Parkwood Farms Pony Club
What if learning to ride a horse was only the beginning?
A structured Equestrian education program where young people learn horsemanship, riding, responsibility, leadership and service through their relationship with horses.
Parkwood Farms Pony Club
A fun, educational, and inclusive program for young horse lovers ages 8+...
What if learning to ride a horse was only the beginning?
At Parkwood Farms Pony Club, learning to ride is only the beginning. Young Equestrians learn to safely work with horses, care for them, build riding skills, solve problems, serve others and grow into confident leaders—all through hands-on experiences with horses. Some days are in the saddle. Some are in the barn. All of them are part of the journey.
TOGETHER, WE EXPLORE & ACTUALLY LEARN:
🐴 Horse Safety & Handling - Safety is #1 priority
🐴 Horse behavior & communication — learning to understand what horses are telling us
🧹 Horse care & horsemanship — grooming, handling and daily care
🛡️ Safety & barn management — learning to work confidently and respectfully around horses
🌾 Horse health, nutrition & anatomy — understanding what horses need to thrive
🪢 Tack & English riding — learning the equipment and skills of the Equestrian
🌲 Trail Riding
🎯 Mounted Games
💜 Drill Team
💜 Therapeutic Horsemanship — discovering how horses can help people build confidence, connection and awareness
🤝 Leadership & service — learning to help others and give back to the Parkwood community
🩹 Basic First Aid & Emergency Awareness
And yes, there will be games, projects, field trips, snacks and plenty of fun along the way.
THE PARKWOOD DIFFERENCE
Horses teach things a worksheet can't.
At Parkwood Farms, we believe some of the most important lessons in life are easier to understand when there is a horse standing in front of you.
A horse doesn't care whether a Clubber got the answer right on the first try. The horse responds to patience, clarity, consistency and trust. When something doesn't work, the Clubber has to stop, think, adjust and try again. When a horse is nervous, the rider learns to pay attention. When a horse depends on you for food, water, grooming and care, responsibility becomes something you do, not something an adult simply tells you to do.
Through these everyday experiences, Clubbers begin developing skills that reach far beyond the barn:
CONFIDENCE
Learning to do something that once seemed intimidating.
RESPONSIBILITY
Understanding that another living being depends on you.
COMMUNICATION
Learning to speak clearly, listen carefully and pay attention to what isn't being said with words.
PROBLEM-SOLVING
When the first approach doesn't work, think, adjust and try again.
PATIENCE
Learning that trust and skill take time.
BOUNDARIES
Understanding that horses have limits—and so do people.
EMPATHY
Learning to notice what another living being may be experiencing.
LEADERSHIP
Discovering that real leadership begins with service, responsibility and helping others succeed.
STEWARDSHIP
Caring well for the horses, land, barn and opportunities we've been entrusted with.
THE HORSE IS PARTNER, TEACHER & MIRROR
A Clubber may come to Parkwood thinking they are here to learn about horses.
Before long, they may discover that the horse is teaching them something about themselves.
How they handle frustration.
How they respond when they are nervous.
Whether they listen.
Whether they rush.
Whether they can slow down.
Whether they are willing to ask for help.
And eventually, whether they are ready to help someone else.
That is the Parkwood difference.
We aren't just teaching young people how to work with horses.
We are giving them a place to practice becoming the kind of people they want to be.
The horse opens the door. The life lessons walk through it.
WHAT IS PARKWOOD FARMS PONY CLUB?
Parkwood Farms Pony Club is an Equestrian education and life-skills program for young people ages 8 and up. We believe learning to ride is only one part of becoming a well-rounded Equestrian. Clubbers learn how to safely handle and care for horses, develop English riding skills, understand horse health and nutrition, explore trail riding, Mounted Games and Drill Team, and discover how horses can teach us about responsibility, communication, confidence and leadership.
Our Club is intentionally designed for different ages and levels of experience to learn together. A new Clubber may be learning how to safely approach a horse while a more experienced Clubber is practicing the same skill independently—or helping someone else learn it. Clubbers progress according to their individual readiness, not according to a race or a rigid timetable.
And this is where Parkwood is different: the horse is part of the teaching team. Through the relationship between horse and Equestrian, young people learn to pay attention, communicate clearly, solve problems, respect boundaries, care for something outside themselves, serve their community and eventually lead. Some days are in the saddle. Some are in the barn. Some are filled with games, projects, service or adventure. Every experience is designed to help young people grow—not just as Equestrians, but as people.
- Confidence
- Responsibility
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Patience
- Leadership
- Service
- Empathy
There is no "behind" at Parkwood Farms. There is only the next skill to learn.
HOW THE CLUB GROWS
🌱 Foundations
I'm building the basics.
🐴 Developing
I'm becoming more independent.
⭐ Advanced
I'm applying skills and taking greater responsibility.
🌟 Leadership
I'm teaching, mentoring and serving.
WHAT DOES A YEAR LOOK LIKE?
FALL — Build the Foundation
WINTER — Develop the Equestrian
SPRING — Apply, Lead & Serve
SUMMER — Never Stop Learning
SUMMER EXPERIENCE SEASON
Summer is when the classroom gets bigger.
🐴 Trail rides
🏕️ Camps
🎨 Art & photography
🏛️ Horse museums & history
👮 Mounted Patrol / working horses
🩺 Veterinarian / Horse First Aid
🌲 Off-site experiences
🤝 Service projects
🎯 Special Equestrian activities
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Pony Club may be a great fit for a young person who...
- Loves horses—or thinks they might.
- Doesn't have a horse of their own.
- Wants more than a weekly riding lesson.
- Learns best by doing.
- Wants to become more confident and responsible.
- Enjoys working with others.
- Wants opportunities to lead and serve.
- Is ready to learn at their own pace.