Pony Club is one of the leading junior equestrian organizations in the world, represented throughout 30 countries! The United States has over 600 individual Clubs spread throughout 48 states and the Virgin Islands, with more than 12,000 members.
It is not necessary for a child to own a horse or pony, since Double D is an official USPC Riding Center. In traditional Pony Club, it was mandatory that a child either own their own animal or have easy access to one. A Riding Center Pony Club utilizes school horses and ponies as well. Programs are offered in dressage, eventing, show jumping, mounted games, and quiz.
During "unmounted" meetings members learn about feeding, shoeing, veterinary care, and other areas of horse management. Under adult supervision, the more experienced Pony Club members instruct and assist younger members.
“As a member of the United States
Pony Club, I stand for the best in
sportsmanship as well as in
horsemanship. I shall compete for the
enjoyment of the game well played
and take winning or losing in stride,
remembering that without good
manners and good temper, sport
loses its cause for being. I shall
endeavor to maintain the best
tradition of the ancient and noble
skill of horsemanship, always
treating my horse with consideration
due a partner.”
USPC Riding Center Program
The Pony Club Riding Center Program is designed to work with facilities that currently
have a riding lesson program in place. The facility must be able to offer the core disciplines
of Pony Club and be able to handle the administrative work involved in running a Pony
Club Riding Center. The full Pony Club program and all Pony Club opportunities will be
offered to those members participating through a Riding Center.
The purpose of the Riding Center Program is to make available Pony Club membership to
youth who would not traditionally have been able to participate in Pony Club due to not
owning or having consistent access to a mount. Many clubs have addressed this issue on a
local basis. The Riding Center Program will address it on a national basis.
In 2005, the United States Pony Clubs Board of Governors approved the formation of a
test phase for the creation of USPC Riding Centers. This program is currently entering a
five-year pilot period to allow analysis of the potential value of the Riding Center Program
while enabling changes or adjustments as necessary. There will be controlled growth of the
program during the test phase, and only a limited number of facilities were recognized
in 2006 and 2007, with Double D Equestrian Center as one of them!!
For more information about Pony Club and the world of experience it offers to junior riders, visit their website:
http://www.ponyclub.org
