Author: Pony Club

Fun and Friendship are part of the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. The United States Pony Clubs (USPC) was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit national youth horsemanship organization. The USPC has over 600 Pony Clubs nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii, 10,000 youth members and thousands of dedicated volunteers. USPC members range in age from as young as 4 to age 25. The local club is the heart of the organization offering activities to best meet the needs of members. The national organization is based in Lexington, Ky. Through the USPC formal instructional program, members learn about horses and their care. Horse Management is continually evaluated throughout all riding activities, which include Dressage, Eventing, Mounted Games, Polocrosse, Show Jumping, and Tetrathlon. Vaulting, Polo, and Foxhunting are other activities. Although USPC emphasizes instruction over competition, members actively compete at club, regional, and national rallies. Pony Club members progress through a standard rating system that guides them into learning more about horses while becoming increasingly accomplished riders. The Pony Club member who achieves the “A” rating – reached only by a small percentage of all members – is a highly competent and knowledgeable horseperson. The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., an organization for youth, provides a program that teaches riding mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence.