A group of young kids holding puppies, smiling at the camera with the Elkridge-Harford Pony Club

Club Highlight: Elkridge-Harford Pony Club

By Heidi Boan, District Commissioner (DC) of Elkridge-Harford Pony Club

A group of young girls Foxhunting with the Elkridge-Harford Pony Club
Photo courtesy Heidi Boan

Region of Club: Maryland Region

When was your club formed?
We are proud to be the oldest Pony Club in the United States. Elkridge-Harford Pony Club (EHPC) dates back to 1934 when we were founded as the Taylor Pony Club as an extension of the British Pony Club.  We then became the Baltimore-Harford Pony Club and in 1954, as enough clubs were forming to create the United States Pony Clubs, we became Elkridge-Harford Pony Club. [This means Elkridge-Harford Pony Club is also celebrating its 70th Anniversary, just like the United States Pony Clubs is celebrating its 70th Anniversary.]

How many members are currently in your club?
EHPC currently has 49 members. 

Does your club host any events throughout the year?
Some events that we host are the spring EHPC/Harford Horse Shows Association horse show, summer pony camp, Foxhunters in Training (FIT) Camp, and the fall EHPC Hunter Trials. 

A group of young horseback riders riding outside with the Elkridge-Harford Pony Club
Photo courtesy Heidi Boan

What disciplines do your members participate in?
Our members participate in Foxhunting, Quiz, Mounted Games, Dressage, Show Jumping, and Eventing. 

Do you have any favorite club traditions?
Some of our favorite traditions include a visit to Pimlico the morning before the Preakness Stakes, and we host an annual pancake dinner for the community at the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club. Our club receives wonderful support from Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club, and many of our members are active Foxhunters.

What achievements from your club would you like to highlight?
This season, 10 of our members qualified to participate in the Junior North American Field Hunter Championship in the fall of 2024. Last summer (2023), we were proud to send eight of our members to USPC Championships East in Tryon, N.C., for Quiz, Show Jumping, and Dressage. 

For more information about the Elkridge-Harford Pony Club, visit https://elkridgeharford.ponyclub.org.

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The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC or Pony Club) is the largest equestrian educational organization in North America. Started in 1954, the organization has developed curriculum that teaches safe riding skills and the care of horses through mounted and unmounted lessons. Through Pony Club, members have fun with horses and make lifelong friends while they develop skills, habits, and values that extend well beyond the barn and last a lifetime. Many members apply what they have learned in the USPC program successfully in their careers, educational and volunteer opportunities, and other life pursuits.

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