PPG (Prince philip games)

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Prince Philip Games are a team competition played by Pony Clubs around  the world. His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinborough  donated the original Prince Philip Cup to the British Pony Club in the  1950's. Canada has its own Prince Philip Cup, so named by permission of  His Highness, and donated by the late J.R.Crang. It is awarded annually  to the best team in Canada.

The games were designed for children to compete on well-trained  ponies, to use their skill and rapport with their equine and human  friends, and to gain confidence while riding in fun competitions. These  games help to promote the Pony Club motto, "Character, Loyalty, Sportsmanship".

Teams of four or five riders and their ponies play the Prince  Philip Games. With only four participating in each game, this gives  ponies, and riders, a chance to catch their breath, by sitting out a  race. Riders must be under the age of 15 as of January 1st in each year  to be eligible to play "A" Division Prince Philip Games. There is also a  "Masters Mounted Games" division for the older members. These riders  may use horses. The Canadian Pony Club officially recognized the Masters  Division in 1996. Riders interested in learning the Games are taught  the necessary skills by the coach and/or by more experienced players in  their Branch.

Teams, which qualify at the Regional level, may compete for their  Zone Championships. The top teams from each zone compete for the  National Championship. Some Regions provide additional levels of  competition for less experienced players in a "B" and "C" division.  These riders compete at a slower pace, looking for accuracy and  technique before speed.

All of the Games are variations on the relay race. Some require  the riders and ponies to maneuver a slalom course in and out around a  series of upright poles from one end of the playing field to the other  where they hand-off a prop to the next rider on the team. Some races  require riders to vault off and on their ponies. Others require riders  to drop objects such as socks, balls and vegetables into buckets using  techniques to prevent bouncing out again! There is an egg-and-spoon  race, and others which ask the rider to pick up objects with another  object such as in the "Sword" and "Litter" Races. Riders develop  remarkable skills in the areas of timing; sense of space, speed and  direction; co-ordination; agility and horsemanship. They also laugh a  good deal - the only way to deal with mistakes when everyone makes some!