Spring 2024 Pony Club Volunteer Awards Recipients

By the United States Pony Clubs’ Marketing Department

The United States Pony Clubs (USPC or Pony Club) has always been an organization run with the help of volunteers. In honor of recognizing the Spring 2024 Pony Club volunteer awards nominees.

Spring 2024 Pony Club 20+-Year Local Legend Award Recipients

Established by the Board of Governors in May 2010, the USPC 20+-Year Local Legend Award is intended to honor those who have faithfully served their local club, center, and/or region for at least 20 years. The following are the latest recipients of the Local Legend Award:

Clare Burkhart, of the Midsouth Region, has been a Horse Management Judge from 2004 to 2010 and a Chief Horse Management Judge since 2011. She has also been her region’s Horse Management Organizer since 2017, and she continues in that role today. She is also a member of the Activities Council, the Horse Management Committee, and has been Chair of the Discipline Education Committee since 2022. Her daughter has been an active member in Pony Club.

Joanne Harvey, of the Delmarva Region, has been actively helping Tidewater Pony Club since her eldest daughter joined in 2003. She has been an active parent volunteer and held multiple officer positions within the club—from Secretary to DC. She is currently the club’s Treasurer.

Diane Holtaway, of the New Jersey Region, began as a Somerset Hills Pony Club mom and volunteer, before becoming the club’s District Commissioner (DC) before her daughter became an alum. She organized all club events, rallies, hunter pace fundraisers, and general fundraisers, and trailered members and ponies to lessons and rallies. She provided immense guidance to club members and parents. She was also active in the local bridle path association, helping to restore and maintain area trails. Holtaway was an amazing leader as club DC and truly loved doing it. She has always been a phone call away to answer any questions that club members have.

Sharon Leonard, of the Midsouth Region, was the Keeneland Pony Club Treasurer from 2004 to 2019, and she has been her region’s Treasurer since 2007. She started as a volunteer for Pony Club after her daughter became a member.

Spring 2024 Pony Club Volunteer Recognition Award Recipients

The USPC Volunteer Recognition Award, created in 1993, is intended to be a special honor for the most dedicated Pony Club volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The following are the latest recipients of the Volunteer Recognition Award:

Larry Horowitz, of the New Jersey Region, has been a long-term Pony Club parent and volunteer over many years. He not only volunteers at events, but steps into any role as needed when. He can take on any role—from scoring to warm-up or in-gate steward—and he has even taken on multiple roles at once. Horowitz has the exemplary attitude to take on anything with versatility and a great, positive demeanor.

Eileen Johnson, of the Sunshine Region, recently helped at the Moccasin Stables Pony Club Riding Center Eventing rally, and the center would like to commend all her hard work as a volunteer that she put forth during the Eventing rally, which was hosted on September 9-10, 2023. Her service was greatly appreciated and absolutely essential to the success of the program.

Lisa Reader, of the Southwest Region, is an adult member of Los Alamos Pony Club. She began her Pony Club experience as a youth member of Musketaquid Pony Club in Massachusetts in 1974, and she also participated with Old North Bridge Hound and is an avid Foxhunter. Later in life in New Mexico, she was on mounted equestrian teams that included drill team, Polo, and both English and Western intercollegiate equestrian teams. Fast forward to being married with children. When she arrived in New Mexico, there was no Pony Club available for her children. Determined to give them this experience, she helped found the Los Alamos Pony Club. Expanding her horizons, she also helped the program become therapeutic-program qualified. Additionally, she added Chief Horse Management Judge to her credentials. As an adult member, she was a beta tester for the Horsemasters Program, which expanded to allow members of all ages. For years, she was at the USPC Convention leading Pony Paddock, until she passed on the reins in 2023. She was often the children’s first introduction to Pony Club. This invaluable service allowed adults attending the Convention to concentrate on what was being presented to them without worrying about their children. Ditto for supervising D-Camp at Festival. She also contributed to committees to plan large events, such as USPC Festival and USPC Convention. Her national committee membership has included the Foxhunting and Discipline Education committees. Locally, within the Los Alamos Pony Club over the years, she has held the positions of DC, Joint District Commissioner, Horse Management Organizer, and Regional Instruction Coordinator. She shares her vast experience nationally and locally, emphasizing Horse Management and teamwork. She herself is a great example of being a teammate. Reader was also featured on the Pony Club Podcast, episode #15.

To nominate a volunteer for a recognition award, please visit www.ponyclub.org/Volunteers/Recognition.aspx.