2024 USPC Festival Mounted Education Preview

Mounted clinics during the 2024 USPC Festival Education are scheduled and offer a ton of fun for anyone wanting to try different disciplines. Anyone interested in riding their horse during Festival Mounted Education must register by July 8 at noon. Learn more about what is offered below and sign-up before that deadline.

Time Left to Register for Mounted Education

Day

Hour

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Second

Festival Mounted Education sessions are offered in the following disciplines: Eventing cross-country, Distance Riding, Dressage, Mounted Games, Ground Training/Horsemanship, Hunter Seat Equitation, Show Jumping, Trail, and Western Dressage. There are two morning riding sessions and two afternoon riding sessions each day, Sunday and Monday, July 21 and 22.

Those registered as mounted/unmounted participants, or parents/leaders/friends are welcome to audit (observe) any of the mounted clinics. Once on site, you can pick up a clinic schedule at the Main Show Office on Nina Bonnie Lane or at the Information Booth in the Trade Fair for clinician schedules and locations.

Information about each riding clinic offered during Festival Education:

Eventing Cross-Country

Participants will get to school the wide variety of obstacles the Kentucky Horse Park has to offer and work on pace, terrain, and techniques necessary to compete in horse trials. Includes clinics from Starter to Modified. Clinicians: Colleen Rutledge, Ciaran Thompson, Mary Schwentker, Jennifer Merrick-Brooks, Cathy Wieschhoff, Allie Sacksen, Richard Lamb, and Mandy Weissmann

Distance Riding

Sponsored by the Arabian Horse Youth Association
This is a fun, comfortable trail ride over the easy terrain of the Kentucky Horse Park. Participants will learn the procedures used in Distance Riding, ranging from pace to conditioning tips and taking temperature/pulse/respiration (TPR) skills. Clinician: Rae Birr, DVM

Dressage

Participants in the Dressage clinics will work on components necessary to successfully ride dressage tests and improve the performance of their horse. Clinicians: Ann Hill, Debra Sue Waters, Sarah Morgan, Stacy Anderson, Terri Rocovich, Reese Koffler-Stanfield, Susan Perellis, Joan Leuck- Waak, Sue Kolstad, Karen Brown, and Jane Kelly

Mounted Games

Riders will learn the basic skills needed and pick up some secrets to success from an experienced coach and Pony Club alumni. Clinician: Ashley Johnson

Ground Training/Horsemanship

Sponsored by Absorbine
Members of the Kentucky Horse Park Mounted Police will present sensory training to teach the horse to negotiate obstacles while on the ground and mounted. Clinicians: Kentucky Horse Park Police.

Hunter Seat Equitation

In these clinics, emphasis will be on good equitation and harmony with their horse. Clinicians: Deb Willson and India Anderson

Show Jumping

In these clinics, participants will emphasize good equitation over fences and Show Jumping course-riding skills. Clinicians: Deb Willson, Sarah Shade, Karen Marcotte, Daniel Stewart, Kim Goto Miner, and India Anderson

Trail

We are excited that Trail is a new riding clinic this year. English or Western tack is acceptable. Riders will learn how to negotiate obstacles using their horse’s maneuverability, willingness, grace, training, and obedience, as well as their horsemanship skills. Clinician: Chris Pepplitsch

Western Dressage

One of the fastest-growing disciplines in the country. Come learn what type of tack to use, how Western Dressage riders train, and what judges are looking for when riding a test in this mounted education session during the 2024 USPC Festival. Clinician: Terri Rocovich

Foxhunting

Come watch or participate in the early morning Foxhunt run by the local Iroquois Hunt at 6:30 am on Monday morning, July 22, 2024. Typically, this is a slightly foggy morning, and both horses and hounds are excited to ride through the cross-country fields at the Kentucky Horse Park.