1. You don't need your own horse, but you do need access to a horse. You can probably make trailering arrangements with someone, but make sure to make it worth their time with gas money or something. At our club, most lessons are held at the same center, and you can rent one of the farm's horses for your PC lesson for $10. We have some kids that do that.
2. Ratings go from D1 to A, with many intermediate ratings. You can find all the requirements in the forms section of www.ponyclub.org, then look for "standards of proficiency". The lowest level, D1, is pretty easy. It does not require cantering or jumping to pass the test, and the horse knowledge part is pretty easy too. My son passed it easily when he was 7. The tests get progressively harder from there and the A is extremely difficult.
3. Each club will do things a little differently. Ours doesn't have many unmounted meetings, except when practicing for the quiz rally in January and February. They have lessons twice a month, and different teams practice at different times.
4. Allow at least 2 hours for anything, total. You might ride for 1 hour but need time before and after.
5. A rally is a competition, and you go to one as a member of a team (usually 4 riders). Pony Club sports include quiz, eventing, dressage, show jumping, mounted games, polocrosse, and tetrathlon (riding, running, shooting, swimming). Some clubs do additional things like vaulting.
6. Yes, lots of fun! I was in Pony Club myself from age 14 - 21, and now my 8 year old son is in a different club. I rose up through the levels with a great group of kids who I became very close friends with. My son has also made some good friends in his club.
However, it's not all fun, it's also a lot of hard work (but worth it in the end).
7. There is no minimum age, and the maximum to join is 21 but if already in, you can now stay until 25. Typically, you'll see kids anywhere from 5 to 21. Our club has 24 kids spread pretty evenly between ages 8 and 23.
8. see the list in #5
9. Yes, I'm a former member and a current parent, and also the games coach.
10. You have to renew every year. Part of the dues goes to the national office and the other part is your club/region. The total could vary. I think our club was somewhere between $150 - $185 last year. We'll renew at the annual meeting at the end of October.
Additional info: Go to the national website www.ponyclub.org and also to your region's website and that of the club(s) nearest you. Contact the DC of the club(s) you might be interested in and ask any questions you might have. Ask to attend some of their functions as a prospective member, so you can see for yourself what they do and how they do it.