The Pony Club is one of the most popular young equestrian organisations in the world; it is a club for children and young adults until they turn 21, with an optional extension to 25 years of age. It originated in England in 1929 with 700 members. There are branches in 30 countries all over the world. Although the name Pony Club implies that only ponies are allowed to be ridden, any height horse is acceptable. It was named The Pony Club because it was originally started in England where children learn to ride on one of the nine breeds of native ponies found in Great Britain.
USPC
In America Pony Club began in 1954 and it is called the USPC or United States Pony Club. USPC headquarters is at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The USPC ideal is to teach children to be well rounded horse people with complete knowledge of riding on the flat, jumping, riding in the open and horse care. Their Mission Statement is "The mission of the United States Pony Clubs is to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence."-Pony Club Mission Statement
Clubs
There are over 600 clubs in the United States and over 12,000 members. Kids have to have access to a horse or pony but they do not have to own one. Many programs are offered including dressage, cross-country, show-jumping, mounted games, tetrathlon, horsemanship, vaulting, foxhunting, polo, and polocrosse. Not all programs will be offered in every club so be sure to check what is offered in your area. Pony Club includes unmounted meetings where children are taught about the health and care of their horses. Some of the unmounted lessons are feeding, shoeing and veterinary care. Under adult supervision, some of the more experienced Pony Clubbers may instruct and assist younger members.
Ratings
One of the aspects that makes Pony Club one of the most popular and highly regarded equestrian instructional programs in the world is their rating system. When a child enters Pony Club they are unrated they can begin to test into the higher ratings beginning with D-1 then D-2,D-3,C-1,C-2,C-3,B,H-A and finally A. D-1 through C-2 are local ratings given at the club level with the C-3, B, H-A, and A are at the National level. In the UK, the tests start with D (the lowest) and proceed through D+, C, C+, B, AH and A. The last three are awarded after riders have been tested by outside examiners appointed by Pony Club Headquarters.
The USPC has recently begun specialized ratings, focusing on eventing (the traditional format), dressage, or show jumping. Beginning at the C-3 level, the candidate may choose a path and follow that discipline through to the A rating. These ratings would go as follows:
Eventing (traditional): C-3 approx. training level, B approx. preliminary level, A approx. intermediate level
Show Jumping: C-3 rides 3'3-3'6" (level II-III jumpers), B rides 3'9" (level III-IV jumpers), A rides 4'3" (level V-VI jumpers)
Dressage: C-3 approx. first level, B second level, A third level Th
All riders would still be required to take their H/H-A rating.
Competitions
Competions are held annually for Dressage, Show-Jumping, Eventing, Games, and Quiz/ Horsemanship. The competitions are known as rallies and they are team rather than individual competitions. Quiz questions are asked for each particular members rating level with varying degrees of difficulty. Questions cover such areas as equine nutrition, conformation, competition rules, riding skills, vetrinary knowledge, and equine first aid. National Championships are held every three years at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. This event normally brings over 4,000 Pony Club members and has educational clinics in addition to the competitions.