Horse Management is Calling: Becoming a Pony Club Judge

By Cindy Medina, Chief Horse Management Judge

Have you ever considered being a Horse Management Judge (HMJ) for the United States Pony Clubs? Do you love learning, teaching, horses, and working with members of all ages? Can you provide constructive advice and support, while encouraging safe practices and teamwork, all while teaching all about horse care and management? Then this job is for YOU!

My Start in HM

After taking time away to start a family and a racing career as a Thoroughbred jockey, I returned to the world of Pony Club in my mid-30s. I owe so much credit for my successful racing career to Pony Club. The horse management knowledge and skills I learned in Pony Club were a huge asset at the track.

One day I was sent to work a couple horses for a new client. They happened to have a Pony Club bumper sticker on their truck, which is always a good conversation starter. It turns out my new client, a husband-and-wife owner/trainer team were also the District Commissioner and Joint District Commissioner of a local Pony Club. It was fate, and just like that I was back in Pony Club, teaching lessons, doing certifications, preps, and coaching at rallies.

How did I make the switch from coaching to Horse Management (HM)? Well, it was back in the day of what I will call the “white glove” Horse Management. I was teaching a rally prep, and I overheard members talking about how they were looking forward to a rally, except they were not looking forward to Horse Management.

They told me that most competitors were worried about what Horse Management points they might incur for something as small as a speck of dandruff. This got me thinking, why shouldn’t Horse Management be something the members looked forward to? Members should feel enthusiastic and excited about demonstrating the Horse Management skills they worked so hard to learn. I
was inspired to help create a more positive, educational, and fun barn experience and made the switch from coaching to being an Assistant Horse Management Judge (AHMJ).

The Overall Process

There are a lot of acronyms in Pony Club, especially within the world of HM—that stands for Horse Management. There is the progression from Assistant Horse Management Judge (AHMJ) to Provisional Chief Horse Management Judge (PCHMJ), and finally to CHMJ. For those wishing to be a Horse Management Judge (HMJ), you must be at least 24 years of age. To become a Chief Horse Management Judge (CHMJ, the top level), you must be an HMJ at the regional level first. If you are interested, contact your region’s Horse Management Officer (HMO). And study the Horse Management Handbook and the discipline rulebooks for those of interest.

The HMO will have you be an Assistant Horse Management Judge (AHMJ) at a minimum of two rallies per year for no longer than three years before you can apply to become a CHMJ. After you judge a regional rally, the CHMJ at that rally will complete an evaluation form for how you did. In addition, you must attend at least one regional Horse Management seminar given by an approved and current CHMJ.

When you apply into the CHMJ program, you will need at least four references: one from your region’s Regional Supervisor, one from your region’s HMO, one from an approved CHMJ, and one or more from a person familiar with your equine background. Upon acceptance, you will be a Provisional Chief Horse Management Judge (PCHMJ). Then you complete a background check and training modules for member protection (aka, the SafeSport Trained Core Course), heat illness, and head injury, and you must be first-aid certified And finally, you must be a Life member or a Corporate member.

As a PCHMJ, you will serve as a Chief, with a mentor CHMJ who serves as an AHMJ and advisor, at a minimum of three rallies inside and outside of your region, and meet certain requirements for the size and type of the rally, etc., for at least a year. After that, the Horse Management Committee reviews all your evaluations up to this point, and you will move on or will complete a second year as a PCHMJ.

Why Become a Horse Management Judge?

If you are curious what the process looks like to become a Horse Management Judge, see sidebar called “The Overall Process” to the left. But also, you may want to consider why you want to become one.

Elizabeth Young, a CHMJ in the Eastern Pennsylvania Region, shares that she finds being a CHMJ fun.
“[There is] nothing more fun than hanging out all day with horses and competitors,” she said. “You get to figure out what HM judging is all about and can then help the members of your club to do better.”

Rallies often start very early, before the sun has even peeked over the horizon. The days are long and can be so hot you feel like you are melting in your boots, or so cold you may freeze in place; it can be rainy, dusty, noisy, chaotic, stressful, and it is AMAZING!

It’s watching a more experienced member assist a newer member from another team pick their cranky pony’s feet. It’s the tiny peanut-size competitor that struggles to carry a water bucket being assisted by another tiny peanut-size competitor who is not a teammate. It is watching them work without the assistance of Mom, Dad, or coaches.

Most competitors really do take pride in the fact that they get to do it all by themselves. Don’t get me wrong, Horse Management staff are there keeping an eye on things and ready to step in if safety is a concern or when asked. Asking a Horse Management staff member a question is not unauthorized assistance.

HM Judges get to see behind-the-scenes while members work in the barn. Becky Smith, a CHMJ from the Metropolitan Region, shared a story about one of the CHMJs she met when she was an AHMJ, Brian Smith (who is no relation to her). “He would say that being an AHMJ was the second-best job in Pony Club, because in the barns, you get to see the competitors who know what they are doing really shine, knowing they were doing it all themselves,” she said. “You get to work with the competitors who are learning skills and independence and watch them grow and develop.”

What It’s Like

Since a rally is a competition, that means it can be stressful and fun all at the same time. I was fortunate to be mentored under some fantastic Chiefs at my provisional rallies. I am grateful to Andrew Marsh, Clare Burkhart, and Brenda Yike, who taught me to do my very best to create a positive, educational, fun environment for the competitors, parents, coaches, and HM staff.

CHMJs set the tone for the rally experience for members and HM staff. “I became a CHMJ to give back for all I learned in Pony Club,” said Yvonne Ferrante, a CHMJ from the Eastern Pennsylvania Region. “I also wanted to make HM a positive experience for current members, because what HM represents is important.”

The barn area is usually a peaceful, positive environment with one exception, move-in day. Move-in day can be chaotic and stressful for everyone—competitors, parents, coaches, and HM staff. Imagine a beehive with competitor’s mounts being the queen bees. All the worker bees (competitors and parents) are bustling around all at the same time, in all different directions, making sure their queen bee and their accommodations are well taken care of. Trailers are pulling in, mounts are being unloaded, stalls are being set up, trailers unpacked, tack and feed rooms set up, etc. It is all hands on deck, with everyone doing something and many questions being asked and answered by HM staff.

“Move-in day can be made much less stressful by an upbeat, helpful HM staff,” said Melissa Dabadie, a CHMJ from the Sierra Pacific Region. “They can spend time meeting competitors and their families at rallies on move-in day, which opens the door for positive communication for the whole rally.”

Becoming the Best You Can Be

Being an AHMJ is the first stop in the process of becoming a Horse Management Judge, but it’s one full of continuous learning. Every year at Convention, the CHMJs attend a special educational training workshop that takes up most of the day. It’s important that CHMJs take the time to not only learn, but to share ideas and tips. These educational sessions help keep us all on the same page. It’s also a time to address any new issues that may have happened during rallies that year.

In 2023 and 2024, Dabadie and I taught the CHMJ training workshops, and we were thrilled to have a nice turnout of CHMJs from all over the country. They know that putting in the time and effort so that members have a good rally experience is rewarding for all.

Anyone can be trained in Horse Management skills, but upper-level members, especially those that have rallied already, have most of the skills needed. Having competed in rallies, they know the rules and what the judges are looking for, and they understand the chaos and nerves behind the scenes. They know what is involved in a rally—first set-up and safety, required equipment checks, horse inspection (jogs), and turnouts—and they could probably do HM requirements in their sleep.

“I knew from experience that good judges, in any competition, can create positive experiences even under negative circumstances,” said Smith. “I knew I could be objective and fair, holding members to their standards while grounded in practicality and reality. I’ve been doing this for a while now, and I’m still learning new and interesting things from my HM teams and competitors.”

Dabadie shares why being an AHMJ is so cool. “Being an AHMJ is a great way to get a backstage pass to the coolest show in town!” she said. “You get to be in the mysterious barn and support the competitors! It’s so much fun to be there as they work together to get their teammates to the arena, and then be there to talk to them about their rides when they get back. Think watching rides is fun? Wait until the members are done riding and start in on the donuts they forgot to eat this morning. Maybe they will even share one with you! Being an AHMJ is a great way to learn and get free donuts. Sign up now! Warning: if you’re any good at it, you WILL be asked to apply to the Provisional Chief Horse Management Judge program,” she laughed.

I look forward to the day when competitors are as enthusiastic and excited about showing off their Horse Management skills as they are there about their riding skills. The days of “white glove” Horse Management judging are gone! Today’s Horse Management is about safety, education, and most of all…fun!

If you are interested in being an AHMJ, contact your Horse Management Organizer and/or Regional Instruction Coordinator. If you are 24 years or older and interested in becoming a CHMJ, please email [email protected] or apply online here.

This article on Becoming a Horse Management Judge was originally published in the 2024 Spring issue of Discover USPC magazine. Read more content from that issue.