DISCOVER USPC - The Official Magazine of The United States Pony Clubs - Bonus Digital Issue 2023 by USPonyClubs

BONUS DIGITAL ISSUE 2023

2023 USPC Championships Recap

IMPROVE YOUR

Hunter Seat Equitation Skills AVOID THESE 5 GROOMING MISTAKES DISCOVER USPC

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BONUS DIGITAL ISSUE 2023

President: Jennifer Sweet Executive Director: Teresa Woods Editor: Sarah Evers Conrad

PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS, INC. 4041 IRON WORKS PARKWAY | LEXINGTON, KY 40511-8483 | OFFICE 859-254-7669 DISCOVER USPC, The Official Magazine of The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. is published two to three times a year by The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. and mailed to Pony Club members/families and Corporate Members. Readers are encouraged to submit ideas or articles for publication. Address all correspondence to the Editor at the above address. USPC is not responsible for the opinions and statements in signed articles and paid advertisements. These opinions are not necessarily the opinions of USPC and its staff. Pony Club recognizes that equestrian headgear that does not meet USPC Policy #0810 is not safe, although certain equestrian activities pictured in this magazine may not adhere to these requirements. Change of address must be made six weeks before date of publication for next issue to be delivered to a new address. Address changes can be made to your USPC member profile online or by mail. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to United States Pony Clubs, 4041 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511-8483. ABOUT ADVERTISING: Pony Club does not endorse any publication, service, or product, and reserves the right to refuse any advertising not in the best interest of USPC membership. Advertising in DISCOVER USPC, The Official Magazine of The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. does not imply any such endorsement; nor does Pony Club warrant as to the accuracy of any claims made by such advertisements that claim to meet Pony Club needs or requirements. Advertising does not necessarily reflect the standards and practices of Pony Club.

PUBLICATION EDITORS, NOTE: Unless it has been cited as having been reprinted from another publication, permission to reproduce any article or other editorial content published in DISCOVER USPC, The Official Magazine of The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. must be requested from the Editor at communications@ponyclub.org and with the condition that credit is given as follows: Reprinted from (issue date) of DISCOVER USPC, The Official Magazine of The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. with permission of the United States Pony Clubs.

© 2023 The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. No rights for commercial use or exploitation are given or implied. DISCOVER USPC are trademarks of The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. and registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

website: ponyclub.org uspc@ponyclub.org inquiries@ponyclub.org shopponyclub@ponyclub.org marketing@ponyclub.org communications@ponyclub.org development@ponyclub.org executivedirector@ponyclub.org memberservices@ponyclub.org instruction@ponyclub.org activities@ponyclub.org testing@ponyclub.org advertising@ponyclub.org ISSN 2767-1860 (Print) ISSN 2767-1887 (Online)

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Courtesy Trafalgar Square Books

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sarah Evers Conrad/U.S. Pony Clubs

Departments

Courtesy Triple Crown Nutrition

On the Cover: Audrina McCall, D-3 HM, D-3 Eventing, D-3 Hunter Seat Equitation, of Tennessee Valley II Pony Club in the Midsouth Region, with New Moon at the 2023 USEF Pony Finals. Photo by Lindsay McCall

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Bonus Issue 2023

4 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 6 BITS & PIECES 8 JUST FOR FUN 10 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: AMELIA AVERY 44 GROOMING GOALS: 5 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN GROOMING YOUR HORSE 48 NUTRITION NOTES: HOW TO SCORE YOUR HORSE’S BODY CONDITION

Features

12 RIDER SKILLS PROGRESSION IN THE HUNTER SEAT EQUITATION TRACK Understand how your skills will progress on up through the levels.

18 EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY FOR EQUESTRIAN LAND ACCESS Tips for effectively advocating. 20 USPC CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP & RESULTS Catch the highlights from this year’s USPC competition.

40 READY FOR RENO? See what all the excitement is about for the USPC Convention in Reno, Nev.

Ready, Set...

SHOW! Scan to shop www.countryandstable.com

THE EDITOR I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the editor of Discover USPC magazine. I’ve been with USPC for 11/2 years as the Marketing and Communications Director, and it’s truly an honor to be part of USPC’s mission to provide education within the horse industry. I’m always so excited to put out new content for members. The magazine isn’t the only way we reach out to members. If you haven’t been getting the Pony Club Enews, which is USPC’s official email newsletter, or following us on social media channels (especially Facebook and Instagram), then you are missing important news about Pony Club opportunities. We also round up stories and articles about members just like you and the experiences you can have within Pony Club, along with links to educational info. We also publish articles on the Pony Club Blog at blog.ponyclub. org with stories about members and clubs/centers. You or your club/ center could be featured. Just find a Member Spotlight or Club/ Center Highlight article on the blog, and you’ll find the instructions at the bottom. We also share about all aspects of Pony Club life, tips on planning for events, getting a certification, plus horse care and management, safety, multiple riding disciplines, and more.

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Bonus Issue 2023

The Pony Club Podcast, which is also on the blog, provides a way to easily get even more horse-related content and stories. Get tips on how to get the most from your Pony Club experience and listen to interviews with riders, leaders, volunteers, parents, and even famous USPC alumni. If there’s a specific topic you think we should cover, or you know of an interesting story or a person we should interview, then please email me at communications@ponyclub.org. Or share a Letter to the Editor and tell Pony Club readers more about your experiences, give feedback about Pony Club, or about our content. We are always open to hearing your voice.

Denisha Sproul Photography

LETTERS FROM...

Best Wishes,

Sarah Evers Conrad

Sarah Evers Conrad, Marketing and Communications Director

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BITS & PIECES Latest 20+ Year Local Legend Awards Elizabeth Jenner, Liberty Oaks Pony Club (Sierra Pacific Region)—As founder of Liberty Oaks Pony Club in 1993, Elizabeth has served in all roles at the club level. She tirelessly works to keep the club learning and thriving with a strong foundation in Horse Management. She gives members the opportunity to try different disciplines and teach others, while sharing her love of Dressage and Eventing. She is an H-A alum from Diablo Pony Club in Northern California and has supported numerous A-certified members in Liberty Oaks’ 30-year history. She also owns and teaches lessons at Gateway Farm Sporthorses in Acamp, Calif., with her many horses and her Dalmatians.

Constance Wyatt, Bath Pony Club (Tri-State Region)— Constance is currently Bath Pony Club’s JtDC, and she was DC from 2016 to 2022. She has served as a RIC, an RS, and a VRS. She has has served on a variety of USPC committees and been the chair of the USPC Dressage Committee. Constance, and her family, have been integral to Bath Pony Club for over 40 years. She was involved in the design and establishment of a cross-country course, has facilitated relationships and grants for repairs to Bath’s historical Red Barn and been involved with the building of stalls, warm-up rings, and the successful partnership with Medina County Parks and the Bath Volunteers for Service organization, which has led to huge fundraising for the club.

Not to Miss

■ New Pony Club Podcast episodes are available on podcast players: Catch interviews with Joan Leuck-Waak, Genevieve Munson, Lisa Reader, Genevieve and Lexi Rohner, Aliina Keers, and Keira O’Connor-Reichert—ponyclubpodcast.buzzsprout.com ■ Catch the following articles on the Pony Club Blog: “History of Equestrian Helmet Awareness and Use” bit.ly/horse-helmet-awareness-history “Why You Should Attend a Pony Club Regional Camp” bit.ly/why-you-should-attend-pony-club-regional-camp “Can You Spot the Signs of Dental Pain in Your Horse?” bit.ly/signs-of-dental-pain-in-horses “A Grown-Up Pony Club Life” bit.ly/grown-up-pony-club-life

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JUST FOR FUN

Find the Pony Club Pins

Find the 15 USPC pins hidden in the photo below (hint: pins worn on shirts don’t count).

USPC Trivia: How many can you get right? 1. When was the United States Pony Clubs founded? A. 1954 B. 2006 C. 1900 D. 2010

3. What is the age limit for USPC members? A. 16 B. 18 C. 25 D. There isn’t one

5. Which of the following is NOT a USPC competitive discipline? A. Show Jumping B. Western Dressage C. Driving D. Eventing

2. What country was Pony Club first started in? A. Germany B. The United States C. Great Britian D. Australia

4. Which discipline must EVERY member do in USPC? A. Horse Management B. Dressage C. Eventing D. Show Jumping

6. What does Pony Club teach? A. Sportsmanship B. Stewardship C. Leadership D. All of the above

Find the answer key on pg. 51.

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Amelia Avery

AGE: 15 | CLUB/REGION: FORGET ME NOT PONY CLUB, WHITE MOUNTAIN REGION | YEARS IN PONY CLUB: 6

What disciplines and/or activities are you involved in? Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Foxhunting, Mounted Games, Tetrathlon, Horse Management, and Quiz If you could try out any other discipline or activity, what would it be and why? I would try Polocrosse. It looks like fun! Tell us about your current mount(s) and what you do with them: I have two partners, Scooter and Vigo. Vigo is a 20-year-old black Dutch Warmblood who I event at the Novice level. We have been together for four years, and we have been Eventing for three summers. We are planning to go Training level together. Scooter is a 25-year-old gray Welsh Pony. We have been together for almost six years. He was the naughty pony that taught me everything. Now we do Mounted Games together, and we went to USPC Championships East this year for Mounted Games! Tell us about your goals (with Pony Club, with riding, and with life): Riding and Pony Club are my life. I hope to be an A-certified Pony Club member, an upper-level Eventer, and have a career with horses. DISCOVER USPC

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What is your favorite thing about Pony Club? My favorite thing about Pony Club is meeting new people who love horses. What is one thing you would tell younger members first joining Pony Club? Pony Club is a great way to learn how to be independent. What is your favorite way to prep for a Horse

Photo Courtesy Julia Tallman

Current Certification (and/or certification currently working on): C-2 Horse Management, C-2 Eventing, working on my H-B

Management certification? Prepping with other people, asking each other questions from the HM sheet, and using the flash cards.

Photo Courtesy Julia Tallman

Sarah Evers Conrad/U.S. Pony Clubs

Amelia and her pony, Scooter, joined the team Purple People Eaters for the EEI Mounted Games Invitational, which was held in April 2023 during the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

like horses after Horse Management meetings.

What makes you #PonyClubProud? I went to a non-Pony Club horse camp and realized Favorite Pony Club memory: how much more knowledgeable I am because of Pony My favorite Pony Club memory is jumping on our feet Club.

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Improve Your Hunter Seat Equitation Skills By Christina Keim, USPC National Examiner

Learn how to progress your Hunter Seat Equitation skills through the various Pony Club certification levels.

he Hunter Seat Equitation (HSE) discipline emphasizes the development of correct rider form and technique in order to help the horse perform consistently, accurately, and with technical proficiency over fences. In the United States, HSE is perhaps one of the most popular equestrian disciplines for junior riders. Developing correct equitation can be a goal unto itself or serve as a stepping stone to performance in the hunter or jumper rings. The United States Pony Clubs (USPC or Pony Club) HSE Standards of Proficiency prioritize skills related to arena jumping. Flatwork expectations focus on the rider’s ability to influence rhythm, balance, pace, and line. HSE riders often demonstrate a higher level of proficiency in their arena jumping skills compared to riders in other disciplines at the same level. In the open, HSE riders must demonstrate confidence and control at the walk and trot; they are not expected to canter or jump. Through all phases, HSE riders generally ride in jumping tack, with a shorter stirrup and closed angles at the ankle, knee, and hip. On the flat, the HSE rider keeps a soft forward tip at the hip, resulting in a slightly forward angle in the rider’s upper body. They do not sit as deeply in the saddle as their Dressage or Eventing counterparts, and on a jumping course, they typically remain in a light seat between fences.

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Photos Reprinted with permission from the book The Athletic Equestrian, By Sally Batton and Christina Keim; Courtesy Trafalgar Square Books (HorseandRiderBooks.com)

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D-Level Riding Expectations

not expected that a D-2 will have full control of their lower leg position. See “D-2 Lower Leg D-level members in all Fundamentals” sidebar below. disciplines are at the beginning of their horsemanship journey. D-2 HSE riders are still figuring out the biomechanics D’s are establishing a correct (or the structure, function, and foundation of safe habits and motion) of their riding position, the ability to ride independently, and often lack the required with a reasonably secure strength to hold their lower legs position at the walk, trot, and back, down, and in against the canter. D’s are still developing balance, strength, and horse’s side. It is common to see the lower leg sliding ahead suppleness on the horse, and or behind the ideal alignment, are learning the fundamentals particularly if the rider has lost of position. Therefore, their the correct foot placement in aids typically lack coordination the stirrup. and finesse, and at times their The D-2 HSE standard position can seem stiffer or requires riders to demonstrate more mechanical. This is the fundamentals of two-point normal and all part of the at the walk and trot, and over process of learning to ride! poles. This position will become The D-2 HSE Expectations one of the most important tools on the Standards of Proficiency for the HSE rider. However, state: Candidate should ride at the D-2, it is common that in a Hunter Seat Equitation the rider’s two-point lacks position in an enclosed arena balance, is held ahead of center, demonstrating control at the or demonstrates incorrect walk and trot and should begin Teagan demonstrates a correct two-point position. biomechanics, such as standing to develop the canter and up in the stirrups. two-point position. No need to The D-3 HSE Expectations on the Standards of canter over fences. Proficiency state: Candidate should ride in a Hunter Seat HSE riders looking toward D-2 will be focusing mostly on Equitation position with control at the walk, trot, and canter. their position in the saddle, with special emphasis on the lower leg. In HSE, the rider’s lower leg serves as the foundation for the Candidate should demonstrate a secure base of support while developing balance and a steady position on the flat and over rest of their position; establishing a steady, stable lower leg takes a great deal of thoughtful repetition and correction. Therefore, it is fences.

D-2 HSE Lower Leg Basics

D-3 HSE Benchmarks

■ To position your foot correctly in the stirrup, the toe and ball of the foot should be through the iron at about a 45° angle; the outside branch of the stirrup is a little forward with the inside branch a little further back. ■ Lower weight, or focus, your weight downward into the heel and lift the toe. ■ Your lower leg should hang beneath your hip. The stirrup leather should be perpendicular to the ground, with the knee centered over the ball of the foot. You should keep contact with the horse’s barrel.

When you reach the D-3 level in Hunter Seat Equitation, you can show: ■ Increased proficiency at the canter (including use of the half seat/light seat between fences). ■ Increased stability and consistent correct alignment of the lower leg. ■ Elementary use of aids to create basic bending and change of the mount’s speed at the walk and trot. ■ Competency in jumping basic courses of verticals and spreads at the canter.

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B A

Stella demonstrating one of the most common two-point position mistakes with her lower leg too far back (A). Now, Stella demonstrates other common two-point position mistakes with her lower leg too far forward (B) and by opening her angles (C). This puts her up and over the pommel of the saddle.

C DISCOVER USPC

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Sherry is in perfect harmony with her horse at the canter. When a member is approaching the D-3 certification level in HSE, not only are the fundamentals of the rider’s position more firmly established, they can now use this foundation to successfully navigate basic courses consisting of straightforward lines and simple turns over small fences, including verticals and small spreads. This skill set is developed through consistent repetition of simple jumping exercises, work over cavaletti, and plenty of two-point practice. See “D-3 HSE Benchmarks” sidebar on page 14. D-3 HSE members are enthusiastic equestrians, who are often starting to feel secure and capable enough to ride more independently with their mounts. Their position and overall balance on the horse is still developing, and their use of aids is often not finessed; ideally, they are still partnered with seasoned, reliable mounts that are forgiving of a newer rider’s mistakes.

C-Level Riding Expectations

After developing a solid position at the D levels, a C-level HSE rider is now learning to use their position to positively influence the horse. They demonstrate fairly consistent stability and security in the saddle, leading to more independent, coordinated aids, and a higher degree of confidence and control than a D-level rider. Through their discussion, they show a greater awareness of how their position and aids can either help or hinder the horse. DISCOVER USPC

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It is common for members working toward the C-level certification to “move up” from a beginner’s mount to one capable of more athletic performance. As riders adjust to their new mount’s longer stride or bigger jump, it can seem as though they backslide in their skills. Again, this is a normal part of rider progression; through coaching and practice, the rider will learn to adapt to the new mount’s way of going, and previous skills will “reappear.” The C-1 HSE Expectations on the Standards of Proficiency state: Candidate should ride with confidence and control on the flat and over fences, demonstrating a Hunter Seat Equitation position and use of natural aids. The candidate should begin riding the mount forward in balance and rhythm while developing a light contact. A C-1 HSE rider is learning that how they ride influences the horse. On the flat, they are learning to establish a positive forward rhythm and balance in the horse sufficient to jump a 2'9" course. Over fences, the rider is becoming comfortable with related distances, including basic combinations, as well as common equitation tests, such as trot fences and halts on course. They can now thoughtfully discuss their mount’s energy, bending, balance, and responsiveness, and understand how their aids influence these qualities. C-1 HSE riders are still learning to coordinate their aids, and therefore will likely have moments when communication with the horse isn’t totally harmonious. In HSE, the horse’s performance

is considered to be the direct result of the rider’s performance. Therefore, in discussion, C-level HSE members may be hypercritical of their riding. Instructors should be sure to help them recognize where their performance is going well, alongside a thoughtful discussion of those skills that are still developing. The C-2 HSE Expectations on the Standards of Proficiency state: Candidate should ride with confidence and control on the flat and over fences, demonstrating a secure Hunter Seat Equitation position and progress toward an independent seat and coordinated use of aids. Candidate should ride mount forward, establishing rhythm and elasticity while maintaining contact. The C-2 HSE rider is becoming a thinking equestrian, with an ever-increasing awareness of how subtle changes in their position can positively or negatively impact the horse. C-2 riders are developing increased sophistication and skill in jumping courses and should have fairly precise control of the horse’s rhythm, balance, pace, and line—both on the flat and over fences. In discussions about their riding, the C-2 HSE rider shows a strong understanding of how their position and aids influence the horse, and their “audio” (what is said) matches the “video” (what the rider does). Riders at this level not only demonstrate a secure position,

they ride with a degree of softness and ease due to increasing independence in their aids. An observer will see the result of the rider’s aids in the horse’s performance, but not necessarily notice their application.

The Show Jumping Specialty

Working through the local-level HSE certification levels sets up members with a foundation of skills and knowledge that could lead them to pursue the national-level C-3, B, and A Show Jumping certifications. A full discussion of the expectations at these levels is beyond the scope of this article, but for members with a strong passion for arena jumping, the upper-level Pony Club Standards of Proficiency for Show Jumping challenge them to develop progressively more precise skills over larger fences and more technical courses while working with various types of horses. Whether a Hunter Seat Equitation rider, or a rider of another discipline within Pony Club, wants to progress through all the levels, or has other goals, Pony Club’s Standards of Proficiency provide guidelines for rider skills, as well as Horse Management skills. These guidelines provide a succinct progression for each and every rider, regardless of level. Understanding the Standards and the practical applications of what they say helps every rider on their journey with horses.

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Effective Advocacy for Equestrian Land Access

By Denise Y. O’Meara for Equine Land Conservation Resource

dvocacy is the act of publicly speaking, writing, or recommending on behalf of or in support of an idea, action, cause, policy, or proposal. It can also be specifically helping someone to achieve their needs related to their rights. Let’s talk about advocating for what your equine community needs and how to do it. For equestrians, access to land, facilities, and trails is a cause to embrace. Some issues can pop up in your local equestrian community that will require a greater effort on your part, especially if you are about to lose equine land access in some form. You will need information. You will need the support of fellow equestrians, and that will most likely come from an organization that already has their antennae up (or their ears pricked) about this issue. But don’t expect others to do everything. Go ahead and join, attend their functions and fundraisers, and/or participate in planned public input meetings or demonstrations. What to do if there is no existing organization in your area? Form your own. DISCOVER USPC

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When things in your community are not working for the benefit of the horses, people, or activities that you care about, it’s time to take the bull by the horns, or the tiger by the tail. Sorry, couldn’t resist. Remember that advocacy is not a quick fix, or a Band-Aid solution. It is a long-term commitment. Once you achieve equine access, your access needs to be protected to keep it.

Tips for Effective Advocacy Step 1: Learning

Below are some ways you and your fellow club/center members can learn more about your equestrian community and the issues affecting it. ■ Find out what benefits that horses bring to your community and region. ■ Get to know what issues affect your cause. You’ll want to check local media, publications, and with planning offices, and research documents, such as zoning regulations (ordinances) and comprehensive plans. ■ Realize that issues may stand alone,

such as manure on trails. Others may be offshoots of other local issues, such as a lack of trails for everyone to use. ■ Explore the policies and regulations that local public land managers are required to follow. ■ Find the basic information available in your community about land stewardship and best management practices for soil and water protection. ■ Seek out the language of other laws and regulations regarding land use and recreation. ■ Find out who your community’s decision-makers are and how local ordinances and regulations are created. ■ Find out what current re-zoning, development, and other projects are going through the zoning or development review process, and how you can provide input. This is where an informed organization can play a big role and provide support or leadership. ■ Every organization should be prepared to deal with local issues and

should have a committee or other component that can work in advocacy.

Step 2: Listening Listening is an important skill for any equestrian. Here are ways to become a better listener on the issues. ■ Discover who the stakeholders are in your cause, on both sides of an issue. They might include other equine groups, elected/appointed officials, land and nature conservation groups, other recreationists (who may also be trail users), private landowners, public land managers, parks and recreation departments and other government agencies, locals who are enthusiastic (or not!) about horse activities, and those who design, develop, and sell land. ■ Get an idea of the economic impact and other benefits that horses provide in your community. ■ Learn which of the user and advocacy groups in your community or region would be good to collaborate with and which have issues with your cause.

What Organizations Do

Most of us have been a member of an organization of some sort at one time, so we know what they are about. Let’s just say that organizations are groups of people who come together for a particular purpose with these intentions: ■ Understanding an overall purpose for forming the organization--its mission; ■ Working within the group to identify the goals and objectives (actions) that the organization’s members might utilize to achieve the goals; ■ Communicating with outside entities (individuals, agencies, etc.) to give and receive information and input; ■ Creating a strategic plan, which is a plan of action, to carry out their goals and fundraising actions; ■ Implementing the fundraising plan; and,

Step 3: Talk and Create Relationships

Relationship building is important for Pony Clubs and Riding Centers, as well as other equestrians. ■ Use the information you have found about the impacts and benefits of horses and any specific statistics that may have been reported as talking points with both decision-makers and others interested in your cause. ■ Learn how to communicate with different user groups and agencies, using facts and statistics about recreational riding and the horse industry from your research. ■ Work with groups to form coalitions. ■ Create communication options between everyone working toward the same outcome. Allow others to state their case. Be cognizant that all user needs should be addressed, not just your own. ■ Repeat.

■ Implementing their projected plan. Advocacy organizations are usually agents of change, or at least they attempt to change the way things are in an area of interest or a community. It takes a lot of work and commitment for the long haul. Equine advocacy organizations are highly varied, depending on what they are trying to accomplish. For some groups, such as local trail organizations or clubs, the goals might be centered around the social aspect of horses, including scheduled trail rides and announcing basic trail behaviors that must be followed to: a) Be a member of the ‘club,’ and b) Ride on the trail system overseen by the club. Other advocacy organizations might be more concerned with adding or maintaining

horse trails and facilities in their local area. In this case, the horse community needs to participate at an active level in local planning and zoning and monitoring or advocating for horse-friendly legislation. In more imminent circumstances, an equine-based advocacy group might be formed to spur major changes regarding land use, zoning for horses, and/or the inclusion of horse facilities in comprehensive plans and on public land. At a more in-depth level of advocacy, an individual or group might be doing legislative research and hire or perform lobbying to ensure that local, state, and federal regulations are protective of and favorable to the equine and overall local communities, and also the horse industry.

Get Involved

Just as there are many issues that arise to threaten the equestrian way of life and access to equine land, facilities, and trails, there are just as many opportunities to partner with local and state-level government agencies, conservancies, land trusts, and other organizations to resolve land and trail issues locally. It’s up to local equine community members to take the steps required to protect the places and spaces that serve the need for equine activities and horse-keeping. About the Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR): The only national not-for-profit organization advancing the conservation of land for horse-related activity, ELCR serves as a resource and clearinghouse for land and horse owners on issues related to equine land conservation, land use planning, land stewardship/best management practices, trails, liability, and equine economic development. Visit www. elcr.org or call (859) 455-8383. Originally published by the Equine Land Conservation Resource at https:// elcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ EQUINE-LAND-ADVOCACY-A-BESTPRACTICE-FOR-EQUINE-ACCESSrevised-Nov-2018.pdf. DISCOVER USPC

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2023 USPC CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST

2023 USPC Championships Recap & Results By Sarah Evers Conrad, Marketing and Communications Director The 2023 USPC Championships East took over the grounds at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C., for four days of competition and camaraderie, July 26–30, as Pony Club members demonstrated their best horse management and riding skills. The event brought more than 360 competitors together representing 23 Pony Club regions from around the country to compete in Dressage and Western Dressage (sponsored by Santa Cruz Animal Health), Eventing (sponsored by Shires Equestrian Products), Mounted Games, Quiz (supported by Middle Tennessee Pony Club), Show Jumping (sponsored by Santa Cruz Animal Health), and Tetrathlon.

A Championships Like No Other

Lydia Bacon, of Greenhill Foothills Pony Club, competed for the first time in Western Dressage.

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Pony Club Championships is different from other horse shows and championship events. Like all Pony Club competitions, Championships follows a team format. Competitors are judged on how well they care for their horses (Horse Management), in addition to their performance in the ring. In the discipline of Quiz, competitors showcase their equine knowledge as a team across five different phases. While members must qualify for USPC Championships, success ultimately depends on the ability to work together as a team with members from other clubs and regions. “The USPC Championships is the only national competition requiring competitors to not only demonstrate riding skill, but also show what it takes to be a well-rounded horseperson through Horse Management,” said Erin Roland, USPC Activities and Events Director. “It is a feat in itself to become eligible for Championships. All attendees should be extremely proud of their accomplishments. I know I am proud of all our members who qualified for Championships, and especially those who attended. Well done to all!” But what makes the competition truly stand out is the dedication and support from the large number of

volunteers, Pony Club leaders, parents, and friends who are an important part of the Pony Club community. “Each year, USPC Championships offers the ultimate experience in competition for Pony Club competitors to show their mettle as they compete with their fellow teammates,” said Teresa Woods, USPC Executive Director. “But what sets USPC Championships apart from any other competition is that focus on horse management and seeing all of the members carefully caring for their mounts and working together as a team. It warms the heart while really showcasing how unique Pony Club is as an equestrian organization. Our focus on education is what make USPC Championships, and also USPC certifications, really special within the horse community.”

Ariana Dickey, of Senaca Valley Pony Club, competed in Tetrathlon, earning a perfect score in the shooting phase.

The Championships Experience

Trucks and trailers from Pony Club regions near and far arrived at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, carrying mounts of all sizes plus plenty of required tack and equipment kits, to be greeted by smiling volunteers and Gore Trailers, who were the traffic and parking sponsor. Competitors got settled into the barns and found their way around the vast facility encompassing seven barns and 13

Cadence Iurka, of Meadow Brook Hounds Pony Club, competed in Quiz, and won the Tiny But Mighty Character Award.

arenas, plus on-site shopping and dining, courtesy of maps provided by HandsOn Gloves. Upon checking in, competitors received tote bags stuffed with coupons, samples, brochures and swag thanks to Achieve Equine, Dimples Horse Treats, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, Kentucky Performance Products, Kerrits, the Equine Veterinary Education Program at Lincoln Memorial University, Shapley’s Grooming Products, and Zoetis. The event kicked off with discipline briefings and horse inspections, followed by three days of competition. Barn night checks capped off each day, with members working together to care for all the mounts on their team or with adults when weather intervened on a few days. Educational workshops offered Championships competitors more than just a ribbon to take home. Judges, instructors and other experts provided competitors with numerous opportunities to expand their knowledge and grow their skill set. Sessions at the 2023 USPC Championshiops in Tryon included an Ask the Judge session for Dressage DISCOVER USPC

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2023 USPC CHAMPIONSHIPS and Western Dressage, an Eventing cross-country course walk, and what an equitation judge is looking for in Show Jumping. Competitors also learned strategies for Mounted Games play, how to judge horse conformation for Quiz, and had the opportunity to watch a Polocrosse discipline demonstration and attend a shooting clinic for Tetrathlon.

featured upper-level Pony Club members in a variety of disciplines, including Quiz. It’s an honor to be invited to participate the Showcase, as Pony Club members must qualify through their certification level. Championships concluded with the awards ceremonies for each discipline, sponsored by Kentucky Performance Products, with prizes and swag Attendees learned more about Polocrosse during the event. provided by Dover Saddlery, Special Events at Dreamers & Schemers, Santa Championships Cruz Animal Health, Shires Equestrian Products, Ride EquiSafe, While competition takes center stage, the special events at Wintec, and others. Ribbons and prizes were awarded for the Championships make it a truly memorable experience. During best team scores—in both horse management and riding—in the Opening Ceremonies, competitors marched together in a each discipline and division. (See the full results and awards on colorful and fun-filled parade of regions. Carrying regional pg. 30.) banners and flags, many sported face paint and costumes to Pony Club’s emphasis on horse care is also reflected in the stand out during this super-festive event. The competitor party awards ceremony. Stable Managers were also recognized for provided a delicious dinner for all participants. their integral role in keeping their team working together to The standout entertainment was the Saturday Night Lights, provide the best care of horses and equipment throughout the hosted by the Tryon International Equestrian Center, when competition. the public come for free entertainment, including pony rides, At this year’s Championships, several Stable Managers live bands, face painting, rides on a hand-painted Venetian were assigned special roles as volunteers. Aila Rodriguez, D-2 carousel, and more. Attendees could grab dinner, a carnivalEV, who is in her first year with the Waredaca Pony Club in style treat, and enjoy the USPC Upper-Level Showcase, which

Mayela Salazar, of Keeneland Pony Club, successfully tackled Eventing for her second USPC Championships.

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22 Bonus Issue 2023

the Maryland Region, was able to shadow Horse Management officials and observe various turnouts, jogs, and briefings. “As riders, we see one side, but there’s a whole other side when you are an HM Judge,” she said. “It’s been interesting, but I’ve noticed that it’s really hard. All of the HM judges have been super nice.” Special awards included the Margo Leithead Cornerstone Award for Excellence in Horse Management, the Tiny but Mighty Character Award, sponsored by Ride EquiSafe, and the Scandalously DanDee Best-Presented Pair Award. In addition, discipline awards are given to those who complete the requirements of the USPC Breed Recognition Award programs offered by USPC and affiliate breed partners. This year, riders with horses registered with the American Connemara Pony Society, the Arabian Horse Association, and the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) were recognized for their accomplishments. In the discipline of Eventing, recognition was also provided by the United States Eventing Association (USEA). The event wouldn’t be possible without USPC’s generous sponsors, including corporate sponsors Kerrits, the official apparel sponsor; Shapley’s, the official grooming products sponsor; The Horse; Triple Crown Feed, the official feed sponsor; Wintec, the official saddle sponsor; and Zoetis, the official equine health and wellness sponsor. USPC Championships East sponsors also include Achieve Equine, Dimples Horse Treats, Dover Saddlery, Dreamers & Schemers, Gore Trailers, HandsOn Gloves, Kentucky Performance Products, the Equine Veterinary Education Program at Lincoln Memorial University, Middle Tennessee Pony Club Fund, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health, Shires Equestrian Products and one anonymous sponsor. Next year’s USPC Championships will take place as part of the USPC Festival, held July 15–22, 2024, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The 2024 event, which also includes educational opportunities and riding clinics, promises to be extra special since USPC will be celebrating its 70th anniversary. For more information about the 2024 USPC Festival, visit www.ponyclub.org/events/festival.

Conversations at Championships

USPC caught up with members from each discipline during Championships. We chatted about their horses, their experience in Pony Club, and their advice to Pony Club members interested in competing at Championships.

Dressage

One success story from Championships was in the discipline of dressage. Amina Harouna, C-2 HM, C-1 EV, C-2 FL EV, of Seneca Valley Pony Club in the Capital Region, competed on a scramble team with riders from the Capital Region and the Maryland Region, which captured first in the Standard First Level and Up division. The team was rounded out with Annie Malloy, C-1 HM, D-3 EV, C-1 FL EV, C-1 DR, and D-3 HSE, DISCOVER USPC

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2023 USPC CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST of Seneca Valley Pony Club in the Maryland Region; Peyton Travis, C-2 HM, C-2 EV, of Blaven Pony Club Riding Center in the Capital Region; and Chloe Pleune, C-2 HM, C-1 EV, of Talbot Run Pony Club Riding Center in the Capital Region and also Burntwoods Pony Club in the Maryland Region as Stable Manager. Amina and her horse of the past 10 years, Just Be, have a unique story. “Bee” is an off-track Thoroughbred who was abandoned at a barn, covered in rain rot and was completely emaciated when he was found. Amina and her family rescued the dark bay horse and she eventually started training him. “We’ve really had our ups and downs, but Pony Club has really helped put a language there for us,” she said. That language translated to a high score in one of her tests (Standard First Level Test 2 Open) for the week of a 75.152%, being awarded with the Robert Dover “I Love Pony Club” pin, and the TIP award for First Level and Up. “He absolutely loves dressage,” added Amina. “He just puffs himself up, and he get so round, and he goes around the arena quite nice. I’m really lucky to have a horse like him. This is Bee’s first time at a big event like this, so I really just was just coming to see how he would do at an environment like this, and Left: Emma Watson, of New Shropshire Pony Club, honed her skills in Tryon before competing in the World Teams Championship, sponsored by the Mounted Games Association of Australia.

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24 Bonus Issue 2023

Amina Harouna, of Seneca Valley Pony Club, and her rescued mount, Just Be, came out on top with her team in Standard First Level and Up Dressage.

I’m really, really proud of how’s he dealt with it.” Amina has loved her time in Pony Club over the last four years. “I love that there’s so many friendly faces,” she said. “The Horse Management team is amazing, and there’s endless things to learn. I think it is one of the best things learning how to team-base yourself more, work with other people, and be more responsible and independent. Anybody thinking about joining Pony Club should do it, because it’s a great environment full of really supportive people, and you learn a lot about riding, horse management, and horses.”

Western Dressage

Lydia Bacon, D-3 HM, D-3 DR, of Greenville Foothills Pony Club in the Carolina Region, explained some of the main differences in Dressage versus the newer discipline of Western Dressage. “They still need to be carrying, but you should be able to be sitting at the trot, or posting,” explained Lydia, who rode at the WDAA Basic Level aboard her mount, Guinness. “It’s a working jog. You’re still moving out, but not as much as you would for a normal dressage test.” This was Lydia’s first time at an event in Western Dressage, although she does ride Western sometimes at home. She was on the Carolina/Maryland/Sunshine team, which came in second overall. Fellow members from her Pony Club show Western Dressage—sisters Hazel and Olive Wade, who also competed at Championships in Western Dressage and Tetrathlon, respectively.

Eventing

Mayela Salazar, C-1 HM, C-1 EV, of Keeneland Pony Club in the Midsouth Region, started her riding career doing saddle seat before she tried hunter/jumpers, and eventually she found her place in Eventing. This is her second year at a USPC Championships, as last year she went as a Stable Manager for Show Jumping. She and her horse ended in fourth with her team from Midsouth and the Sunshine Regions and in third place in Standard Beginner Novice in the USEA Awards, as they kicked off on a Dressage score of 35.0, which put them in 9th on Day One. They then moved up to 4th with no penalties on cross-country day, and then finally to third after another rider accumulated jumping and time faults. “Big Iron is a 2015 model chestnut Thoroughbred, and he has a BIG personality,” described Mayela. “He likes to be in your pocket all the time and show he’s lovable. If you itch his back, he will itch yours. He’s just a big puppy-dog personality. When we first came [to Championships], he thought it was terrifying, like a bear was going to come out and just eat him. But now that he’s relaxed, he’s been treating it like home and going with the flow and just relaxing into my hands.” Mayela has been a USPC member for three years after her former trainer encouraged her to join. Her favorite part about Pony Club has been hanging out with people, having a team, and meeting new people. Her advice for someone joining Pony Club would be to go big with your personality and try to make new friends, even if you’re an “odd one out.” DISCOVER USPC

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2023 USPC CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST “I kind of stayed silent the first year I was in Pony Club,” she shared. “Really try to get out there and meet new people and try to step out of your comfort zone once in a while and try new things … and really just live life!”

Mounted Games

Emma Watson, C-1 HM, C-1 EV, of New Shropshire Pony Club in the Sunshine Region, who has been in Pony Club since 2016, competed in Mounted Games on the team Full Throttle this year, finishing in second in the Standard division and first in Horse Management. Her team also included Mariana Racine, C-1 HM, C-1 EV, of the River Oaks Pony Club in the Sunshine Region; Alexandria Clenney, H-B HM, C-2 EV, of Cahaba Pony Club in the South Region; Danica Heeter, C-2 HM, C-1 EV, D-3 DR, of the Hilltoppers Pony Club in the South Region; and Mattie Belle

Quiz, Eventing, and she has hunted with Live Oak Hounds and competed in the Junior North American Foxhunting Championships.

Quiz

Cadence Iurka, D-3 HM, D-3 EV, D-3 HSE, of the Meadow Brook Hounds Pony Club in the Metropolitian Region, attended her second Championships for Quiz. She certainly had no idea she would be nominated and win the Tiny But Mighty Character Award for Quiz. “I’m so proud of my team and our placement, and it means a lot that I could make it out to North Carolina and be able to compete as it was a really good experience,” she said after her team was awarded a fourth-place ribbon for the Modified D division and she was awarded a 10th-place individual award. Cadence joined Pony Club back in 2019. “My mom was in it for a long time, and she wanted me to get into it, and I’m really glad I

Audrey Buchanan, of Talbot Run Pony Club, competed in Show Jumping at her third-ever USPC Championships. Yates, C-1 HM, C-1 EV, also of the River Oaks Pony Club. The team also captured the Margo Leithead Cornerstone Award in the Standard division in Games. “The horse I’m competing on this weekend is Doc,” she shared at the competition. “He was actually my mom’s horse originally. She bought him around the year I was born about 16 years ago, and she trained him. I started playing Games on a different pony, but now I’m playing Games on him.” This was her fourth time at USPC Championships, and her second time competing in Mounted Games along with competing in Mounted Games at the 2021 USPC Festival. Emma also had the unique position as someone qualified for the World Teams Championship, sponsored by the Mounted Games Association of Australia, October 8–15, 2023 in Australia. “It was actually Pony Club that got me started in Mounted Games,” said Emma. She has also competed in Show Jumping, DISCOVER USPC

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did, because I’ve had so much fun,” she said. “It’s been such a blast throughout the years and been good to make new friends. Scramble teams … it’s good to get you out and meeting new people.” While Cadence didn’t have to bring a horse for Quiz, she does have two ponies in her back yard. Hobbs is a rescue from Omega Horse Rescue in Pennsylvania who has been to many Pony Club rallies with several Pony Club youth. She also does 2' hunters with her other pony, Olaf.

Tetrathlon

Ariana Dickey, H-B HM, C-2 EV, C-2 DR, of Seneca Valley Pony Club in Capital Region, is big into Tetrathlon, even though she has also done Eventing, Show Jumping, and Dressage. “It’s a good way to have a lot of fun with your teammates and your club and meet new people and to see all these different,

P ony C l u b C o n n e cti o n The USPC Convention is the only time of year when the entirety of Pony Club comes together, which means that alongside the fun, we connect about the future of Pony Club.

A l l ar e W e l c o m e The event is open to the general public and includes extensive hands-on opportunities, such as the Anatomy Lab, a variety of educational workshops, and the ability to connect with equine professionals from around the country.

I n P er s o n a n d V i rtual The event offers a blend of in-person and on-demand educational opportunities, ensuring participants can conveniently attend based on their personal schedules.

January 24–28, 2024 Peppermill Reno Resort | Reno, Nev.

bit.ly/2024-convention-registration-info

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2023 USPC CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST interesting disciplines,” she said. This year, Ariana, who has been in Pony Club for 11 years, borrowed a horse named Fig. “He’s so sweet,” she shared. “He’s got a great sense of humor. He’s got his quirks. He loves to dip his head and fling water and buckets around.” She ended up second in the Standard Junior Female division individually, and with the Capital team in Standard. In addition, Ariana had a perfect score for shooting, which may not surprise you if you know that she was recruited by The Ohio State University, who has been five-time national champions for their selective pistol shooting team. Ariana offered her advice for members competing at Championships. “Don’t be too stressed. My first year, I was super stressed about it, but just take it all in and have fun,” she said. “Don’t be nervous. Pretend you’re outgoing. If you pretend you’re outgoing, you will seem like it and people will gravitate towards you.”

Show Jumping

Kimberly Chick, D-3 HM, C-1 EV, is an alum of Middletown Pony Club/now St. Augustine Pony Club, where she is a DC. Chick served as a Show Jumping coach during Championships East. “Being an alumni is amazing,” she shared. “It has allowed me to implement all the horsemanship that I learned in Pony Club to work with our current members and teach them how it was ‘back in the day’ and how things have not changed and how things have changed. We learned how Horse Management has

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evolved over the years. It’s really helped me help our members grow and learn and experience Pony Club at its fullest.” She loves coaching Pony Club members. “I find that Pony Club members are extremely coachable, which is a great attribute to have as a rider,” she continued. “They are always open and willing to try new things; they’re gutsy; they have grit. They’re willing to work hard, try new things, even if it scares them. They just go for it, and I think that makes Pony Club great.” Chick promotes Pony Club for for any horse enthusiast. “You can learn all levels of horse management and care,” she shared. “You learn all levels and types of riding, and you can experience great things like Championships. You can experience great things like rallies and horse shows. You can experience things like national convention and really be a part of a great organization that just teaches everything horse. I’m glad to be back with Pony Club, and I hope to be a lifelong member and continue the growth I’ve had this year.”

Save the Date for 2024

The 2024 USPC Festival will be held July 15-22 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. For details on the 2024 event, visit www.ponyclub.org/Events/Festival.

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Dressage & Western Dressage Overall Awards Modified Junior First - Carolina

Avery Martin, Ella Harris, Trinity Maddalone, Devynn Perez, Hadley Martin

Second - Delmarva/Maryland/Virginia

Alexis Souder, Ella Ruth Goodman, Raegan Rippel, Nina Shtengel, Victoria Ewing

Third - Capital/Eastern Pennsylvania/South

Allison Smith, Kayla Moss, Chloe Randall, Lilia Rogers, Ella Norman

Fourth - Carolina/Deep South

Susanna Pitts, Ella Cooper, Isabella Hicks, Aubrie Juda, Alexa Lucas

Emma Smith (Western Dressage), Ella Sabine Hatcher

Fourth - Eastern Pennsylvania/Sunshine/Tri-State Carmela Jenckes, Emma Chin, Uma Kraskin, Briannah Lee

Fifth - Capital/Deep South/Midsouth

Julia Magsam, Addie Reed, Connor Stegeman, Maria Koss

Sixth - Central New England/Delmarva/Tri-State

Lydia Szklinski, Darcy Newman, Jamie Saffles, Myla Kerr

Horse Management Modified Junior

Heather Sullivan, Denise Avolio, Lily Cutair, Rose Goldfine, Kari DeSimone

First - Carolina Second - Capital/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Third - Delmarva/Maryland/Virginia Fourth - Carolina/Deep South

Abigail Billiu, Lydia Bacon (Western Dressage), Courtney Bell, Amelia Rothenhoefer, Anna Kelley

First - Metropolitan Second - Carolina/Maryland/Sunshine

Modifed Senior

First - Metropolitan

Second - Carolina/Maryland/Sunshine

Modified Senior

Standard Training Level

First - South/Tri-State/Virginia/Western New York Madison Wade, Adalyn Colber, Ella Hastings, Finley Thomas, Rosalyn Coronel

Second - Capital 1

Alison Hardman, Eve Ackiewicz, Amani Almagro, Sophia McCarthy, Abigail Durst

Third - Carolina/Old Dominion

Breeze Robertson, Zoe Altizer, Sara Miller, Hazel Wade (Western Dressage), Isabella Hughes

Fourth - Capital 2

Emma Hepner, Sofia Dalton, Emiliya Nikolaeva, Claire Superczynski, Maggie Testerman

Standard First Level and Up First - Capital/Maryland

Amina Harouna, Annie Malloy, Peyton Travis, Chloe Pleune

First - Capital 1 Second - Carolina/Old Dominion Third - South/Tri-State/Virginia/Western New York Fourth - Capital 2

Standard First Level and Up

First - Midsouth/Virginia Second - Capital/Maryland Third - Virginia Fourth - Central New England/Delmarva/Tri-State Fifth - Eastern Pennsylvania/Sunshine/Tri-State Sixth - Capital/Deep South/Midsouth

Margo Leithead Cornerstone Modified Junior Training Level Carolina

Second - Virginia

Modified Junior Training Level

Third - Midsouth/Virginia

Standard Training Level

Kathryn Meek, Catherine Orr, Lillian Weidner, Elizabeth Symolon Emily Collins, Jessica Dees (Western Dressage),

Metropolitan Capital 1

Dressage & Western Dressage Standard First Level and Up Midsouth/Virginia

Stable Managers

Rosalyn Coronel, Kari DeSimone, Abigail Durst, Victoria Ewing, Isabella Hughes, Anna Kelley, Myla Kerr, Maria Koss, Briannah Lee, Alexa Lucas, Hadley Martin, Ella Norman, Chloe Pleune, Elizabeth Symolon, Maggie Testerman

Musical Freestyles Training Level

First - Madison Wade Second - Ella Hastings Third - Sophia McCarthy Fourth - Emma Hepner Fifth - Alison Hardman Sixth - Claire Superzynski Seventh - Breeze Robertson Eighth - Emiliya Nikolaeva Ninth - Eve Ackiewicz Tenth - Finley Thomas

First Level and Up

First - Amina Harouna Second - Peyton Travis Third - Connor Stegeman Fourth - Emma Chin Fifth - Uma Kraskin Sixth - Jamie Saffles Seventh - Addie Reed Eighth - Annie Malloy Ninth - Lillian Weidner Tenth - Julia Magsam

Western Dressage First - Hazel Wade Second - Emma Smith Third - Jessica Dees

Robert Dover “I Love Pony Club” Pin Training Level - Madison Wade First Level and Up - Amina Harouna

Breed Recognition Awards

Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Training - Emiliya Nikolaeva First Level and Up - Amina Harouna Reserve - Lillian Weidner

Special Awards

Tiny But Mighty Character Dressage - Ella Norman Western Dressage - Jessica Dees

Scandalously DanDee Best-Presented Pair Dressage - Sophia McCarthy Western Dressage - Hazel Wade

Eventing Overall Awards Modified

First - Midsouth/Sunshine

Aubrey Bessellieu, Caroline Ford, Claire Maloney, Katherine Wilson

Second - Maryland/South

Gabriella Britton, Caitlyn Cook, Shannon Zupan, Carolina Weikel

Third - Capital/Eastern Pennsylvania

Amelia Jaeger, Chloe Mann, Christine Reinhart, Olivia Baltrotsky

Standard Beginner Novice

First - Eastern Pennsylvania/Old Dominion/Sunshine Audrey Buchanan, Brandylola Benedix, Delaney Brewer, Katheryn Hughes, Madelyn Miller

Second - Carolina/Delmarva/Old Dominion

Grace Farrall, Selah Bowman, Sebastian Howard, Grace Starrett, Elle Chick

Third - Eastern Pennsylvania/North Central Prairie/ South/Tri-State

Kaylee Payment, Amber Brownlee, Kiera O’ConnorReichert, Sophie Schroeder, Suzanna Gebhart

Fourth - Midsouth/Sunshine

Mayela Salazar, Abigail Beckman, Addison Roberts, Arlena Worm

Standard Novice

First - Capital/Carolina/Maryland/Midsouth

Erin Kidwell, Libby Nelson, Charlotte O’Neal, Kai Walker, Elizabeth Enloe

Second - Maryland

Kate Benjamin, Madison Montgomery, Donald Ruths, Ava Wehrs, Leo Wise

Third - Midsouth/South/Tri-State

Natalie Koch, Kloie Hicks, Sami Turner, Caroline Chevalier

Fourth - Virginia 1

Abigail Haskins, Ashley Cozensa, Maria Graham, Caitlin Stearns, Riley Haskins

Fifth - Virginia 2

Raina LaBonte, Grace Cronin, Gabriella Muniz, Madison Ottaviano, Katie Helge

Standard Training/Modified First - Capital/South

Devon Tresan, Samuel Moreland, Sophie Redmon, Katelyn Smith, Jemma Przybocki

Second - Eastern Pennsylvania

Gabby Razzi, Emma Brooks, John Rogers

Horse Management Modified

First - Capital/Eastern Pennsylvania Second - Midsouth/Sunshine Third - Maryland/South

Standard Beginner Novice

First - Eastern Pennsylvania/Old Dominion/Sunshine Second - Midsouth/Sunshine Third - Carolina/Delmarva/Old Dominion Fourth - Eastern Pennsylvania/North Central Prairie/ South/Tri-State

Standard Novice

First - Maryland Second - Capital/Carolina/Maryland/Midsouth Third - Virginia 2 Fourth - Midsouth/South/Tri-State Fifth - Virginia

Standard Training/Modified First - Capital/South Second - Eastern Pennsylvania

Margo Leithead Cornerstone Modified

Capital/Eastern Pennsylvania

Standard Beginner Novice

Eastern Pennsylvania/Old Dominion/Sunshine

Standard Novice Maryland

Standard Training/Modified Capital/South

Eventing Stable Managers Olivia Baltrotsky, Caroline Chevalier, Elle Chick, Elizabeth Enloe, Suzanna Gebhart, Riley Haskins, Katie Helge, Madelyn Miller, Jemma Przybocki, John Rogers, Carolina Weikel, Katherine Wilson, Leo Wise, Arlena Worm

USEA Awards

Modified Beginner Novice First - Claire Maloney Second - Aubrey Bessellieu Third - Caitlyn Cook Fourth - Gabriella Britton Fifth - Caroline Ford

Standard Beginner Novice

First - Sophie Schroeder Second - Delaney Brewer Third - Mayela Salazar Fourth - Brandylola Benedix Fifth - Sebastian Howard Sixth - Katheryn Hughes Seventh - Keira O’Connor-Reichert Eighth - Grace Farrall Ninth - Selah Bowman Tenth - Grace Starrett

Standard Novice

First - Abigail Haskins Second - Erin Kidwell Third - Libby Nelson Fourth - Sami Turner Fifth - Kai Walker Sixth - Natalie Koch Seventh - Kate Benjamin Eighth - Maria Graham Ninth - Ava Wehrs Tenth - Ashley Consenza

Standard Training

First - Katelyn Smith Second - Emma Brooks Third - Samuel Moreland Fourth - Gabby Razzi Fifth - Sophie Redmon

Breed Recognition Awards

American Connemara Pony Society High Point Sophie Schroeder

Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Beginner Novice - Delaney Brewer Novice - Libby Nelson Training - Emma Brooks

Special Awards

Tiny But Mighty Character Shannon Zupan

Scandalously DanDee Best-Presented Pair Kate Benjamin

Mounted Games Overall Awards Modified

First - Virginia (Born Feral)

Zoe Sanborn, Dexter Hoke, Hunter Myers, Eden Lily Sollimo, Lyla Stotler

Second - Maryland (The Bravacados)

Katelyn Donnelly, Gioia Liker, Madeleine Liker, Claire McMillan, Waverly Smith

Third - Sunshine (The Orbital Outlaws)

Sarah Batstone Roberts, Posey Cleveland, Jessica Dziwulski, Raelyn McMillin, Peyton Smith

Fourth - South/Western New York (The Party Ponies) Landon Cambridge, Sienna Coffie, McKayla Kelly, Cash King

Fifth - South (Boom Goes the Dynamite)

Jayla Ferrer, Bridget Searles, Victoria Staples, Madeleine Vitale

Standard

First - Old Dominion/Sunshine (Quick Silver) Sage Clarich, Sophie Malone, Alexia Ray, Catherine Yudow

Second - South/Sunshine (Full Throttle)

Mariana Racine, Alexandria Clenney, Danica Heeter, Emma Watson, Mattie Belle Yates

Third - Central New England/Tri-State (The Hurricanes) Westley Burchianti, Riley Fitzpatrick, Julia Levreault, Lily Wahl

Fourth - Maryland (Color Crush)

Madelyn Dietrich Cochran, Ellery Cully, Laurel Heck, Isabella Mentzer, Marley Mentzer

Horse Management Modified

First - South/Western New York Second - Maryland Third - Sunshine Fourth - South Fifth - Virginia

Standard

First - South/Sunshine Second - Old Dominion/Sunshine Third - Maryland Fourth - Central New England/Tri-State

Margo Leithead Cornerstone Modified

South/Western New York

Standard

South/Sunshine

Breed Recognition Awards

Arabian Horse Association High Point Sage Clarich

Special Awards

Tiny But Mighty Character Riley Fitzpatrick

Frances E. Pitts Memorial Landon Cambridge

Scandalously DanDee Best-Presented Pair Matou Liker

Quiz Team Awards

Modified Novice D First - Midsouth

Marin Arkle, Caroline Jenkins, Jocelyn Snow

Second - Inland Empire/New Jersey/Old Dominion Emma Durepo, Colleen Dixon, Elliott Douglas

Third - Carolina/Delmarva

Brielle French, Eleanor Anthony, Finley Hamrick

Fourth - Virginia

Madilyn Mathias, Willem Daman, Evie McClinch

Fifth - South

Kendall Rariden, Lucy May McDaniel, Sarah Weldon

Sixth - Southern California

Katie Britton, Lyla Hart, Imani Hussien

Individual Awards Modified Novice D First - Jocelyn Snow Second - Colleen Dixon Third - Eleanor Anthony Fourth - Kendall Rariden Fifth - Imani Hussein Sixth - Madilyn Mathias Seventh - Emma Durepo Eighth - Evie McClinch Ninth - Lyla Hart Tenth - Caroline Jenkins

Modified D

Third - Sunshine 1

First - Quinn Parsons Second - Lauren Bergendahl Third - Leah Schwartz Fourth - Elaine Fidler Fifth - Vinisha Cheella Sixth - Audrey Johnson Seventh - Morgan Cress Eighth - Mianna Cardo Ninth - Kyleigh Ziegenbein Tenth - Cadence Iurka

Fourth - Metropolitan/Sunshine

Standard D

Modified D

First - Delmarva/Virginia

Omiisha Cheella, Vinisha Cheella, Quinn Parsons

Second - Inland Empire/Midsouth/Southern California/ South Lauren Bergendahl, Elizabeth Junius, Leah Schwartz, Kyleigh Ziegenbein

Audrey Johnson, Miranda Siegerdt, Clara Sipple, Clara Stephens Morgan Cress, Cadence Iurka, Talia Riccuiti, Daniel Thomas

Fifth - Great Lakes/New Jersey/Northern Lakes

Hailey Kolar, Lily Atkins, Elaine Fidler, Sarah McCombs

Sixth - Sunshine 2

Julianna Lipzin, Kendall Bailys, McKinley Curry, Maddie Curry Seventh - Metropolitan Mianna Cardo, Amelia Martens, Cecelia Mendoza, Sophia Russell

Standard Junior D

First - Maryland/Metropolitan/Southern California Lily Evans, Charlotte Dohne, Julia Findley, Adeline Thompson

Second - Great Lakes/Lake Shore

Catherine Keopke, Isabella Field, Sophie Page, Cadence Osieczonek

Third - Midsouth

Katherine Denkewalter, Liliana Amsbaugh, Reagan Smith

Standard C and Up

First - Old Dominion/Southern California

Christine Brown, Brooke DeCant, Sydney Dennis, Madisyn Hoggard

Second - Eastern Pennsylvania/Inland Empire/ Maryland/Tri-State

Stephanie Usselman, Makaila Beiter, Laura Chin, Abigail Durepo

First - Kathryn Denkewalter Second - Catherine Koepke Third - Adeline Thompson Fourth - Sophie Page Fifth - Charlotte Dohne Sixth - Isabella Field Seventh - Julia Findley Eighth - Reagan Smith Ninth - Liliana Amsbaugh Tenth - Lily Evans

Standard C and Up First - Christine Brown Second - Laura Chin Third - Sydney Dennis Fourth - Abigail Durepo Fifth - Brooke DeCant Sixth - Stephanie Usselman Seventh - Makaila Beiter Eighth - Madisyn Hoggard

Special Awards

Tiny But Mighty Character Cadence Iurka

Show Jumping Overall Awards Modified C

First - Maryland Modified 1

Mary Nelson, Makenna Harrington, Ellie Harris, Eleanor Hilliker, Kendall Bean

Second - Virginia Modified

Natalie Consenza, Quinn Ford, Matilda Rossbach, Ryleigh Schofield, Hilah Daman

Third - Maryland Modified 3

Audrey Hopkins, Macie Blair, Ayla Havrilla, Josie Long

Fourth - Maryland Modified 2

Elizabeth Hebbel, Camden Kern, Genevieve Murray, Eliana Boan

Fifth - Capital/Carolina Modified

Angelina Rosenthal, Alanna Embrey, London Wilde, Madison Strom

Modified D

First - Maryland Modified 4

Scarlett Nossel, Evangeline Rhodes, Jaidyn Shore, Laura Yanega, Bailey Lightner

Second - Delmarva/Midsouth Modified

Taylor Kozink, Natalie Griger, Olivia Hunt, Ellie Sipkovsky, Arthur Saakian

Third - Eastern Pennsylvania/Sunshine Modified Darby Reinbold, Denise Honey, Cady Snavely, Emory Zierden, Katherine Mentrak

Fourth - Midsouth/New Jersey/South Modified

Jacie Haggard, Haylie Carpenter, Faye Warner, Ana Young, Haley Hernandez

Fifth - Maryland Modified 5

Regan Ryan, Sadie Edwards, Carly Kern, Sophie Sage

Standard Intermediate/Novice First - Carolina/Old Dominion

Kate Childers, Olivia Hickman, Kara Monigle, Gray Norvell, Isabel Lacson

Second - Capital/South/Tri-State

Celia Otterstetter, Suzanna Bunn, Hannah Norman, Vivenne Stillman, Amelia Schellhaas

Third - Capital

Piper Yates, Sienna Bishop, Audrey Buchanan, Tarini Tippa, Sierra Wynne

Fourth - Delmarva

Paige Geiter, Jenavieve French, Clara Gulick, Michael Baugh

Fifth - Midsouth/Sunshine

Ellie Cheung, Millie Bronstad-Hay, Kathryn Landreneau

Sixth - New Jersey/Virginia

Emily Foreman, Lily Kinnan, Jordan Muniz, Mason Muniz

Seventh - Deep South/Maryland

Tianna Kelly, Haven Daigle, Charlotte Eskeland, Charlotte Eskeland, Natasha Ambeskar

Standard Advanced

First - Eastern Pennsylvania/Midsouth

Maria DiPierro, Brooke Noel, Annalise Woody

Second - Capital/Tri-State

Cassandra Rutledge, Emily Garside, Ciana Rutledge, Gregory Gebhart

Horse Management Modified C

First - Maryland Modified 3 Second - Maryland Modified 1 Third - Virginia Modified Fourth - Maryland Modified 2 Fifth - Capital/Carolina Modified

Modified D

First - Maryland Modified 4 Second - Maryland Modified 5 Third - Delmarva/Midsouth Modified Fourth - Midsouth/New Jersey/South Modified Fifth - Eastern Pennsylvania/Sunshine Modified

Standard Intermediate/Novice First - Delmarva Second - Deep South/Maryland Third - Capital Fourth - Carolina/Old Dominion

Show Jumping Fifth - Capital/South/Tri-State Sixth - New Jersey/Virginia Seventh - Midsouth/Sunshine

Standard Advanced

First - Eastern Pennsylvania/Midsouth Second - Capital/Tri-State

Margo Leithead Cornerstone Modified C

Maryland Modified 3

Modified D

Maryland Modified 4

Standard Intermediate/Novice Delmarva

Standard Advanced

Eastern Pennsylvania/Midsouth

Equitation Modified C

First - Macie Blair Second - Matilda Rossbach Third - Mary Nelson Fourth - Audrey Hopkins Fifth - Natalie Cosenza Sixth - Ryleigh Schofield Seventh - Ayla Havrilla Eighth - Ellie Harris Ninth - Alanna Embrey

Modified D

First - Evangeline Rhodes Second - Cady Snavely Third - Scarlett Nossel Fourth - Natalie Griger Fifth - Ellie Sipkopvsky Sixth - Laura Yanega Seventh - Sadie Edwards Eighth - Regan Ryan Ninth - Jaidyn Shore Tenth - Darby Reinbold

Standard Intermediate/Novice First - Ellie Cheung Second - Jenavieve French Third - Lily Kinnan Fourth - Jordan Muniz Fifth - Kate Childers Sixth - Kathryn Landreneau Seventh - Paige Geiter Eighth - Hannah Norman Ninth - Gray Norvell Tenth - Tianna Kelley

Standard Advanced

First - Ciana Rutledge Second - Cassandra Rutledge Third - Brooke Noel Fourth - Maria DiPierro Fifth - Emily Garside

Stable Managers

Natasha Ambeskar, Michael Baugh, Eliana Boan, Kendall Bean, Hilah Daman, Haley Hernandez, Isabel Lacson, Katherine Mentrak, Mason Muniz, Arthur Saakian, Sophie Sage, Amelia Schellhaas, Madison Strom, Sierra Wynne

Breed Awards

Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Intermediate - Jenavieve French Reserve - Kathryn Landreneau Novice - Suzanna Bunn Advanced - Maria DiPierro

Special Awards Five Clear Rounds Charlotte Eskeland

Tiny But Mighty Character Elizabeth Hebbel

Scandalously DanDee Best-Presented Pair

Tetrathlon Overall Individual Awards

Horse Management

Modified Pre-Novice Female

Modified

First - Isla Deigan Second - Olive Wade Third - Ryleigh Adams Fourth - Elle Havrilla Fifth - Josephine Parvis Sixth - Anna Grasso Seventh - Evelyn Samman Eighth - Lilliana Seto

Modified Pre-Novice Male First - Aiden Smith

Modified Novice Female First - Caroline Manthy Second - Ashley Zupan Third - Matilda Westrich Fourth - Eve McMahon

Modified Novice Male First - Taylor Smith Second - Logan Meyers

Modified Intermediate Female First - Stella Landraneau

Modified Intermediate Male First - Charles Smith Second - Jack Grossman

First - Maryland 1

Anna Grasso, Elle Havrilla, Josephine Pavis, Skye Palmer

Second - Maryland 3

Caroline Manthy, Ryleigh Adams, Evelyn Samman, Baylon Hubbs

Third - Maryland 2

Eve McMahon, Isla Deigen, Ashely Zupan, Veronica Dobre

Fourth - Central New England

Tayor Smith, Samantha Robie, Charles Smith, Aiden Smith

Fifth - Carolina/Midsouth/Virginia

Matilda Westrich, Logan Myers, Lilliana Seto, Olive Wade, Lillian Whitehead

Sixth - Great Lakes/Sunshine

Finley Siegel, Jack Grossman, Stella Landreneau, Ella Wilson

Standard

First - Carolina/Great Lakes/Midwest

Kathryn Heaman, Katherine Cushing, Ella Dall

Modified Senior Female

Second - Capital

Standard Novice Female

Third - Capital/Maryland

First - Finley Siegel

First - Kate Bickenbach Second - Savannah Taylor

Standard Intermediate Female

Ariana Dickey, Kate Bickenbach, Grace Bickenbach

Erin Reeder, Camellia Gabel, Savannah Taylor

Margo Leithead Cornerstone

First - Katherine Cushing Second - Erin Reeder Third - Grace Bickenbach Fourth - Camellia Gabel Fifth - Ella Dall

Modified

First - Kathyn Heaman Second - Ariana Dickey

Veronica Dobre, Baylon Hubbs, Skye Palmer, Samantha Robie, Lillian Whitehead, Ella Wilson

Standard Junior Female

Maryland 1

Standard

Capital/Great Lakes/Midwest

Stable Managers

Tetrathlon Perfect Score

Special Awards

Ariana Dickey

Ryleigh Adams

Shooting Riding

Ryleigh Adams, Olive Wade

Running

Tiny But Mighty Character Scandalously DanDee Best-Presented Pair Katherine Cushing

Ryleigh Adams, Isla Deigan, Aiden Smith

Geriann Henderson Sportsmanship

Equitation Award

George Helwig Team

Female - Grace Bickenbach Male - Aiden Smith

Breed Awards

Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) High Point - Kathryn Heaman Reserve High Point - Stella Landraneau

Katherine Cushing Capital Team

Sacksen

Charles Smith

Stettinius

Kathryn Heaman

Courtesy VisitRenoTahoe.com

Ready for Reno:

2024 USPC Convention Preview The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. invites horse lovers of all ages, experience levels, and disciplines to attend the 2024 USPC Convention, presented by Via Nova Training, hosted by USPC and the Sierra Pacific Region, taking place January 24–28, 2024, at the Peppermill Reno Resort and Spa in Reno, Nev. The event will offer a blend of in-person and on-demand educational opportunities, including leadership training, equine Presented By education, and hands-on learning activities. While education is the main focus, a highlight is always the camaraderie and connections made with equine enthusiasts from around the country. Each year, the USPC Convention is held in a different location around the United States as Pony Club’s 41 regions take turns hosting the event. In 2024, the Sierra Pacific Region, which spans parts ofDISCOVER Northern California and Nevada, will play host. USPC

40 Spring/Summer 2023

Sarah Evers Conrad/USPC

By Sarah Evers Conrad, USPC Marketing and Communications Director

Courtesy VisitRenoTahoe.com USPC

Courtesy Max Corcuran

Education for all Equestrians

Both in-person and virtual meeting attendees will have access to extensive education during the event and for six months following through the virtual event platform. More than 40 inperson and on-demand workshop sessions cover a variety of riding sports and disciplines, as well as rider fitness; equine health, grooming, and nutrition; saddle fit; training basics for horse and

USPC

Courtesy VisitRenoTahoe.com

“Pony Club is always thrilled to put on our annual convention,” said USPC Executive Director Teresa Woods. “This multifaceted event has so much to offer for attendees of all ages, along with top-notch education from experts of all kinds. There is something for every horse lover, and Pony Club members and their families can enjoy the experience together, while Pony Club leaders find the in-person networking and discussions invaluable. This year’s location, especially at such a nice resort (see pg. 43), makes it ideal for a family-friendly vacation combined with the Convention.”

rider; helmets and safety; plus disaster preparedness; land conservation; intercollegiate riding; and more. Of particular interest to Pony Club members are workshops covering Horse Management within Pony Club, USPC’s Standards of Proficiency, rally tips, international exchanges, and other USPC opportunities. Another educational highlight of the Convention is the Research Project Fair, presented by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and supported by Kentucky Equine Research. Scienceminded Pony Club members of all ages and certification levels share their findings on equine topics ranging from whether horses have a favorite color to genetics and cloning. Other popular event features for hands-on learning include the Anatomy Lab, sponsored by Banixx Horse & Pet Care; and the handson Horse Management Room, presented by Kentucky Equine Research; while the Pony Paddock, sponsored by the Arabian Horse Youth Association and the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, entertains the youngestDISCOVER attendees. USPC ponyclub.org

Leadership training, sponsored by the Mattingley Leadership Training Fund, offers professional development for Pony Club’s instructors, leaders, and the dedicated volunteers who make Pony Club happen at all levels. On Thursday night, leaders can enjoy connecting over a dinner and trivia. The USPC National Youth Congress (NYC), supported by the Western & English Sales Association (WESA), also takes place during Convention. The NYC recognizes outstanding Pony Club members, ages 18–23, who are selected for their achievement, leadership, and

volunteerism. Delegates work with USPC Academy of Achievement alumni to focus on personal development and put together group proposals to present to the USPC Board of Governors. They also enjoy plenty of team building, leadership training, and opportunities to network with other attendees. Leadership of USPC happens during the Board of Governors (BOG) meetings, and during the sessions for the USPC National Youth Board (NYB), young leaders who serve as a bridge between membership and the BOG. NYB also meets during the Convention to welcome the newest members and to do a service project.

Courtesy VisitRenoTahoe.com

Leading the Way

Making Connections

The Meeting of the Corporation on Saturday morning is held alongside a complimentary continental breakfast. This is when the business of the organization is conducted, and special awards are presented, such as the Flash Teamwork Award and the Brookfield Land Conservation Award. Notable achievements are recognized for members who have earned Pony Club’s A-level certification, and clubs receiving 25- and 50-Year Milestone Awards. The Saturday Night Banquet offers an evening of celebration and dancing. The winners of the Research Project Fair, along with the Founders Award recipients, are honored before the Passing of the Whip to the next hosting region. The keynote speaker at this year’s banquet is Max Corcoran, who has been grooming at the highest level for over 25 years for some of the best in the world, including the O’Connor Event Team. She traveled for 11 years to many Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Games, and numerous CCIs around the world. She was part of the organizing team for the 2018 World Equestrian Games and was a Technical Official at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Shopping the trade fair and bidding in the Sierra Pacific Region’s silent auction complete the Convention experience. USPC is pleased to partner with title sponsor Via Nova Training for the 2024 USPC Convention.

■ This AAA Four Diamond-rated resort features a 9,900-square-foot fitness center, the three-story Spa and Salon Toscana, two resort pools, 10 award-winning restaurants, and 15 themed bars and lounges. ■ Conveniently located five minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and ten minutes from downtown, Peppermill is in a perfect location for easy travel. ■ The USPC Convention will be in the recently remodeled convention space, which features free high-speed internet. ■ Peppermill showcases the award-winning Bimini Steakhouse and inspired Italian cuisine at the Romanza; a casual experience with gourmet coffee or Italian gelato in the Biscotti, Cafe Espresso, and Café Milano; authentic Chinese dishes at Chi; seafood and sushi at Oceano; New York deli dishes at Sports Deli; or handcrafted Mexican entrees in its new restaurant, Sabroso. In addition, the hotel offers in-room dining 24/7. ■ Enjoy live music and headliner acts in the Terrace Lounge for free entertainment. For a cozy night, visit the famous Fireside Lounge, a Peppermill icon. ■ Treat yourself to a spa treatment during your stay and book a massage, reflexology, Reiki, body wrap, skincare or Ayurvedic treatment, or a sensory spa day. ■ Enjoy the indoor pool and sun deck in Northern Nevada’s only Caldarium. The lower outdoor pool is heated year-round with on-site geothermal energy to accommodate guests in all seasons.

Courtesy Peppermill Reno Resort and Spa

Be Part of the 2024 USPC Convention Registration for the 2024 USPC Convention, presented by Via Nova Training, is open online at bit.ly/2024-convention-registrationinfo. USPC lodging group rates are available at the Reno Peppermill Resort and Spa and online here. For more information about the convention, visit www.ponyclub.org/Events/ Convention and click on the button below. Sponsorship and trade fair opportunities are still available, with a deadline of December 6. Through Pony Club, you can connect with an equine-savvy audience of all ages and support the next generation of leaders and equestrians. Those interested should email development@ ponyclub.org.

All About the Peppermill Reno Resort

GROOMING GOALS

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Grooming Your Horse

By Liv Gude, Brought to you by Shapley’s Grooming Products, the Official Grooming Products Sponsor of USPC

rooming your horse is more than brushing and creating shine; it’s health care for your horse. Every moment that you spend touching, brushing, and memorizing your horse’s body and behaviors lets you notice health problems much more easily in the future. When you develop a grooming routine during your daily barn chores and riding, it can be easy to fall into some bad habits or forget about an important step. Here’s a list of things to avoid doing while grooming your horse and what you can do instead.

Elizabeth Moyer/United States Pony Clubs

Mistake #1: Avoid Using Too Much Shampoo and Bathing Too Often

DISCOVER USPC

44 Bonus Issue 2023

Deep inside your horse’s skin are hair follicles that hold one strand of hair each. Attached to each follicle is a sebaceous gland that secretes sebum. Sebum is your horse’s natural oil and serves many functions for skin and coat health. Your horse’s shine, waterproofing, and stainrepelling abilities and protection from microbes all come from sebum. However, harsh shampoos and detergents remove sebum from your horse’s skin. Milder shampoos may also do the same if used too frequently. So if you use too much shampoo, too harsh of a shampoo, or bathe too often, the result is dry skin, brittle hair that stains easily, and no skin protection. Instead, curry more to preserve that precious sebum. And when you do shampoo, use a mild formula created for horses and designed to boost shine.

Elizabeth Moyer/United States Pony Clubs

Always use clean saddle pads and leg wraps so that you don’t add dirt back to your horse. If your horse needs help in the natural oil department, you can give him a hottowel treatment with a grooming oil or use a sheen spray to protect the coat and help to repel stains. No-rinse shampoos or spot removers can help you groom localized stains instead of having to bathe your horse.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Your Horse’s Body Language

As you groom your horse, notice his body and how he reacts to you. The signs of a happy horse include soft eyes, a relaxed leg, chewing, sleeping, wiggling the lower lip, and leaning into you as you groom. Some horses will even shift around to direct you to their favorite places for you to brush and scratch there. Uncomfortable horses are fidgety, snap their teeth, swish their tail, or stomp their hooves. They could be ticklish, have sore, swollen, or tender places, or their skin may be sensitive. Many horses display obvious behaviors that show their discomfort during grooming time. Therefore, noticing habits and consistent behaviors can help you take care of your horse. New behaviors often indicate that your horse isn’t feeling his best, and you should investigate to find out why. Fear can also be a factor. If your horse is nervous around items that spray, use a cloth to apply grooming sheens and fly sprays. This also prevents products from irritating eyes and noses.

Mistake #3: Reusing Dirty Leg Wraps, Boots, and Saddle Pads

It can feel impossible sometimes to get your horse 100% clean, especially in the winter. But, a clean horse with clean tack will stay cleaner for longer. The most important places to focus your grooming efforts are under tack and leg protection. Grit and sand under a saddle is like having dirt in your shoes. If those areas are clean, your horse will be more comfortable, and your saddle pads and boots will stay cleaner. If you reuse dirty saddle pads and leg wraps, you are adding dirt to your horse, and sometimes it’s uncomfortable dirt. Your best course of action is to brush your pads and boots with a stiff brush to remove surface hair and dirt, and then launder or clean them. When your tack and horse are dirt-free, you will do much less laundry in the long run. Sheen sprays are a great way to shine up your horse, help to prevent future stains, and keep your horse clean, but don’t use them under your saddle and girth areas as they can cause slippage. You want your tack to stay put.

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Mistake #4: Not Washing Your Grooming Tools and Brushes

Dirty curry combs and brushes make for dirty horses. They can also spread certain skin conditions between horses,

www.giddyap.com 888-GIDDYAP DISCOVER USPC

ponyclub.org

such as ringworm, a fungal infection, and rain rot, which is a bacterial infection. Weekly cleaning of your horse’s brushes and the grooming box you store them in is ideal. Create a soap solution of warm water mixed with chlorhexidine or shampoo to soak your grooming tools. Let everything soak for a few minutes, then scrub the brushes individually before rinsing. If you use a shampoo to clean your grooming tools, choose one with tea tree oil to help boost anti-microbial properties. Flick out excess moisture from the bristles before laying brushes on their sides to dry in the shade. Tools like hoof picks and curry combs can air dry or be patted dry with a towel. Your horse’s skin and coat health will appreciate clean grooming tools.

Any time you groom or rub down your horse, you can check for any health issues.

Mistake #5: Skipping Your Horse’s Health Checks

Make it part of your routine to check your horse’s vital signs regularly. Knowing

How to Check Your Horse’s Vital Signs It’s important to know how to take your horse or pony’s temperature, pulse, and respiration and to know what is normal for them. Here are the typical values for horses: ■ Temperature – 98.5º to 101ºF; a temperature above 101ºF is considered a fever and you should call your veterinarian. ■ Pulse (Heart Rate) – 30 to 45 beats per minute, average is 36 beats per minute. ■ Respiration (Breathing) Rate – 8 to 16 breaths per minute How to take your horse’s temperature: Use a digital thermometer or a non-mercury shake-down thermometer (never use a glass thermometer). Add a lubricant, like petroleum jelly, to the thermometer. Standing next to your horse’s back leg, gently move the tail aside and insert the thermometer into the rectum. Don’t forget to clean the thermometer with soap and water or rubbing alcohol after each use. Check your horse’s pulse: Use your pointer finger and middle finger to locate the facial artery under their jaw. Run your fingers to the inside of the cheekbone, about halfway down the face, to find the artery. If you move your fingers from side to side, it may feel like a guitar string. Press up against the inside of the horse’s jaw bone to feel, and count the beats for 30 seconds and then multiply by two. The Pony Club curriculum will also teach you how to take their digital pulse and the heart rate, which uses a stethoscope. How to count the respiration rate: Use your horse’s belly, just in front of the flank, to count respirations. A breath in and out is one respiration. Place a hand on the flank or simply watch the area. Set a timer for 30 seconds, count the breaths, and multiply by 2 to get the respiratory rate. DISCOVER USPC

46 Bonus Issue 2023

what is normal for your horse helps you and your vet keep tabs on their day-today health. This is especially important when traveling with your horse and going to rallies and shows. Gatherings of horses mean viruses and other infections can travel through a showgrounds, be picked up by your horse, and be taken back to your barn at home. Awareness is the key to further prevention. Knowing your horse’s baseline temperature, respiration rate, and pulse rate is vital, and checking them when you suspect your horse is not feeling well can alert you to early signs of trouble, especially after rallies and shows. See the sidebar “How to Check Your Horse’s Vital Signs” to the left and review the USPC Manual of Horsemanship Intermediate Horsemanship C1–C2 Level for more information. Now that you are aware of these five potential grooming pitfalls, you can adjust your horse care routine to ensure your horse is healthy, shiny, and comfortable. Check out all of the Shapley’s Superior Equine Grooming Products at your local tack store or online retailer to help build a great grooming routine, and visit www.shapleys.com for more expert grooming advice. Brought to you by:

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NUTRITION NOTES

How to Score Your Horse’s Body Condition Article and Images Provided by Triple Crown Nutrition, the Official Feed Sponsor of USPC

Any time of year is a great time to body condition score your horses and ponies and evaluate if you should make any important diet and management changes so that your horse is as healthy and fit as he can be. Sometimes a horse may be a bit too chunky, or a bit too thin, and so you may need to talk with a veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to help optimize his diet so that you can get him into an ideal body condition score. DISCOVER USPC

48 Bonus Issue 2023

Shutterstock/BearFotos

Know the Score The Henneke Body Scoring System (developed by Don Henneke, PhD, of Texas A&M University) is a standardized body condition system that is widely used in the horse industry for scoring a horse’s body condition. The system rates the

horse on a scale of 1 to 9. A score of 1 is considered very poor or emaciated and a 9 is extremely fat or obese. Veterinarians consider a score between 4 and 6 to be acceptable, with 5 considered ideal. Body scoring is an important skill to master and something every horse owner

should know how to do. You can even set up monthly or quarterly body scoring parties with others at your barn to get multiple perspectives when evaluating your horse. The scoring process is a hands-on and visual examination. First, have your horse stand squarely and assess six key DISCOVER USPC

ponyclub.org

areas on their body—neck, shoulder, withers, ribs, loin, and tailhead. Apply pressure to feel on and around each area and then rate each one on a scale from 1 to 9. Combine these scores and divide by 6 to get an overall body condition score for your horse or pony. What if your horse doesn’t get an “ideal” body score? Here are some common scenarios and feeding recommendations for each.

The Overweight Easy Keeper Do you have an equine that has gotten a little overweight? This can happen easily with horses out on lush pastures or those who might have had some time off. Here are some tips to get them back on track: ■ Always consult your veterinarian if a horse shows signs of any metabolic issues, such as insulin resistance, or lameness (which could be laminitis); immediate preventive care is very important. ■ Exercise is key to weight loss, so develop a plan for routine activity. ■ Monitor consumption of hay/pasture/ forage. ■ Test your hay supply for calories and starches and sugars, or nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). ■ Use slow-feed hay nets, grazing muzzles, or move your horse to a dry lot. ■ Feed a nutrient-dense ration balancer to cover daily vitamin and mineral needs. ■ Remove unnecessary feeds and supplements. ■ Monitor diet and exercise, and work to get them back to an ideal body score.

The Underweight Hard Keeper Has your active horse gotten a bit lean? Work, travel, and stress can keep them DISCOVER USPC

50 Bonus Issue 2023

from putting on enough weight or cause them to lose weight. Whether you will continue riding as often or not, you want to get them into an ideal body condition heading into more difficult seasons, such as winter, when they need to have a good body condition score to help them regulate their body temperature and stay warm. Here are some things to consider: ■ Consult your veterinarian regarding dental concerns or if there is a concern about ulcers or other health issues that may hinder weight gain. ■ Be sure your horse is on the proper

feed at the right amount for their needs. This could mean bumping up the amount of feed or moving to a higher fat option to help with weight gain. ■ Ensure your horse is getting 1.5-2% of their body weight in forage daily. If quality pasture or access to pasture is not an option, they will need adequate quality forage, such as hay/hay cubes/ pellets or another source, to support their needs. ■ Test your current hay supply so you know what your forage is providing for nutrition and calories. Seek out higher-calorie hays like alfalfa and/or a supplement with cubes, pellets, or chopped forage products. ■ Assess your feeding schedule. Feeding two or more times a day allows for smaller, more frequent meals for your horse, which can help improve nutrient digestibility. Remember these tips and the importance of assessing your horse’s body condition score, especially before winter, so that you can identify any diet or management changes that may need to be made. Selecting the right feed for your horse or pony may not be easy, but it is an important task to ensure they are getting the best feed at proper amounts to help set them up for success and a healthy life. The experts at Triple Crown are available to help create a feeding program to meet your horse’s nutritional needs. If you have additional questions, talk to a Triple Crown feed expert at www.triplecrownfeed.com or call 800451-9916. Brought to you by:

Fun Page Answer Key

1. When was the United States Pony Clubs founded? A. 1954

4. Which discipline must EVERY member do in USPC? A. Horse Management

2. What country was Pony Club started in? C. Great Britian

5. Which of the following is NOT a USPC competitive discipline? C. Driving

3. What is the age limit for USPC members? D. There isn’t one

6. What is Pony Club all about? D. All of the above

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