I Ride! - Pony Club Discipline News
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Pony Club Members Win at North American Junior Field Hunter Championships!
The 2016 North American Junior Field Hunter Championships were hosted by Dr. & Mrs. Jack van Nagell at their own Boone Valley Farm on October 23rd in Lexington, KY. The event, designed for junior riders, is set in the hunt field with participants competing in Hilltopping and First Flight divisions. More than 20 current and former Pony Club members competed and finished in the top ten of some challenging divisions. Hilltop Division Champion Mary Katherine Leveridge, C-1 Traditional, Half-Halt Pony Club, Heartland Region Reserve Champion Cian Yorba, D-2 Traditional, Keeneland Pony Club, Midsouth Region 4th place- Grayson Yorba, D-1 Traditional, Keeneland Pony Club, Midsouth Region 5th place- Madison Elliott, D-3…
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Spring Has Sprung, So Have Hoof Problems
Have you ever heard the statement, “no hoof, no horse”? What about, “If you think a good farrier is expensive, try using a bad farrier”. Both of those statements are truer than some people know. We thought sharing some ideas for what to do when your barefoot horse has been trimmed “too short” or if your horse pulls a shoe and tears off hoof in the process would be helpful. To begin, there is an ideal that most farriers are trained to trim/shoe. The hoof should have the correct angle and depth and is trimmed and rasped according to shoes or barefoot. When going barefoot, most farriers will do what…
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What’s Up Doc, The Ideal Pony Club Mount
Molly Ryan, a C+ Dressage member of the Sinking Creek Pony Club in the Old Dominion Region submitted the following story as her entry for the Flash Teamwork Award for 2015. One of a few finalists, Pony Club wanted to share the story of this fabulous Pony Club horse who has taught many members the ropes of Pony Club. Enjoy! What’s Up Doc didn’t begin his life as the ideal Pony Club mount; he was, in fact, quite the opposite. Barely 14.2 hands, with a surprising wild streak and intense fear of thunder, Doc arrived at Harmony Hills Equestrian Center, the home of Sinking Creek Pony Club, with little training…
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What’s Up Doc, The Ideal Pony Club Mount
Molly Ryan, a C+ Dressage member of the Sinking Creek Pony Club in the Old Dominion Region submitted the following story as her entry for the Flash Teamwork Award for 2015. One of a few finalists, Pony Club wanted to share the story of this fabulous Pony Club horse who has taught many members the ropes of Pony Club. Enjoy! What’s Up Doc didn’t begin his life as the ideal Pony Club mount; he was, in fact, quite the opposite. Barely 14.2 hands, with a surprising wild streak and intense fear of thunder, Doc arrived at Harmony Hills Equestrian Center, the home of Sinking Creek Pony Club, with little training…
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Benefits of Participating in the InterPacific Exchange
Pony Club “A’ Traditional member, Nicole Ligon (Pickering Hunt Pony Club in the Eastern Pennsylvania Region) has sent us a story about her experiences participating in the Inter- Pacific Exchange this year. Do you have interest in trying out for a Pony Club exchange program? Get more information HERE! Enjoy! Attaining a position on the USA Inter-Pacific Exchange was at once one of the biggest honors and opportunities I have received through my time in the United States Pony Club. Simply being allowed to apply for the team was humbling; members must be B or A level riders, be willing volunteers and ambassadors for their country, and be capable of…
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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 [email protected]. 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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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 [email protected]. 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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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…
