TOPSFIELD — The heat yesterday afternoon didn't stop Brittany Taylor and her pony Winnie from playing games outdoors.

They practiced a variety of different pursuits in the afternoon sun, including one that involved Winnie darting across the open-air arena on Washington Street at full speed as Brittany dropped a tennis ball in a bucket halfway across the field.

This was the last practice for Brittany and Winnie before they head to Lexington, Va., next week to compete in the United States Pony Clubs Eastern Championship, where they will be judged on the many games they have practiced over the past five months. The games were developed in England and are based on old military training maneuvers.

Brittany, 15, will be joined by four other teammates, 12 to 15 years old and from around New England, who will compete on the senior level. The team — named The Firecrackers — qualified for the nationals by coming in first in a regional competition held at Topsfield Fairgrounds on May 28.

"I am looking forward to competing against different teams and the experience of going to the championship," said Brittany, a Topsfield resident who has competed in the regional competition four times.

Thirteen-year-old Faith Potorski of Georgetown, a student at St. John the Evangelist School in Beverly, is the team captain; she has been involved in Pony Club for four years.

"(Pony Club) is just so much fun because it is not as structured as other pony disciplines — you can go fast and gallop," Potorski said.

Her favorite Pony Club game is called "Spillers," in which each team member must place a letter on a pole, from a piece of pipe, until they spell out a word.

"I am looking forward to meeting new people, racing against new teams and the challenge," Faith said.

Faith's pony, Jack, stays on the property of Kat Tremblay, the team's coach. Faith wakes up early every morning (except the weekends) and takes care of all the ponies and horses in the barn, in exchange for Jack's board.

The United States Pony Clubs, based on the Pony Club in England, was founded in 1954 as a way to help children develop sound riding skills and learn how to take care of their mount, according the USPC Web site.

Each member of the team will also be judged on how well they take care of their ponies. Parents aren't allowed to help out once the pony is in the competition.

Tremblay has been teaching various Pony Club teams since 1988.

"My favorite part of coaching is working with the girls," Tremblay said. "I encourage them to have a fun time and work hard."

She is also sending another team called The Thing, which will compete on the junior level.

"(Team members) have been preparing for this since March and they worked hard to get to the nationals," Tremblay said. "They are very excited."