Rider Participation and Pathways Fund
Keep Young Riders in the Saddle
Your tax-deductible donation to the Barwon Heads & District Pony Club Rider Participation and Pathways Fund keeps kids riding and competing who might otherwise have to stop.
Donate Now
Tax-deductible donations through the Australian Sports FoundationThe Australian Sports Foundation retains a small administration fee from each donation.
The Problem
Riding Shouldn’t Be a Luxury
Pony club riding builds confidence, resilience, and a lifelong connection to animals and the outdoors. But keeping a child in the sport costs real money — coaching, equipment, rally fees, gear, and rising competition entry fees. When families are squeezed by cost-of-living pressures, riding is often the first extracurricular to go.
Equestrian is the only Olympic sport where the cost of participation itself is a barrier. A footballer needs boots. A swimmer needs a swimsuit. An equestrian needs a horse, transport, gear, coaching AND entry fees. BHDPC runs 12–13 rally days a year, with coaching costs of $12,000–$13,000 annually. Not every family can absorb that. The Rider Participation and Pathways Fund exists so that a kid who loves horses doesn’t have to stop because of money.
What Makes Us Different
Why BHDPC Is Worth Supporting
100% Female Riders
Every rider at BHDPC is a girl or young woman. In a sport historically governed by men, our club is a space where female athletes are the norm, not the exception. Your donation supports the next generation of confident, capable young women in equestrian sport.
Neurodiversity-Welcoming
BHDPC is building inclusive coaching infrastructure so neurodivergent riders can participate fully — sensory-aware briefing systems, individual support plans, and a club culture that sees every rider as an individual. Donations help us continue building systems that make pony club accessible to kids who might struggle in traditional sport environments.
Community
We're a volunteer-run club at Barwon Heads Village Park. We share equipment, subsidise coaching, and keep rally fees as low as possible. Competition entry fees are rising — the fund helps bridge that gap so riders can progress to competition without cost being the barrier. Your donation goes directly to keeping the club accessible to families in our community.
Where It Goes
Where Your Money Goes
Coaching Subsidies
Keeping rally fees affordable for every family.
Shared Equipment
So families don’t have to buy everything themselves.
Inclusive Coaching Resources
Sensory tools, adaptive equipment, and support planning.
Rider Retention
Direct support for families at risk of leaving the sport.
Competition Pathway Support
Helping riders access competition entry fees and related costs so progression isn’t gated by family finances.
Tax-deductible donations through the Australian Sports FoundationYour gift keeps a young rider in the saddle.
Tax-deductible donations of $2 or more through the Australian Sports Foundation.
Donate to the Rider Participation and Pathways FundThis is a charitable donation to the Barwon Heads & District Pony Club Rider Participation and Pathways Fund, administered by the Australian Sports Foundation. It is separate from the club’s commercial sponsorship program.
Our Community
Real Riders, Real Rally Days
These are the young riders and families your donation supports — photographed at our rally days at Barwon Heads Village Park.
