The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. and the Metropolis Federation of Equestrian Sports of Mongolia to Work Together for the Promotion of Rider Safety, Horsemanship, Horse Welfare, and World Horse Day

July 8, 2026 (Lexington, KY)—The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC or Pony Club) and the Metropolis Federation of Equestrian Sports of Mongolia (MFES) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Lexington, Ky., on June 22, 2026, establishing a framework for friendly cooperation between the two organizations in youth equestrian education, horsemanship, rider safety, horse welfare, responsible horsemanship, and international friendship.

The MFES delegation to Lexington had a productive meeting with USPC leadership, staff, and members of the Executive Committee. The discussion reflected the shared commitment of both organizations to promote safe, educational, and culturally meaningful equestrian activities for young riders while strengthening mutual understanding between the equestrian communities of Mongolia and the United States.

Under the MOU, USPC and MFES will exchange knowledge and best practices in youth equestrian education and development, rider safety, horse welfare, responsible horsemanship, leadership development, and community engagement. The framework also encourages future educational, cultural, and professional exchanges that foster international friendship through equestrian sport.

The leaders of both organizations also emphasized the importance of World Horse Day, observed annually on July 11 following its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in 2025. They expressed their shared intention to promote greater public awareness of the horse’s enduring contribution to civilization and to recognize the significance of equestrian sports, horse culture, and horsemanship in the development of both Mongolia and the United States. USPC and MFES look forward to encouraging international friendship and greater appreciation of the unique role that horses continue to play in communities around the world.

The MOU was signed by Ms. Teresa Woods, Executive Director of The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., and Mr. Munkhbayasgalan Mendbayar, President of the Metropolis Federation of Equestrian Sports of Mongolia.

USPC and MFES leadership expressed appreciation for the spirit of friendship and cooperation established during the meeting and into the future as USPC and MFES look forward to building practical, meaningful, and sustainable cooperation in the years ahead.

The Metropolis Federation of Equestrian Sports of Mongolia (MFES) is a branch of the Mongolian National Equestrian Sport Federation, which is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) for sport in Mongolia. The purpose of MFES is to preserve and develop the cultural heritage of Mongolian horses, traditional horse racing, and horsemanship knowledge; to improve and advance horse racing traditions and equestrian sports development in line with modern scientific approaches.

About The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. — The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC or Pony Club) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that builds the foundation of teamwork and sportsmanship through riding, mounted sports, and care of horses and ponies, while developing and enhancing leadership, confidence, responsibility, and a sense of community in its youth and adult members. USPC is proud to offer instruction and competitive opportunities in 11 competitive disciplines through hundreds of clubs and centers across the United States. USPC’s educational standards continue to be instrumental in curriculum development for schools, universities, equestrian professionals, and organizations across the United States. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including Olympic team members, as well as successful business professionals and leaders in a variety of fields, have roots in Pony Club. In addition, USPC proudly offers Allpony.com, an online platform dedicated to providing engaging and educational resources for young learners and horse enthusiasts and equestrians of all ages. The platform offers a variety of games, quizzes, and learning modules that will teach users all about horses. For more information, please visit www.ponyclub.org.