If the Pony Club conjures up a picture of little girls from well-off homes with their own ponies, think again. These days, Hermione and Harriet from Hampstead are as likely to be Kayleigh and Callum from Crayford, as LINDA PIPER discovers ...

ONCE upon a time, Pony Club membership was something for the privileged classes.

However, times have now changed, as one Bexley stables has discovered.

These days you do not have to own your own horse to be part of the club.

All you need is a passion for horses and riding.

Seven years ago, the Pony Club decided to widen its appeal and created centre membership, based at riding stables.

Young people up to the age of 21 can now join the club and take part in all its activities without having to own a horse or buy expensive equipment.

The Mount Mascal Stables, Vicarage Road, Bexley Village, is one of 360 centres across the country. It is also the biggest.

Since opening as a Pony Club centre in January last year, it has attracted more than 180 horse-mad members, both boys and girls, aged between six and 18, which makes it the largest in the country.

Alison Window, who owns and runs the stables with her father John, said: "We jumped at the chance to become a centre."

With a large number of young people already using the stables, it was an opportunity to offer the Pony Club's internationally-recognised qualifications and its fast-track to exams for those who want to work professionally with horses.

At Mount Mascal, members take part in weekly rallies, or group teaching sessions, where they learn how to ride and work towards the nine tests in pony care and riding.

They can also gain achievement badges covering 20 different subjects, including the countryside and environment.

There are lots of fun activities including competitions, a summer camp and trips to events such as the Horse of the Year Show and the Badminton Horse Trials.

Once it has a core of good riders, the centre also plans to enter riders in national Pony Club competitions.

Miss Window said: "It gives children a fabulous sense of achievement.

"It encourages children to focus and have a vision of what level of rider they hope to be in six months' time.

"Working towards the tests in groups creates a great network of friends who learn to assist and problem solve together."

She added: "Not only does it have the obvious benefits of an outdoor pursuit, it also encourages children to get off the streets and channel their energies into something rewarding."

Lucy Goler, of the Pony Club, said: "Mount Mascal is one of our big successes."

To find out more about Pony Club centres or for an application form, visit pcuk.org or call Mount Mascal on 020 8300 3947.