GREY clouds and wet weather wasn't enough to deter Whitsunday pony champions from braving the Cannonvalley Pony Club last weekend.

Ahead of a t-shirt day local competition to be held this weekend at the Whitsunday Equestrian Group, numerous pony enthusiasts ranging from as young as eight braved the course for a training rally.

The rally was all about familiarising competitors with the basics and helping them prepare for the competition.

Cannonvalley Pony Club vice-president Jane Krog said the regional event would put competitors to the test.

"Saturday is the dressage (competition), and Sunday will be show jumping, so it will be a casual in-house competition,” she said.

The t-shirt competition will feature a diversity of determined competitors among various age groups.

It will be an exciting event for all members involved, with a number of younger horses competing for the first time and some debut rider-horse combinations to feature on the day.

Pony Club secretary Melissa Lamont said the kids showed great determination on the track for their practice run.

"If we don't ride in the rain then sometimes we don't get to ride at all so we take it on and make it happen,” she said.

"The training rally is about getting to meet new people for the start of the year and encourage more people that are new to the club, the more members the better.”

Cannonvalley Pony Club president Kevin Krog said the training session pleasantly surprised him and other onlookers.

"Training went really well, some of the kids did a lot better than expected,” he said.

"You can tell the ones that have been practising at home from the ones that haven't and they are the ones that needed to do that little bit of extra work.”

Lamont said people of all ages were encouraged to take part in pony racing on a recreational or competitive basis.

"We want to make it encouraging for everyone and open to all age groups,” she said.

"The Pony club mostly targets kids whereas we want to get adults to come as well.”

Lamont said while it would be a local competition she would expect to see spectators come in from Mackay and Bowen to watch and support everyone involved.

Club president Kevin Krog thanked instructors Melissa Lamont and Ness Torti for donating their time.