Pony Club celebrated New Years by going to the EQUESTFEST in
Pasadena, CA. See article by Hannah J. on page 3.
EQUESTFEST!
Royal Riders
News February 2009
Volume 1, Issue 5
Upcoming Events 2
Pics of the Month 2
EUESTFEST! 3
About Pony Club 4
Horse of the Month:
Friesians 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Did you know?
Believe it or
not, horses
have no mus-
cles or fat in
their lower
legs. The bones
(and hooves)
below the knee and
hock joints are ma-
nipulated by ten-
dons and ligaments
connected to mus-
cles higher up in the
legs.
(Taken from “Good
Horsekeeping” by
Elizabeth Illif)
Royal Riders
Pony Club
Kristen D.
February 9th
Hannah J.
January 24th
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sammie H.
February 12th
A special welcome to our new members: Allyson A., Avery M., Halina H., and Sammie H.
Happy Birthday!
Pics of the Month
February:
Lessons every Monday and Friday
at 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 15th—McCoy Show—Chino
Hills
March:
Lessons every Monday and Friday
at 4:30 p.m.
Mar. 7th—Combined Driving Exhi-
bition
Mar. 14th—D Combined Rally—
Agoura
Mar. 21st—D1 & D2 Testing
April:
Lessons every Mon-
day and Friday at 4:30 p.m.
April 5th—Dressage Show—West
Covina
April 19th—McCoy Show—Chino
Hills
April 25th—Trail Ride
May:
Lessons every Monday and Friday
at 4:30 p.m.
May 15th-17th—Mega Rally—
Moorpark
May 23rd—Volunteer at Mustard
Seed Ranch
Upcoming Events
ROYAL RIDERS NEWS Page 2
A very goofy pony!
I’m watching you! I’m still watching you!
Photos taken by:
Katie D.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5
Today was the day. I was so excited, I hardly slept! This morning I was going to the EQUESTFEST at the Los
Angeles Equestrian Center. This is a presentation of the horses, riders and their parade performances all together in
one great show. Finally we arrived. When we got out of the car, I could already smell the stables…not that it was a
bad thing…it was kinda welcoming.
We saw the arena in front of us and went to get our seats. I was practically jumping off the stands! After
waiting a minute or two the show finally started. A bunch of riders on Palomino horses came out all dressed in red,
white, and blue. They trotted around the arena and we sang the National Anthem. Then they did a sort of dance and
made formations. So many incredible horses performed.
One of my favorites was a Medieval Times show. They chased each other all around the stadium with
swords and spears. One of the stallions, after having knocked off his rider, cantered around the arena having a field
day! I think the coolest exhibit was the girl trick riders who galloped around the arena at top speed. They did a
bunch of daredevil tricks on the horses’ backs. There were also enormous Shire horses being ridden by girls in top
hats. There were circus ponies and riders, and tiny donkeys that pulled a miniature cart. But, the most impressive
sight was the Clydesdales with their skill and obedience doing a 180 degree turn as they moved the Budweiser coach
around in one place.
After the show we went and visited all the horses and riders that performed. The one that amazed me
most was the solid white Shire stallion. He was a gentle giant and had the longest mane I’d ever seen. Another one
of my favorites to see and pet were the adorable miniature donkeys. The EQUESTFEST was an amazing experience.
It was a chance to see and get up close to the amazing Rose Parade horses. I truly loved this experience. My family
and I will surely make plans to go again next year.
The Amazing EQUESTFEST Adventure
By Hannah J.
Page 3
Pony Club Comes to Yorba Linda
North Orange County’s very own Pony Club is here! Become
a part of the Royal Riders Pony Club. Pony Club is an inter-
national club geared toward educating our youth and guiding them toward becom-
ing better horse riders. Pony Club will encourage our young horse lovers to become
even better citizens in our already strong community of horse lovers.
This year promises to be full of new experiences. Each month we will have an
unmounted lesson and two (or more if you want) mounted lessons. In the last
year, we have already hosted Pony Play Days for our members, represented our
club in our local parades, made our own homemade horse treats, and partici-
pated in a Pony Club Rally and Camp. In 2009 we are hoping to participate in
even more rallies and clinics, as well as to experience some local field trips. We
welcome you to join us! To learn more go to: www.ocponyclub.org
Friesian Facts
Sharon Kaak
18207 Shook Lane
Yorba Linda, CA
92886
Phone: 714-606-7136
Fax: 714-274-7136
E-mail: [email protected]
The Perfect Club for Pony Lovers
OC PONY CLUB
Our website is:
www.ocponyclub.org
1. Friesians are one of the most ancient European breeds of horse and modern Friesians are direct descendants of the horses that medieval
knights used to ride into battle.
2. Friesian horses come from the same area of the Netherlands as do the more familiar Friesian (Holstein) dairy cattle.
3. Friesians are a rare breed. There are fewer than 1000 Friesian Horses in the U.S. and Canada.
4. The Friesian Registry, which is still based in the Netherlands, maintains very strict standards for stallions. To become approved stallions are
judged on conformation, way of going and quality of progeny. There are fewer than 50 approved Friesian stallions in the entire world.
5. Friesian horses now only come in black but they originally came in chestnut and grey as well.
When the Friesian Registry was founded in 1879 there was only one purebred stallion remaining. All of today's Friesians can trace their ancestry
back to that one stallion. (from: www.waltz.net/friesians.html)
Suggestions, Comments, or Questions: Email Kristen D. at: [email protected]
Newsletter Managing Editor: Kristen D., age 12
Page 4 Royal Riders