Kat Netzler

Are you a graduate of the United States Pony Clubs? If so, you’re likely eligible for inclusion in a new online roster of equestrians at USPC.org.

The youth riding organization has created a free “Proud Pony Club Graduate” logo for former members to display on their business websites or social media platforms with a link to the USPC homepage.  And graduates are also invited to submit their name, business logo and a link to their own website for inclusion in their virtual Rolodex.

Given his success in European CCIs in recent years, it's easy to forget that at 32, Boyd Martin has spent the majority of his life riding in far less prestigious settings. In fact, it's experiences like breaking horses in Northern Japan and breaking bones in the Australian Outback that made Martin the horseman he is today—the Chronicle's 2011 Overall Horseman of the Year.

Any U.S. Eventing Association members who headed to Nashville, Tenn., for the Annual Meeting and Convention on Dec. 7-11 hoping to hear a decision on the reconsideration of the “one fall, and you’re out” rule were sorely disappointed. Because at the conclusion of the weekend, the usually forthright Malcolm Hook, chair of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Technical Committee, was still keeping his cards close to his chest.

As the rider with the shiniest boots at the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session, Jacob Pope will surely fulfill U.S. show jumping chef d’equipe George Morris’ turnout expectations when he meets him in January.

But on the list of things that impressed EAP clinicians on Nov. 17-20, several more important characteristics trumped Pope’s polishing skills. The 16-year-old rider from Columbia, Md., bowled over the judges with his top-level riding, horsemanship and stable management skills.

Temecula, Calif., Nov. 6

Placing second on your dressage score in a CCI**: check. Winning a CCI*: done. And scoring your first CCI*** victory: oh yeah, did that too. 

Those accomplishments were all in a day’s work for James Alliston at Galway Downs. The 27-year-old California-based Brit asserted his dominance at every level, claiming the three-star title aboard India McEvoy’s Jumbo’s Jake and taking seventh on his own Parker II, snagging the runner-up spot in the CCI** with Tivoli, and scoring a surprise win in the one-star with Mojo.

Temecula, Calif., Nov. 5

“It was tough,” was how James Alliston summarized Ian Stark’s CCI*** course at Galway Downs after galloping around it clean and inside the time not once but twice this sunny Saturday afternoon.

Temecula, Calif., Nov. 4

Buck Davidson isn’t that excited about winning the dressage at the Galway Downs CCI***. Don’t get him wrong, he’s as proud as ever with his mount, Ballynoe Castle RM, especially considering the conditions the 11-year-old gelding endured today.

Aug. 28, Richland, Mich. 

Even with his toughest competition entering the arena immediately after his show jumping round with Ballynoe Castle RM, Buck Davidson knew he’d already won the Richland Park CIC***. Davidson and “Reggie” topped the division on their dressage score, 43.3, and finally won out in the tie he’d been holding with Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda since Thursday.

Aug. 27, Richland, Mich. 

Jennie Brannigan and Buck Davidson both came to the Richland Park CIC*** with a bit of an axe to grind. Brannigan needed confirmation that the work she’d done with Cambalda since they were eliminated in their four-star debut in June had really bolstered the gelding’s confidence.

On Aug. 11, the Fédération Equestre Internationale published its updated list of eventing yellow (warning) card recipients online. Since the end of April, three U.S. riders and three Canadians have been issued yellow cards, and four others have been given official verbal warnings. The majority of disciplinary actions came at The Event at Rebecca Farm, July 21-24, in Kalispell, Mont.