When Audrey Bevege joined the Te Kuiti and Districts Pony Club in 1954, as many boys as girls were members and the children rode their horses great distances to meets.

Nowadays they arrive with horse float in tow and the number of boys has steadily declined along with the use of horses on farms.

Today Mrs Bevege is a Queen's Service Medal winner for the 60 years she has dedicated to the sport.

The 76-year-old is humbled by the award, saying the support from other club volunteers over the years has been substantial.

"You couldn't run this without a wonderful group of people helping you."

Mrs Bevege has been everything at the club from junior riding instructor to district commissioner and, until recently, held an annual pony camp at her home in Ngatamahine, west of Piopio, where she and late husband Jim farmed for many years.

"The children came and stayed here and slept in the woolshed – up to 40 of them at a time.

"In the mornings they had riding instruction, in the afternoon they would take their ponies and trek across country. For some it was the first time riding over hills."

The active club sent young riders to compete in the New Zealand Pony Club Championship and the North Island Show Jumping Championship.

At the same time Mrs Bevege held positions in other pony clubs, judged dressage, show jumping and calf clubs with her husband, and was recently made patron of the Merehuia Calf Club at Piopio School.

Pony club has been a major part of her life and these days Mrs Bevege is widely known for her work within the sport.

"Some of my biggest kicks are when I'm away somewhere at a horsey event and some person will wander up to me and say `you're Mrs Bevege'. I've made wonderful friendships through dealing with young people."

When Mrs Bevege got the letter to say she was to receive the Queen's Service Medal she was taken aback.

"I was a little bit shocked because I didn't think I'd done enough to warrant recognition but I think it's not just for me, it's for a whole lot of people that help our little club and who work within the pony club movement.

"One person can never do these things alone."

Sourced from: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/queens-birthday-honours/5104812/Audrey-Bevege-Sixty-years-in-the-pony-saddle