Volunteers: the Heart of Pony Club
By Sarah Evers Conrad, USPC Marketing and Communications Director
Volunteers are the heart of the United States Pony Clubs (USPC). After all, volunteerism is one of the core tenets taught by the program. They are the behind-the-scenes force that keeps our clubs and centers thriving, our events successful, and our members safe and supported. Our volunteer ranks—which number more than an impressive 25,000 volunteers—are filled with parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles and other family members, friends, and current and former members. In addition, for those who love horses and want to give back, USPC clubs/centers and regions should be a welcoming place to volunteer, although some requirements, such as background checks and SafeSport training, should be in place beforehand.
Volunteering is a fulfilling way to connect with others, learn new skills—including leadership—and it strengthens the entire Pony Club community. Let’s take a closer look at why volunteering is so important and explore the many ways you can get involved.
Why Volunteering Matters
Since its inception in 1954, Pony Club volunteers have always played a vital role. Volunteers ensure that meetings, rallies, clinics, and certifications run smoothly. They help provide safe, educational, and fun experiences for members from the local to the national level. They educate Pony Club audiences, help plan events, set up dressage and jump rings, assist with Horse Management, help at meetings and clinics, and much more.
But volunteerism isn’t just about helping Pony Club run well—it’s also about fostering lifelong friendships and learning opportunities for members of all ages. Parents who volunteer often discover they enjoy the experience as much as their children do. Grandparents find that they can share in the excitement and pass along their wisdom to multiple generations. Alumni find ways to stay connected. And current members put into practice the values that the Pony Club program teaches.
Sedate Kohler, who earned her H-A HM and C-2 EV certificiations when she was a member of Racine County Pony Club and is a teacher in her day job, says she was “bit by the volunteering bug early on” when she was on a youth board. She’s done everything from organizing clinics for her club, being a Horse Management Organizer (HMO) for her region, to serving on the National Youth Board. Currently, she serves as a Board Member and as the coordinator for Pony Paddock at USPC Conventions.
“I loved being the one that people could rely on to answer questions and be ground support for various activities,” she says. “I’ve gained priceless experience during my time in various volunteer roles—often aspects I can utilize in my professional life.”
Ways to Volunteer at the Club and Center Level
Local clubs and riding centers are always in need of dedicated volunteers. Here are some of the many roles you might consider:
- Club Officers and Center Volunteers: Club officer roles—District Commissioner (DC), Joint DC, Secretary, and Treasurer—are essential in guiding activities at the club level. At Pony Club Riding Centers, Center Administrators (CAs) and Assistant Center Administrators (ACAs) take on many responsibilities to have Pony Club programming at their facility, and they also rely on volunteers to do things, such as ensure meetings, lessons, and local certifications are organized and that members and their families enjoy their time in Pony Club.
- Event Support: From setting up show jumps to scoring an event or running the show office, there are endless tasks to help with at club events and rallies. If you enjoy being outside and active, this is a great way to pitch in!
- Horse Management Judges: If you have a passion for safety and horsemanship, consider becoming an Assistant Horse Management Judge (AHJM). Horse Management judges help ensure that rallies and events meet USPC’s standards for safety, horse care, and stable management. You’ll work with competitors, encourage safe horsemanship, and help foster an educational atmosphere. Learn more here.
- “Horse Management is the heart and soul of this organization,” says Kohler. “Being a member of an HM team, you are 100% there to be a positive ambassador of Pony Club and give your time to educate and help our members shine. It epitomizes what we are for.”
- Volunteer as an Instructor or Clinician: If you are a knowledgeable riding instructor, clinician, trainer, or an alum of Pony Club, there are a plethora of opportunities for you to share your skills with members in your area, or even travel a bit as a clinician. Sometimes this can turn into a paying opportunity, but many donate their skills or time to clubs/centers or regions once or even several times per year.
Regional Volunteer Opportunities
At the regional level, there are more opportunities to get involved.
Regional officers are key to the success of USPC’s 40 regions. These include the Regional Supervisor (RS), Vice Regional Supervisor (VRS), Region Secretary, and Region Treasurer. Region officers coordinate with clubs and centers, helping to organize regional or multi-region rallies, certifications, and clinics. It’s a chance to support multiple clubs/centers and to make a big impact, and it’s one of the biggest ways to be involved.
The Regional Instructional Coordinator (RIC) provides support to clubs and centers in their region by helping to develop instructional programming and offering advice and education to new clubs and centers concerning local-level testing and how to find an Examiner. It’s an important role so that members have access to quality education and resources. In addition, they oversee the region’s national testing calendar, along with the RS, and provide supporting programs for candidates wishing to take a certification test.
Horse Management Organizers coordinate and train various Horse Management judges for rallies and ensure that the competitions meet Pony Club’s high standards. They also coordinate Horse Management instruction in the region and for certification preps. This role is key in helping members develop the skills they learn in Pony Club.
RICs and HMOs are elected by the Regional Council, so you would need to reach out to your region’s nominating committee to let them know of your interest.
Volunteering at Rallies and Horse Shows
Rallies and horse shows provide an educational and competitive opportunity for Pony Club members to put all they’ve learned into action, but they simply couldn’t happen without volunteers. Here are a few of the many ways you can help:
- Steward
- Scorekeeper/Timer
- Operations/Equipment Crew
- Score Runners
- Announcer
- Rally Organizer or Assistant, Show Secretary, and Office Staff
- Hospitality
- Horse Management Barn Helpers
- Fence Judge (if cross-country is included)
- Scribe
No matter what your skills or interests are, there’s a volunteer role that can fit your schedule and abilities. Many volunteers find that starting small—like helping set jumps at a rally or bringing snacks for a meeting—quickly turns into a love for volunteering that grows with each new experience.
Past Board Member Ray Ingandela, who first found Pony Club as a parent, originally started volunteering as a way to stay busy when his daughter was competing. He’s done everything from various officer positions as a DC and Joint DC, Region Mounted Games Chair and coordinator, announcing at rallies and at USPC Championships, and emceeing at the USPC Convention, as well as serving on the Board of Governors. It went from just wanting to keep busy to becoming friends with regular volunteers and then “becoming family,” he says.
“Pony Club created a whole new social group for me and my wife,” adds Ingandela. “At its core, Pony Club is a wholesome and worthwhile entity that deserves my support. It helped shape my daughter into the successful woman she is today.”
National-Level Volunteer Opportunities
For those who want to be part of the action on a grander scale, volunteering at USPC’s national events—USPC Festival and USPC Convention—can be a truly rewarding experience.
- USPC Festival: Volunteers at Festival help with everything from setting up competition arenas to assisting with clinics and awards. It’s an unforgettable way to experience the excitement of Pony Club at its peak.
- USPC Convention: Volunteers assist with everything from registration, presenting, creating centerpieces for the banquet, finding sponsors, manning the silent auction, and much more. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with other volunteers and leaders from around the country, and many volunteers come yearly.
How to Get Involved
“If you have an opinion about how something went or should go next time, get involved and share it!” adds Kohler. “Pony Club is all about actionable change, and we love passionate people who want to do the work to bring more opportunities to our members.”
If you’re ready to jump in and make a difference, reach out to a local club or center through our Find a Club/Center page online, or if you’re already familiar with Pony Club and ready for a bigger role, reach out to your region or to the Activities Department. You can also learn more here.
If there isn’t a club/center in your area, the ultimate volunteer role would be to start one. Reach out to Member Services for more information or visit this page.
And don’t worry about not knowing what to do when you get started. The Pony Club National Office provides an abundance of volunteer training materials and leadership training, including more formal training at the USPC Convention or through online materials. In addition, current and former leaders are always willing to help someone new.
And for those current leaders who meet new potential volunteers, remember what it was like when you started. You are a key mentor and ambassador for Pony Club. For the success of Pony Club, it’s important volunteers feel welcome, get the training they need, and enjoy their time with us…regardless of whether they serve as a one-time volunteer or for a long time. Many volunteers stay with us well beyond their family’s membership in Pony Club, and it’s always interesting to meet someone who has been volunteering for decades.
Pony Club has always been about more than riding and ribbons—it’s about safety, education, FUN…and community. When you volunteer, you become a vital part of the Pony Club family. You help teach responsibility, leadership, and teamwork while creating memories and connections that will last a lifetime. We offer a big thank you to all of our volunteers for being the heart of Pony Club!
This article was originally published in the 2025 Summer issue of Discover USPC magazine. Read more content from that issue.
Sarah Evers Conrad
Sarah Evers Conrad is the Marketing and Communications Director for the United States Pony Clubs. She has worked with USPC since 2022. Prior to her tenure at USPC, she was the Digital Content Editor for Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines; the E-Communications Director for the United States Equestrian Federation; Managing Editor for USEF's Equestrian magazine, and she began her career on the staff of The Horse magazine. She has also freelanced for numerous equestrian publications and owned her own marketing agency.
You May Also Like
Training for Tetrathlon
Member Spotlight: Brandy Benedix
