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Tales of a Pony Club Professional Groom- Burghley
Pony Club member Alex Ambelang is back with more life lessons our members learn in Pony Club which help them in the real world. Alex is the head groom for Colleen Rutledge Eventing in Maryland. Follow along as she tells us how Pony Club has prepared her for this position as well as what she has learned since starting out. Alex is a regular guest blogger, so if you have questions feel free to send them to us for her at Mandy@ponyclub.org. Big, Bad, Beautiful Burghley 2015 has been a big year for me in general but the biggest highlight has to be Burghley. How incredibly fortunate I was and…
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Young Riders Learn From An Olympian
Courtesy of Community News Editor, Elaine Allen-Emrich and the Englewood Sun, Pony Club has an interesting article about members from Sea Fox Pony Club in the Sunshine Region getting to ride with Olympic Dressage riders. Enjoy! At 13, Tatumn Edge (C-1 HM, D-3 Trad, C-1 Dr) has a goal to train with an Olympic coach in Germany. Last week, she inched closer to her dream while working with Olympian competitor Kathleen Wightman-Raine and her husband David, both accomplished dressage riders. Dressage riding is the systematic development of horse and rider, resulting in a balanced, harmonious team. Dressage helps the horse and rider communicate with each other and develop balance, strength,…
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Regional Youth Boards: An Introduction
Krisin Short an H-B HM, D-3 Trad, C-1 Flat member of Lake Hunt Pony Club in the Lakeshore Region has graciously written in about the Regional Youth Board. Here are some insights into how a Regional Youth Board can benefit your area! Regional Youth Boards (RYB’s) are an invaluable resource for any region. Over the past several years, many regions have been incredibly successful in starting up productive youth boards. However, starting a RYB can be a daunting task that many regions may struggle with. As a branch of the National Youth Board, the Regional Youth Board committee is here to help! We hope to provide you with different strategies…
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USPC Research Project Fair: Expand Your Equine Knowledge!
Have you ever wondered why horses behave a certain way? Are you curious about how different approaches to horse care might affect your horse’s health or performance? Do you have questions about how or why certain horse management practices are preferred over others? Did studying for a recent Pony Club certification spark your interest to learn more about a particular horse sport, aspect of horse care, or riding concept? Are you interested in developing a strategy to learn more about a specific question you have about your horse? If you answered “YES!” to any of these questions, then the Pony Club Research Project Fair is for YOU!! The Research Project…
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Breaking the Mold
Thanks to the Director of Education and Development for the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Sarah Coleman, USPC is reprinting with permission a great article about moldy tack care. Read along to learn some great tips and tricks for excellence in tack maintenance. It’s the dog days of summer in the Bluegrass, a time of year when it seems saddle pads and helmets never quite dry out between rides. In addition to being uncomfortable to ride in, wet, humid conditions can lead to a tack room full of moldy saddles, bridles and other leather goods. This furry invader isn’t just unsightly; because mold is a living organism, it can actually…
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Tales of a Pony Club Professional Groom-Headed Overseas
Pony Club member Alex Ambelang is back with more life lessons our members learn in Pony Club which help them in the real world. Alex is the head groom for Colleen Rutledge Eventing in Maryland. Follow along as she tells us how Pony Club has prepared her for this position as well as what she has learned since starting out. Alex is a regular guest blogger, so if you have questions feel free to send them to us for her at Mandy@ponyclub.org. When Things Fall Apart… The past seven weeks of so have been a complete blur to me. I last left you all at Baltimore International Airport, where I…
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Merck Animal Health; Equine Influenza on the Rise
For the third year in a row, equine influenza virus cases in the United States are increasing Equine influenza virus is one of the leading respiratory diseases in the United States and the number of horses infected has been on the rise(1) Since 2008, Merck Animal Health has collected more than 4,700 samples from horses presenting with signs of acute infectious upper respiratory disease and/or acute neurologic disease as part of an ongoing research program. The two leading diagnoses, based on samples submitted from horses of all disciplines and ages across the United States, have been equine herpesvirus-4 and equine influenza virus(1). In an effort to protect horses against these…
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Horses and College Part 3: Intercollegiate Riding Teams
In our first two installments found here (part 1) and here (part 2) we discussed going to college and finding a degree for your horsey passion and taking your best (equine) friend with you. In this installment we will discuss joining an intercollegiate riding team. There are many different types of teams you can join and each has its own requirements. All of the disciplines have levels from Beginner to Advanced, but not all of them are considered a “sport” at a college or university. Some equine teams are only considered a “club”. There is a difference. If a college or university chooses to make a team a “sport” team…
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Organizing A Horse Show: Is it Worth it?
This is the second part of the series on Organizing a Horse Show. Follow along as we share some information on the hard-working brave people take on to make your horse show experience a success. Leaning on Friends One thing many organizers learn is to utilize the help they already have. Many have facilities they are trying to grow and support, students and clients they teach and ride for, and friends who help them when called on. These people are the foundation for extra officials, volunteers, and competitors whom the organizer can turn to for help. In turn these people might reach out to other friends and family members, making…
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Organizing a Horse Show: Have you got what it takes?
Have you ever considered organizing a horse show? Do you know what all goes on behind the scenes in planning as well as implementation? Do you ask yourself, is it worth it? It’s a tough job and only the toughest continue to put on shows each year. This is a small primer on what it takes to put together a show. Hopefully this will help those who have a desire or have never stepped up to this daunting task understand all that goes into making horse shows a success. (Editor’s note- this doesn’t include costs) The Beginning First, you need to find a venue to host your show. Once that…
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