Let’s ride a pony

Many children love horses and dream of riding a horse on an adventurous journey.Unfortunately, the excitement of a horse ride for them is not easily experienced here in town.

However, the Saigon Pony Club in District 2 is one place where this dream could be fulfilled. Located in an area of 4,000 square meters, the club attracts over a hundred children of different nationalities who ride the ponies after school time.

Amaury Le Blan, the club manager, told the Daily that the club is the only one of its kind in Vietnam. He said that the club came from an idea of a father who wanted to teach his daughter to ride a horse ten years ago. His teaching became known among his circle of friends and soon they were asking him to teach their own children as well. That was the beginning of the Saigon Pony Club.

Since then, the club has moved a number of times. It has been located in an area near the airport, in Thu Duc District, Tran Nao Street in District 2 and recently was at Lane 42, Le Van Thinh Street, Binh Trung Dong Ward in District 2.

Being born in a Pony Club in the Northern area of France, Amaury spent his childhood horse-back riding. He had his own horse and took part in local riding competitions. When he came to Vietnam four years ago he worked as a teacher at the Saigon Pony Club, and he used the opportunity to convey his passion for riding to both the children and the staff.

Amaury, who can speak English, French and Vietnamese, said that at that time horse racing was a popular activity in Vietnam but horse riding was a relatively new sport. It took a long time for the staff to appreciate the difference between horse riding and horse racing, and to learn the different skills required for taking care of the ponies.

The club now offers pony rides, ridding lessons, horse clinics, pony rentals and some events with the participation of the ponies. Every beginner to this sport has to go through a horse clinic to learn basic information about the ponies, for example how to groom them, and about the equipment such as the bridles and saddles. This gives the children an opportunity to know more about the ponies and their characteristics, and the more they know about the ponies, the more easily they will learn to ride them.

Many children start taking riding lessons at the club when they are quite young, such as Naomi, age 9 and Reilly, age ten, who started learning when they were two years old. Others just join the club for a few months. However, all of them love the ponies and know their personalities quite well - for example they know that Secret might bite, while Zigzag is nicer and can be stroked.

The children also really enjoy the lessons as the instructors make it a fun activity by singing songs and playing games such as ‘flying horse’ in which the rider has to extend their arms and wave, which teaches the children to keep their balance while riding the horse.

Amaury suggests that the schools in town could have outings to the club for the children to have a lesson about the basic theory of ponies and horse riding. This could be an extra-circular activity, and would teach the children a lesson in caring and loving.

Lessons for beginners are 30 minutes, priced at VND225,000. A 45-minute practice for intermediate learners will cost VND275,000 and a one hour ride for advanced learners is priced at VND325,000.

In the club the safety of the children comes first. All safety equipment is provided, including helmets, and there are always instructors and grooms keeping an eye on the children while they are on horseback.

Everyone is welcome for a pony ride and children will be held and kept safe. A 15-minute ride is priced at VND125,000 and a 30-minute ride is VND175,000.

However, handicapped and underprivileged children can have a ride during the morning free of charge. Amaury said that the club has invited 15 disadvantaged kids along with their specialized educators to the club to have a ride and learn some basic information about the ponies.

The club also holds jumping, dressage and riding contests during which the riders have to control their ponies as they perform skills such as trotting, galloping and jumping over a fence. An amusing contest is one in which the ponies are decorated with flowers and there is a vote for the nicest pony; a children’s party and an outdoor barbecue at the club is also included.

There are currently 19 ponies at the club, with cute names such as Princess, Ms. Saigon, Mr. Saigon and Minni. These names are easy for the children to remember, and some reflect the characteristics of the ponies. For example, there is one newly born pony called Secret, so named because no one realized the mother was expecting a foal, so the birth was unexpected.

For more information, contact Amaury Le Blan, Saigon Pony Club, Lane 42, Le Van Thinh Street, Binh Trung Dong Ward, District 2, cell: 0903 93 0907.

Source SaigonTimes