The United States Pony Clubs (USPC, or Pony Club) is the largest equine educational organization in the world for those who love horses and ponies. Through Pony Club, you can learn riding and horse care. But the best thing about Pony Club is that you’ll also make lifelong friends who love horses just as much as you do!
Uma Kraskin was a timid, 8-year-old beginning rider when her mom signed her up for Pony Club. Today, 17-year-old Uma—a member of Wekiva Basin Pony Club in Florida—has competed in USPC Championships five times and is currently pursuing her passion for dressage and endurance riding, all thanks to confidence gained through Pony Club. She even represented the United States in international competition at the 2023 FEI Pan American Endurance Championships.
What You’ll Learn
Many of the world’s top riders from the U.S. and other countries are or have been part of Pony Club. American Olympic eventer Doug Payne, dressage rider Adrienne Lyle, show jumper Kent Farrington, and other well-known professional riders were members of USPC. Many members also credit Pony Club for teaching them valuable skills they use in all areas of their life, such as teamwork, leadership, and confidence.
There are nearly 500 Pony Clubs and Pony Club Riding Centers across the United States, and you can join through one near you. These local Pony Clubs and Riding Centers offer education on all horse-related topics, with opportunities to participate in mounted and unmounted meetings, clinics, and camps. You can also compete in Pony Club competitions (called rallies), earn a Pony Club certification, and much more.
You can learn and progress through the Pony Club certification program in the disciplines of your choice at your own pace. From the beginning (D-1) all the way to the advanced A-level certification, each of the Pony Club certification levels requires you to learn more about horse care while also becoming a more accomplished rider.
Carolyn Wolf, 15, a member of Traverse Bay Pony Club in Michigan for eight years, says the level of knowledge you will acquire through Pony Club is valuable no matter what your goals are.
“If you want to go ride in the Olympics, Pony Club can help you get there,” she says. “If you want to learn basic horse management skills, learn to ride, train, or keep your own horse at home, Pony Club will get you there, too. It is the best organization for anyone in the horse world.”
Both Uma and Carolyn believe that Pony Club teaches a standard of riding and horsemanship you won’t find anywhere else.
You Don’t Need to Own a Horse
Now that Pony Club in the U.S. has no age limit, you will never outgrow Pony Club. And you don’t need to own a horse to join. Pony Club Riding Centers are lesson barns that offer USPC education and programs using their horses. Local clubs may also help you find a horse to borrow or lease for Pony Club activities.
Isabella Mensik, 16, a member of Royal Riders Pony Club in Southern California, hasn’t let being horseless hold her back. She has pursued her dreams of learning to jump with a borrowed pony named Gem and a Percheron/Appendix Quarter Horse named Remington.
“Many of the events are horseless, such as Research Fairs and Quiz rallies,” says Isabella. “Quiz rallies are all knowledge-based, and they test how much you understand horses and their care.”
Endless Horse Activities
In Pony Club, you can learn and ride in a variety of disciplines on a pony or a horse (and we’ve even seen the occasional mule). Disciplines include dressage and western dressage, eventing, gymkhana (barrels, pole bending, and more), mounted games, polocrosse, quiz, show jumping, tetrathlon (a four-phase event of running, swimming, riding and shooting), trail, and western riding.
Pony Club also provides opportunities in a variety of other riding sports, such as fox hunting, distance riding, driving, hunter seat equitation, polo, and vaulting. With so many options, Pony Club has something for everyone, and it’s a great way to explore different horse activities.
Compete at a Rally
Pony Club rallies are a little different than regular horse shows. You compete as part of a team, and you’re also judged on how well you care of your horse or pony throughout the competition.
Horse management is very important in Pony Club. Trainers, parents, and outside helpers aren’t allowed in the barns during a rally, so you and your teammates learn to do everything yourselves, with the support of Horse Management judges. More experienced Pony Club members also help teach less experienced ones.
“I love to instruct and mentor the younger generation,” says Isabella. “Pony Club has allowed me to deepen my understanding of what I love and share it with those around me.”
National Events
USPC also has two national events. The USPC Festival, featuring national championships and educational clinics, is Pony Club’s biggest event, held every other year in Lexington, Ky., at the famous Kentucky Horse Park. Even if you aren’t a member, you can register to participate in Festival education.
The USPC Convention also features educational workshops and other fun activities, and all horse lovers are invited to attend.
Make Like-Minded Friends
Along with an incredible education, being part of the Pony Club community builds strong bonds and lasting friendships.
“If you want to meet people from all around the world that share the same love of horses that you do, find a Pony Club near you,” says Carolyn, who has made many of her best friends through Pony Club.
Once you are part of Pony Club, you are part of a larger family of fellow horse lovers. Pony Club is waiting to welcome new members. Will you be one of them?
Visit ponyclub.org to locate clubs and centers in your area and find membership details.
This article about joining Pony Club appeared in the September/October 2024 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
