PrintThe U.S. Pony Clubs used to be all about going foxhunting, riding in combined training rallies, passing ratings, and then teaching your club's younger members when you got older. But today, Pony Club is and offers so much more. How do you fit it all into a busy world?
Traditionally, the USPC program has been aimed at equestrians up to age 21, with the idea of creating well-rounded horsemen and women. The standards to achieve the all-important ratings, from D-1 to A, largely revolved around eventing, with candidates required to demonstrate their abilities on the flat, over fences and in the open, along with practical, hands-on horse management and increasingly intensive oral exams.
That traditional curriculum has been used for the past 52 years, but on Jan. 20, the USPC Board of Governors voted to implement specialty standards in dressage and show jumping for the C-3 through A ratings to give their members more opportunities to focus on the discipline they prefer. These ratings would test the riders more completely in their respective disciplines.
The board's approval followed research by an ad-hoc committee, which cited lack of open space and cross-country courses, financial restrictions, and time constraints as reasons for the transition. Keeping members involved to hand down their knowledge to the next generation was another reason.
Another recent change to the traditional USPC format is the adjustment of the age limit for membership, from 21 to 25 years, to give members a longer window of opportunity to stay involved. The governors hope the change will allow more riders to achieve their upper-level ratings, which often conflict with college or careers.
"If a member cares enough to stay in an organization until 25 years of age, there's a very good chance that person has a vested interest in giving back to the club and region," said Art Kramer, the USPC's first vice president.
Kramer added, "Many of our current professionals have Pony Club roots. But many people active in the horse world today don't really know much about us. Some see us as a threat--just a 'cheap' source of instruction for little kids.
"When we have more current members active in the equestrian world, Pony Club's image should be easier to understand. I think when this happens, the opinion of Pony Club being just for 'little kids on ponies' will change back to what it used to be in the 'old' days. We really should be a respected launching pad for any equestrian activity in this country."
To Stay Or To Go?
Jesse Brownback, a 23-year-old graduate B of the Radnor Hunt Pony Club (Pa.), said that she'd like the chance to do the dressage specialty rating, because her 18-year-old mare is getting too old to jump. Brownback rides and competes side-saddle, and she's currently focusing on earning her U.S. Dressage Federation bronze medal.
But, like many 20-somethings, she's started a new job, in her case as a technical recruiter, and she's working 50 to 60 hours per week. That doesn't leave much time for riding.
"I've always been a big advocate of Pony Club--it's been a big part of my life and taught me a lot," she said. "I did rallies right up until my graduation, and I still stay as involved as I can, like prepping D's for rally. I was very involved, until my job took over my life."
Traditionally, the USPC program has been aimed at equestrians up to age 21, with the idea of creating well-rounded horsemen and women. The standards to achieve the all-important ratings, from D-1 to A, largely revolved around eventing, with candidates required to demonstrate their abilities on the flat, over fences and in the open, along with practical, hands-on horse management and increasingly intensive oral exams.
That traditional curriculum has been used for the past 52 years, but on Jan. 20, the USPC Board of Governors voted to implement specialty standards in dressage and show jumping for the C-3 through A ratings to give their members more opportunities to focus on the discipline they prefer. These ratings would test the riders more completely in their respective disciplines.
The board's approval followed research by an ad-hoc committee, which cited lack of open space and cross-country courses, financial restrictions, and time constraints as reasons for the transition. Keeping members involved to hand down their knowledge to the next generation was another reason.
Another recent change to the traditional USPC format is the adjustment of the age limit for membership, from 21 to 25 years, to give members a longer window of opportunity to stay involved. The governors hope the change will allow more riders to achieve their upper-level ratings, which often conflict with college or careers.
"If a member cares enough to stay in an organization until 25 years of age, there's a very good chance that person has a vested interest in giving back to the club and region," said Art Kramer, the USPC's first vice president.
Kramer added, "Many of our current professionals have Pony Club roots. But many people active in the horse world today don't really know much about us. Some see us as a threat--just a 'cheap' source of instruction for little kids.
"When we have more current members active in the equestrian world, Pony Club's image should be easier to understand. I think when this happens, the opinion of Pony Club being just for 'little kids on ponies' will change back to what it used to be in the 'old' days. We really should be a respected launching pad for any equestrian activity in this country."
To Stay Or To Go?
Jesse Brownback, a 23-year-old graduate B of the Radnor Hunt Pony Club (Pa.), said that she'd like the chance to do the dressage specialty rating, because her 18-year-old mare is getting too old to jump. Brownback rides and competes side-saddle, and she's currently focusing on earning her U.S. Dressage Federation bronze medal.
But, like many 20-somethings, she's started a new job, in her case as a technical recruiter, and she's working 50 to 60 hours per week. That doesn't leave much time for riding.
"I've always been a big advocate of Pony Club--it's been a big part of my life and taught me a lot," she said. "I did rallies right up until my graduation, and I still stay as involved as I can, like prepping D's for rally. I was very involved, until my job took over my life."
