The core of our program is the working rally, or mounted meeting. Club members come to these meetings with their mounts for riding lessons, horse management instruction, mounted games, or other activities. We also hold unmounted meetings. Local clubs may send teams of riders to local, regional, or national "competitive rallies" in combined training, show jumping, dressage, mounted games, and the tetrathlon (riding, running, swimming, and marksmanship). Teamwork, horse management, good horsemanship, and good sportsmanship are just as important as performance.

There are nine levels in Pony Club, called "ratings." Members start out as "unrated." They learn at their own pace and take the test for each rating when they are ready. Each rating includes riding tests (in the ring, in the open, and jumping), stable management, and oral testing. Testing for the first five ratings (D-1, D-2, D-3, C-1, and C-2) is done by local examiners. The C-3 rating is done by regional examiners, while the three higheset levels (B, H-A, and A) are national ratings tested by national examiners. They require a high degree of skill, knowledge, and horsemanship experience.