Year-Round Program
Equestrian
Sport Overview
The Equestrian Program
Equestrian at Guildford Grammar School offers students a unique opportunity to develop confidence, responsibility and horsemanship through a structured pathway that caters to both beginner riders and experienced competitors. More than just a sport, equestrian develops technical skill, physical coordination, an understanding of animal behaviour and a strong partnership between horse and rider, fostering patience, precision, resilience and teamwork.
The school offers two distinct equestrian pathways.
The Zia Park Equestrian Program is available to Boys and Girls in Years 5/6 in Term 2, 3 & 4 for Year 7-9 Girls during Terms 2 & 3. Designed for beginner and novice riders who do not own or lease a horse, the program introduces students to riding and horse care through qualified coaching aligned with the Pony Club Australia Curriculum. Prep students participate in classroom horsemanship sessions on Tuesday mornings and riding lessons on Thursday afternoons, while students from Years 7–9 attend Friday afternoon lessons at Zia Park Equestrian Centre in Gidgegannup. Students develop both mounted and unmounted skills while working towards nationally recognised Pony Club certificates. Places in the Zia Park Program are limited and subject to availability.
As the Zia Park Program operates as an additional sport activity, participation does not replace a student’s Winter Sport commitment. Students enrolled in the program are still required to select and participate in a Winter Sport with weekly fixtures throughout the season.
The Inter School Equestrian Program is available to experienced riders in Years 7–12 during Terms 1 and 4. Designed for students who own or lease their own horse and actively compete in sanctioned Equestrian WA or Pony Club WA events, this representative program provides specialised coaching and competition opportunities across the Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing. Training is conducted at Delamerie Park in Bullsbrook and the State Equestrian Centre in Brigadoon, with students competing in qualifying events throughout the year before culminating at the State Inter school Championships during the April school holidays. Many Guildford Grammar riders have achieved selection in State teams.
Although Inter school Equestrian riders may compete in qualifying events during Terms 2 and 3, the program is not considered a Winter Sport. Students are therefore required to continue representing the School in a Winter Sport with weekly fixtures during these terms. During the Summer Sport season (Terms 1 and 4), however, Inter School Equestrian is recognised as the student’s nominated School sport.
As a representative program, riders are expected to complete independent training outside scheduled School sessions, maintain a weekly riding journal, and demonstrate the commitment required to prepare both horse and rider for competition. Participation is intended for competent riders and is not a learn-to-ride program. Students must have access to their own horse for the duration of the program, and the School reserves the right to assess each rider’s suitability for selection.
Together, these pathways provide students with a clear progression from their first riding lesson through to high-level Inter School competition, developing exceptional horsemanship, competitive skills and a lifelong appreciation for the partnership between horse and rider.
Zia Park · Inter school · State Championships
GGS Equestrian – Two Pathways, Prep through Year 12.
Program Staff
Coaching & Staff
PollyAnne Huntington
Head Equestrian CoachPollyAnne Huntington brings a wealth of international expertise, experience, and passion to her role as Head Coach of the Guildford Grammar School Equestrian Program. PollyAnne has produced and trained her own horses to compete in the highest level in both Dressage and Eventing.
A highly respected figure within the equestrian community, PollyAnne is an A-Level Dressage Judge, Judge Educator and Mentor, as well as an FEI Eventing Level 4 GROUND JURY, FEITD Level 3. Her extensive officiating experience has taken her around the world, adjudicating at major equestrian events including championships. EA National Coach Educator and mentor contributing to the ongoing development of the sport from grassroots to high performance.
PollyAnne inspires students through her depth of knowledge, commitment to excellence, and dedication to developing confident, skilled, and respectful young riders.
Her focus on education, horsemanship and athlete development ensures students receive outstanding guidance both in competition and horse welfare in their ongoing equestrian journeys.
With a career built on expertise, mentorship, and a lifelong commitment to equestrian sport, PollyAnne continues to provide GGS riders with an exceptional pathway to achieve their goals and represent the school with pride.
Jodie Vance
Sport ManagerJodie Vance joined Guildford Grammar in 2018 and has been our Equestrian Sports Manager for the past 5 years. Combining her personal passion for riding with the opportunity to build a distinctive program, Jodie has helped establish Equestrian as a unique part of the School’s sporting landscape.
Jodie facilitates the two Equestrian programs here at Guildford Grammar School encouraging an inclusive and supportive environment for both experienced and novice riders. Her vision is to represent Guildford Grammar positively and inclusively, encouraging students to strive for personal bests in competition while reminding riders of the immense privilege of working with horses.
Our Zia Park Program caters for beginner and novice riders in Year 7-9 and Jodie really enjoys the positive experience that these budding equestrian students enjoy, watching them learn new skills and observing their confidence grow. Our End of Season Gymkhana is a wonderful showcase of the rider’s development over the season.
Our Interschool program has gone from strength to strength in recent years and, with a committed group of riders and their families, has seen great success winning Reserve Champion Secondary School the last two years in a row. Individually, many of our riders have collected discipline awards in Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing with several being selected to represent Western Australia at the National Interschool Equestrian Championships each year.
One of Jodie’s highlights is the addition of our Boarding Students to the Interschool program. In collaboration with Boarding staff, these students are now able to get to their horses at their agistment and participate in the State Championships.
Jodie looks forward to returning to competition when time permits, but in the interim enjoys lessons with accredited instructors and engaging in further Equine Studies. Mostly she enjoys the seeing the value in horses as the world’s greatest teachers and the lessons in grit, resilience and patience they teach.
Pony Club Australia Curriculum · Prep – Year 9
Zia Park Program
Season
Terms 2 & 3
Year Groups
Prep – Year 9
Venue
Zia Park, Gidgegannup
Curriculum
Pony Club Australia
Horse Required
No
Zia Park Program
Introductory Riding Program
The Zia Park Program is designed for students who are new to riding or who do not own or lease a horse. Held at Zia Park Equestrian Centre in Gidgegannup, the program runs during Terms 2 and 3 and is open to students from Prep through to Year 9. No horse is required – all horses and equipment are provided at the venue. Qualified coaches deliver lessons aligned with the Pony Club Australia Curriculum, covering both mounted and unmounted horsemanship skills.
Students work toward nationally recognised Pony Club certificates, developing skills in riding technique, horse care and stable management. The program builds confidence and horsemanship knowledge progressively across the season, providing an excellent foundation for students who may wish to advance to the Interschool Program in later years.
Zia Park Program Training
Zia Park Training Schedule
| Day | Time | Groups | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7:40-8:40am | Prep | Classroom / horsemanship theory |
| Thursday | 12:30-3:15pm | Prep | Riding lesson at Zia Park |
| Friday | 12:30-3:30pm | Years 7-9 | Riding lesson at Zia Park, Gidgegannup |
Refer to Clipboard for current session times, venue details and any wet weather updates throughout the season.
EA · Pony Club WA · State Interschool Championships
Inter school Program
Season
Terms 1 & 4
Competition
EWA · Pony Club WA
Training Venues
Bullsbrook · Brigadoon
Year Groups
Years 7-12
Championships
April School Holidays
Interschool Program
Competitive Equestrian Program
The Inter School Equestrian Program is designed for students in Years 7-12 who own or have access to a leased horse and are actively competing in sanctioned Equestrian WA or Pony Club WA events. The program provides a formal structure for GGS school representation, with training held at Delamerie Park in Bullsbrook and the State Equestrian Centre in Brigadoon during Terms 1 and 4.
Disciplines available include showjumping, dressage, eventing and combined training. Qualifying events take place throughout the year, culminating in the State Inter school Championships held during the April school holidays. Many GGS students in this program have achieved State team selection, demonstrating the high calibre of competition and coaching that underpins the program.
Inter school Program Training
Inter school Training & Events
| Period | Activity | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Selected Saturdays in Terms 1 & 4 | Training sessions and qualifying events | Delamerie Park, Bullsbrook + State Equestrian Centre, Brigadoon |
| Year-round | EA / Pony Club WA sanctioned qualifying events | Registered competition venues across WA |
| April school holidays | State Interschool Championships | State Equestrian Centre, Brigadoon |
Qualifying event schedules are confirmed throughout the year. Refer to Clipboard for current details and any updates to training venues or event logistics.
Equipment
Equipment
Riding Shirt
Navy polo shirt or long-sleeved option required for all sessions. Inter School riders must also have the long-sleeved white formal shirt for competition days.
Jodhpurs
White jodhpurs are required for all participants in both programs.
Helmet
A correctly fitted helmet meeting Australian safety standards is mandatory.
Boots
Boots with a heel meeting Australian standards for the sport are required for all riding sessions.
Inter school competition riders must additionally wear the school tie, navy v-neck school jumper and horse blanket with GGS branding when competing at inter school events.
Development Pathways
Representative Pathways
School Pathway
Pony Club Australia certificate progression through the Zia Park Introductory Program, from Prep through Year 9, building foundational horsemanship and riding skills.
Interschool Pathway
State Inter School Championships via qualifying events throughout the year, for students in Years 7-12 competing in EA or Pony Club WA sanctioned events.
External Pathway
Equestrian WA and Pony Club WA state and national pathways for students competing at the highest level in showjumping, dressage, eventing and combined training.
GGS Equestrian students have access to clear pathways through both the Pony Club Australia framework and Equestrian WA’s competitive structure. Many GGS Inter School students have achieved State team selection. Coaching staff can provide guidance on pathway options and connections with Equestrian WA and Pony Club WA development programs.
For Families
Parent Information
Information Page
This page contains the expectations for students, conduct standards and participation information.
Clipboard App
Clipboard remains the operational source of truth for individual schedules, wet weather, cancellations and team notices.
Consent & Forms
Season consent, medical disclosure and permissions are accessible via the Guildford Grammar School App.
Sport Uniform
Equestrian Uniform
All Year Round Equestrian Program – Preparatory and Senior Boys and Girls
Year-Round · prep mixed & Senior boys & girls
Standard Uniform
What to Wear
- Zia Park Equestrian (Years 5-9)
- Navy polo shirt (long-sleeve option available)
- White jodhpurs
- Boots with a heel – riding boots required for all mounted activity
- Approved helmet
- Inter School Competition (Years 7-12)
- Long-sleeved white formal shirt · School tie
- Navy V-neck school jumper · Horse blanket with G
- White jodhpurs
- Approved helmet
Get in Touch
Sport Enquiries
For questions about our programs, training, selection or representative sport, contact the GGS Sports Office.