How to Find a Pony Club or Accredited Riding Centre in Australia

Updated

Pony Club Australia provides two separate search tools on its website: Find a Pony Club and Find an Accredited Riding Centre. Use the first if you want to join a local club as a member (riders, parents, coaches, officials, and volunteers all operate through clubs). Use the second if you are looking for a riding centre that has been accredited, which is the relevant option if you want structured lessons or coaching rather than club membership. Both tools are linked directly from the homepage.

The two search tools and when to use each

Tool What it finds Best for
Find a Pony Club Local Pony Club branches Joining as a member, participating in club activities, competitions, and the full PCA programme
Find an Accredited Riding Centre Riding centres accredited under PCA Lessons and coaching, including for people not yet ready to join a club

The homepage presents both as primary calls to action, so you do not need to navigate deep into the site to reach them.

How to use the tools

  1. Go to ponyclubaustralia.com.au.
  2. On the homepage, select Find a Pony Club or Find an Accredited Riding Centre — the two options appear together in the main call-to-action area.
  3. Enter your location when prompted by the tool.
  4. Review the results and contact the club or centre directly to ask about availability, waiting lists, and what to expect on a first visit.

Expected result: a list of nearby clubs or accredited centres you can contact. The site does not publish pricing for membership or lessons, so any cost questions need to be directed to the individual club or centre.

What to check before you make contact

  • Age and experience: Pony Club Australia describes itself as suitable whether you are just starting out or have years of experience, so beginners are not excluded.
  • What members actually do: riding is only part of it. Members develop skills in horse management, first aid, tack, road safety, hoof care, and groundwork. If you are choosing between a club and a riding centre, this breadth is the main difference — a club offers the full programme, while an accredited riding centre focuses on riding and coaching.
  • Club environment: PCA emphasises a supportive, inclusive setting and states values of community, integrity, horse welfare, innovation, kindness, and accessibility. Worth asking a club how it handles complete beginners.
  • Integrity and safety: PCA follows Sport Integrity Australia's National Integrity Framework. The site provides integrity policies and a way to report an integrity issue if a concern arises.

Common sticking points

  • The two tools are easy to confuse. If your goal is membership and the full PCA experience, use Find a Pony Club. If your goal is lessons, use Find an Accredited Riding Centre.
  • No pricing is shown on the website. Do not assume membership or lessons are free — ask the club or centre directly.
  • Availability varies by location. The search tells you what exists near you, not whether a club currently has places. Contacting the club is the only way to confirm.

If you are a parent, coach, or volunteer

The site is structured for members, parents, coaches, officials, volunteers, sponsors, and accredited riding centres. If you are enquiring on behalf of a child, start with Find a Pony Club and ask about introductory sessions. If you are a coach or official, the same club contact route applies, and the Resource Hub on the site is where supporting materials live.