The Emerging Eighties for the United States Pony Clubs

Adapted from “A Story to Tell, The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. 1954–2004”

The 1980s saw so many USPC events with such a large number of participants that leadership took an active stance in placing more responsibilities at the local and district level. However, the face of the organization was changing.

Championships Competition and the First Festival

In 1981, the board voted to change the name of “National Rally” to “Championships” to reflect the competitor’s spirit. The original annual National Rally had become the National Combined Training Rally in 1978. In 1981, it was split into two championships—one held in Virginia and the other in Colorado.

In 1982, USPC added an East Coast Inter-Regional Show Jumping Rally. This led to yet another change, one in which the resources of the nationwide community of Pony Club members would join into an ambitious endeavor, with a much broader scope than anything the organization had attempted before. In 1983, USPC unveiled this new event to take place triennially (every three years) at the rolling Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.—USPC Festival!

The Kentucky Horse Park became the permanent site for USPC’s Festival in 1983. The brainchild of USPC President Marylou Anderson, Festival marked a major change in approach to what had in earlier years been an annual National Rally. The new Festival concept featured the USPC championship disciplines of Dressage, Combined Training/Eventing, Mounted Games, Tetrathlon and Know-Down (now Quiz), and it also included a Show Jumping competition that was not recognized as a national championship. In 1983, Marylou Anderson became the first woman USPC president since founder Louise Bedford. During her administration, USPC took even stronger steps towards preserving the safety of all riders.

Setting New Standards

Show Jumping and Vaulting came into greater prominence in the 1980s. Each activity brought with it a higher injury risk, so the USPC board evaluated and recommended a revised set of safety procedures and equipment.

Over a period of years, Dru Malavase headed a special committee of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), writing standards for better, safer riding helmets. Next, the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) agreed to test new helmets against the standards. In 1990, USPC was the first equine organization to require use of “approved” helmets in all its activities.

During the 1980s, work continued on the Standards of Proficiency, as Malavase and Ruth Ring Harvie carefully researched and documented each item in the Standards and reviewed the dozens of (sometimes conflicting) printed materials that Pony Club members were required to study. The groundwork was being laid for publication of American manuals (until this point, USPC members used manuals published by The Pony Club of Great Britain). At the same time, with the leadership of Joan Ketcham, Bev Chester, Betsey Reeves, Deb McKenzie Willson, and Judy Fannin, instructional videos were produced for all certifications (called ratings at the time), from C-3 through A.

Dedicated Leaders and Volunteers

The USPC board also considered the organization’s future in 1985, when it created the board-level position of Vice-President for Strategic Planning.

In 1985, after 11 years guiding the organization as its first professional executive, George Helwig announced his retirement. Helwig’s term was marked by great strides in standardization and professionalism for USPC. During his years, the number of local clubs more than doubled, Pony Club members saw the start of USPC News (now Discover USPC), and volunteers took advantage of specific training seminars as examiners and horse management judges.

In 1987, new opportunities for competition opened for Pony Club members as USPC coordinated the first Eastern and Western Championships in all disciplines. Because of the growing awareness of USPC, thirty-six clubs were added to the roster alone in 1987.

During the late 1980s, the Horse Management Committee, under Laurie Chapman Bosco, began a drive to standardize and improve Horse Management judging. The Horse Management Handbook, originally written by Graduate A Ben Duke was revised, and the first Horse Management Judges Seminar was held in 1988.

Volunteerism has been a hallmark of USPC since its beginning. Parents and friends put in hundreds of hours each year making USPC a great place for their children. In 1988, the board took another step in thanking the volunteers by inaugurating the first Founders Award. Given in memory of Louise Bedford, Alexander MacKay-Smith, and Howard Fair, the Founders Award is given annually to one or more persons who have provided service to USPC members over a period of 20 years or more.

Touchingly, the first Founders Award was given to Alice Reidy, longtime secretary who virtually ran the organization as a volunteer for almost its first 20 years. Also receiving the Founders Award that year was founding attorney and board member Sidney Felton, an early close associate of Alice Reidy and the other founders.

In 1989, USPC observed its 35th anniversary and hosted the third Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park.

USPC Presidents during the 1980s:

• John H. Fritz
• Mary Lou Anderson
• Anson W.H. Taylor, Jr.
• James K. Ligon

History adapted from A Story to Tell, by Robert R. Morris (The Donning Company Publishers, 2004).

Support the Future of The United States Pony Clubs

In honor of USPC’s history, consider showing your support with a gift to the Annual Fund. A gift of any amount helps ensure the future of Pony Club’s mission for generations to come.

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