Becoming a member of the United States Pony Club affords individuals many competitive and educational opportunities across the United States and abroad. Through our various Special Opportunities programs, members have the chance to experience international competitions via International Exchanges, Invitational Competitions such as the President’s Cup and Prince Philip Cup, virtual competitions in the disciplines of Dressage and Quiz, as well as the highly-competitive USEF Pony Jumper Finals held annually at the Kentucky Horse Park.
These Special Opportunities aren’t just limited to competitive experiences either; members who are selected to represent USPC are immersed in a cultural experience with members from Pony Club organizations around the globe, allowing members to experience horse care and riding from a whole new perspective. Exchanges are hosted on a rotational basis and have featured locations like Ireland, Hong Kong, and New Zealand to name a few.
USPC also offers many opportunities to ride and participate in clinics and lessons with top caliber professionals. Some clinics do not require riding, while others offer members a chance to try a new discipline with their horse. From police horse desensitization training, to cross-country training with Olympian Gina Miles, to meeting horse racing legends like USPC graduate, Michael Matz, members have a chance to learn from the best.
And while Pony Club encourages members to ride and compete at USPC events such as rallies and Championships, many members also compete in open competitions in their respective disciplines. Several disciplines offer USPC member-specific classes or awards. USPC also works with, and offers recognition for, certain breed associations during the competition season.
The Trip Harting Fund was created with donations from Trip's friends and colleagues after he passed away in 2008. This fund will provide an annual $1,000 grant to a current or graduate rider with a Pony Club Certification of A, B, or C to attend an educational event of his/her choice. Preference will be given to riders with an A or B Certification. Learn more about the Fund.
Designed to educate amateurs and professionals who wish to further their education in the classical system of dressage, this revamped program make education more accessible to the general membership, offers new pathways for those seeking to become certified instructors, and provides more resources for professionals.
The goals of the program are to provide education from the grassroots to the professional level; to provide access to online resources and learning modules; to set instructor certification standards of proficiency; to provide instructor certification opportunities; and to align the education of dressage participants at every level to the standards and levels of proficiency from Training Level through Grand Prix. The certification levels offered are:
For more information on this program, visit the USDF website or contact the USDF Education department, (859) 971-2277.
USPC members will be recognized for their competition efforts both in USPC and USDF. USPC members will receive a certificate at the end of each year based on the criteria below. It will be the responsibility of the Pony Club member to get all the information together and submit it via the online application by the deadline each year. Members may apply for more than one level.
Submission Deadline: November 15 | Copies of the official test sheet must be included for verification.
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Blue Ribbon Club: Completion of one USPC Dressage Rally at the Introductory Level and one USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage Show at the Intro Level.
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Medallion Club: Completion of one USPC Dressage Rally at the Training Level and one USEF- licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage Show at the Training Level.
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Bronze Medal Club: Completion of one USPC Dressage Rally at the First Level and one USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage Show at the First Level.
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Silver Medal Club: Completion of one USPC Dressage Rally (this can be in competition at any level or by being a volunteer for the rally) and one USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage Show at the Second Level.
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Gold Medal Club: Completion of one USPC Dressage Rally (this can be in competition at any level or by being a volunteer for the rally) and completion of one USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage Show at Third level or above.
All competitions must be completed during the current year. Interested members should complete their applications and have them signed by the appropriate individuals in-person, during the rally. Members may apply for more than one award each year.
All applications must be submitted by November 15. Late applications not accepted. Questions may be directed to activitiescoordinator@ponyclub.org.
USPC members will be recognized for their competition efforts both in USPC and USEA. USPC members will receive a certificate at the end of each year based on the criteria below. It will be the responsibility of the Pony Club member to get all the information together and submit it via the online application by the deadline each year. Members may apply for more than one level.
Submission Deadline: November 15
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Blue Ribbon Club: Completion of 1 USPC Eventing Rally at the Beginner Novice Level or above and 1 USEA Horse Trial at the Beginner Novice Level or above.
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Medallion Club: Completion of 1 USPC Eventing Rally at the Novice Level or above and 1 USEA Horse Trial at the Novice Level or above.
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Bronze Medal Club: Completion of 1 USPC Eventing Rally at the Training Level or above and 1 USEA Horse Trial at the Training Level or above.
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Silver Medal Club: Completion of one USPC Eventing Rally (this can be in competition at any level or by being a volunteer for the rally) and completion of 1 USEA Horse Trial at the Preliminary Level or above.
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Gold Medal Club: Completion of one USPC Eventing Rally (this can be in competition at any level or by being a volunteer for the rally) and completion of 1 USEA Horse Trial at the Intermediate Level or above.
All competitions must be completed during the current year. Interested members should complete their applications and have them signed by the appropriate individuals in-person, during the rally. Members may apply for more than one award each year.
All applications must be submitted by November 15. Late applications not accepted. Questions may be directed to activitiescoordinator@ponyclub.org.
This is an invitational competition that takes place at the Kentucky Three-Day Event each spring. The top placing teams from the Junior Division at USPC Championships are invited to compete. Prince Philip inaugurated the Cup challenge in 1957 in England. The Prince Philip Cup was brought to the United States in 1985 to promote the advancement of mounted games. The Cup challenge annually brings the four best United States Pony Club junior teams in the USA to vie for the honor of having their names inscribed on the silver cup.
This is an invitational competition that takes place each year. The top placing teams from the Senior Division at USPC Championships are invited to compete. The President's Cup was donated to Pony Club by Mr. Jim Ligon, who is a past President of USPC, former USPC Games Chair, and a steadfast supporter of mounted games.
Are you a Quiz enthusiast? Are you a member of both USPC and USHJA? You may have an opportunity to represent USPC at the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Finals (HQC) held in November each year. HQC participants who are also USPC members may declare participation with either their respective zone team or the Pony Club team once they become eligible for HQC Finals. The finals will have 12 zone teams comprised of three finalists, one Pony Club team comprised of three finalists, and an additional 10 individual finalists who are not already on a team. All HQC participants must complete both the Level One and Two quizzes by September 1, of the year in which they would like to compete.
Visit the HQC webpage to learn more and register for the new season.
USHJA and the Emerging Athletes Task Force would like to invite riders to participate in the Emerging Athletes Program (EAP). The EAP was created specifically to provide opportunities for young riders to advance their education as they strive to become knowledgeable horsemen within the hunter/jumper community. The EAP Task Force is searching for dedicated and knowledgeable young riders who demonstrate the enthusiasm, work ethic, and aptitude necessary for success as horsemen, and to whom they can provide support and assistance in achieving their full potential.
USHJA applauds the importance that the USPC places on horsemanship and education, and the success its members have experienced as a result. The EAP provides additional opportunities for riders to benefit from the knowledge and experience of top hunter/jumper clinicians and stable managers during intensive four-day regional clinics. The program includes flat work, gymnastics, course work, and a comprehensive stable management curriculum. From the Regional Clinics, 16 riders will be selected to advance to the National Training Session and compete for the title of the EAP National Champion and a $3,000 grant for advanced training.
To be eligible for the Emerging Athletes Program, riders must meet the following criteria:
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Must be a current member of USHJA and in good standing.
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Must not have reached their 21st birthday before December 1 of the current competition year according to USEF rules.
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May not have competed in classes over 1.35m in height at the time of application.
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May not have competed in FEI Championships for jumping, such as Young Riders or Children’s International Jumping Competition.
Complete details and requirements of the application process, including the application deadlines and fees involved, are outlined on the USHJA website.
Several EAP alumni have gone on to great accomplishments in the hunter/jumper sport; e.g., being selected to participate in the USEF Young Rider Show Jumping Tour, winning International Grand Prix, National Medal Finals, college equestrian national championships, and participating in the NAJYRC. USHJA and USPC share the common goal of developing educated, thoughtful, and compassionate people who apply those principles to every aspect of their lives.
If you have any questions regarding the Emerging Athletes Program or the EAP application process, please visit the USHJA website or contact Katie Patrick, (859) 225-6725.
USEF Pony Jumper Championships takes place each summer at the Kentucky Horse Park in conjunction with the United States Pony Finals. The competition is run by USEF and includes a Team Championship and an Individual Championships. Each Zone within USEF is represented and USEF has graciously allowed USPC to send a team each year. The dates of this year's competition and other information about the competition and qualification process can be found on the USEF website, and here.
USPC's team will include the top three or four pony/rider combinations. To declare your intent to represent USPC, members must submit a declaration form by March 10. Riders must be current members in good standing with USPC, have a minimum D-3 certification, and declare their intent to compete for USPC by March 10. Riders must also be members of USEF and ponies must be recorded with USEF at the time of declaring their intent to compete for Pony Club.
USPC Declaration: To declare your intent to qualify for the USPC team, please complete the declaration form. Submit the form to the Activities Director at the USPC National Office by March 10. A reminder that USPC declared riders will no longer be eligible to compete for their home Zone for that year's Pony Jumper Championship qualifying period.
Team Selection Notification: The USPC Committee will notify in writing the top four pony/riders and alternates by June 15. If for any reason a pony/rider combination is not able to compete the next available pony/rider combination will be invited to compete. If USPC is not able to field a team after inviting the specified pony/rider combinations from the qualifying shows than the top two individuals will represent USPC. Once chosen to be a member of the team, or as an alternate, competitors are required to notify the USPC Activities Director of any change in the status of the pony or rider that may prohibit them from competing in the Pony Jumper Championship.
Financial Terms: Riders are responsible for their own expenses for travel, entry fees, stabling, etc. to the Pony Jumper Championship. However, in the past years, sponsorships and team fundraising have covered some of the team expenses. All team members are encouraged to raise money for this opportunity. For fundraising guidelines, contact Marian Wahlgren, (859) 254-7669.
Required Documents: Once a team is selected each pony/rider must fill out a USEF entry blank and are then subject to the rules of the Pony Jumper Championship and USPC.
For questions regarding the USEF rules for the Pony Jumper Finals, please contact Jennifer Haydon, USEF Director of Show Jumping, National Programs (859) 225-6911.