Popular Pony Trots off and racing again!

Wherever they go, the “equines with attitude” of Victoria’s pony trotting ranks inevitably steal the show – and there was no containing the excitement at Tabcorp Park Melton this week when almost 50 youngsters had the chance to get hands-on with some of harness racing’s pint-sized stars.

COVID-19 delivered an unwelcome two-year layoff for the Pony Trots, but the sport is back for the four-month summer season, and Harness Racing Victoria celebrated with the first-ever school holiday program for local kids at headquarters.

“Nearly 50 kids and ponies meant it was a full-on day – but it was fantastic, and a great way to introduce new families to the sport as well as celebrating Pony Trots being back,” said HRV Pony Trots coordinator Jenni Lewis.

“We’ve separated the State into two zones this season, so no matter what area our Pony Trots families come from, they have an opportunity to race once a week,” she said.

Lewis said the previous two years had been disrupted, but participant numbers were holding at similar levels to pre-COVID.

“We ran some pre-season events earlier in the year just so the kids could get their ponies out of the paddock, get back together again and reconnect.  It helped to reset those friendships and get back into the swing of things,” she said.

“Children can get involved from age six and we’ve got five brand new families this year, including two from New South Wales and another family from Mount Gambier in South Australia.

“You always lose some each year when they get near the top end of the age group, which is 16, and during the time away, two Pony Trots kids in Jordan Chibnall and Shaun O’Sullivan became newly licensed junior drivers.  We love to see that progression happening through to the senior levels of the sport.”

Lewis said the focus of the Pony Trots program was being broadened this season to create a more defined pathway for young horse people to move forward in the sport they love.

“Everyone knows that Pony Trots is where our next generation in harness racing is coming from, so we’re focussing more heavily on giving the kids a range of experiences, not just the racing side,” Lewis said.

“We’ll be doing some workshops on pony care, some on nutrition and working in some life skills stuff, like how kids cope with the experience of not winning, or if they or their pony don’t always get it right.

“We’ve built in some media training, which involves Trots Vision TV interviews at each of the meetings we have pony trots scheduled and that’s been great. The kids are proud of themselves, proud of their ponies and their sport.

“Hopefully the broader experience means they’re better equipped to move into formal harness racing studies through Bendigo training school or to transition to become junior drivers or other career opportunities within the sport.”

Lewis said surveys of Pony Trots families had confirmed the social and sporting elements were the key.

“One thing that’s for certain what the kids love most about participating is going out and having fun with their friends. It’s a bit like Auskick or like any junior sporting code – the resounding answer is the best part is getting together with mates, having a good time and competing.”

Pony Trots will be racing tomorrow night (Oct 1) at Tabcorp Park Melton in a warmup for the Victoria Pony Trot Cup next weekend.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink