How do you go about finding out if a local Pony Club is any good? I would like to know that they are safe and that my daughter has a good chance of learning what she needs to learn, rather than wasting my money.

Go to an open meet and talk to other parents and kids. Watch how they interact with the kids and the directions they give. Watch how the horses behave and the emphasis put on proper technique and good horsemanship/sportsmanship compared to winning. if you treat it like picking out a daycare or babysitter you'll do fine.

My daughter never went to day care and has never had a babysitter that wasn't her grandmother, so that's no guide for me!

Would they allow a parent to attend without the child, at an open meeting? I don't want to get her hopes up about starting in case it doesn't work out so I would rather check it out alone, but would that seem too weird?

It would be perfectly fine for you to go without your child. If the Pony Club is any good they will be able to understand your concerns. It is never too weird to be a good parent, you should always see if activities meet your standards before taking them.

When we talk about being like choosing daycare, we mean for you to research and investigate the school as if it would be a daycare option. In other words, check it our for yourself. Meet the teachers and other workers to get a feel for how they act. Talk to other parents and see what they think of the club. Ask the owner for information about their accident rates, etc. Any concern that you might have, the club should be able to address. Then, in the end, go with your gut feeling.

Where can you find local meets at? The most I see in my town are county fairs but never anything for purchasing a horse.