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Riders need experience handling the speed and quick-thinking involved in racing long before they step onto the racecourse versus older, more seasoned competition.
“Thank goodness for people like Nick Arundel and Zeke Ferguson.They support this game and make it a way for kids to start,” he said.
The Wildcat Pony Races are run in two divisions, one for ponies under 13.2 hands and for those under 14.2. “The small and medium ponies race about 3/8th of a mile, and the large’s run about a half-mile. They do a walk-up start with a flag and all. We do this entire thing as much like real racing as possible.
The idea of keeping everything like regular racing is for both safety and educational purposes. The children are required to use break away stirrups and over-girths.
Lawrence summed up pony racing when he said, “This is a great sport. You can’t suddenly become a ballerina at age 16...you have to practice your dancing before then.”
The practice of race riding the youngsters gain at Great Meadow sets them right up to have a full dance card if they enter the world of professional race riding.
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