the flow-chart for your next level while you are studying to make sure you are using our curriculum to prepare for the next level. Tests are broken into HM, flat, and over-fences, in that order. You can now follow an HM, flat, or classic rating track. Fill out a 'rating request' when you are ready to rate.

Record Books:

All horse owners should keep updated records of their horses (including inoculation/worming schedules, feed changes, vet bills, etc). All pony clubbers should keep a record of their own horses starting at the D level (D3 test requires min. 3 months of records). For little Ds who don't own/lease a horse, they can keep records of their riding lessons and mounts including the name of the horse they used plus stall cards of the horses they usually ride. D3 and above need to use the below links to create a level-appropriate book.