Young riders: Tiarna Hinton, 10 (front) Back row: Teniel Hinton, 10, Taylah Vella, 15, Naomi Hudson, 15, Kimberley Smith-Frail, 16, Bethany Gray, 16, and Bronte Grech, 16. Picture: Carlos Furtado
BLACKTOWN Pony Club has plenty to celebrate in its 50th year.
Young riders regularly hold their own at zone and state level competitions, and chief instructor Marilyn Currey has been nominated for a NSW Volunteer of the Year award after being involved with the club for 18 years.
A Riverstone resident, Ms Currey joined the club in 1984 when there were just four members.
Her daughters, then aged 4 and 12, rode until they were 26 and she stayed on afterward to teach others to ride.
"I don't think I'll ever get sick of going there," she said.
"I like the interaction with the people, I like the interaction with the horses and I like the aim of pony club — to get children involved in horses with a commonsense approach."
For the parents and students it is the community atmosphere and the range of riding disciplines that appeals.
Dressage, showjumping and mounted games are enjoyed by riders aged 4 to 24, while social activities include an annual Christmas party and zone camp.
Amanda Hinton's son Jeremy, 14, joins other riders at the club on the first and third Sunday of each month. Her twin daughters Tiarna and Teniel, 10, became members at age 3.
"This isn't a hoity-toity club, it's very family oriented," she said.
Club members will be on hand to support Ms Currey during the volunteer awards night at Rooty Hill RSL Club on February 23.