At the Board of Governors meeting November 6-7, 2010, the Pony Club Riding Center Program was approved by a unanimous vote to become a permanent program. This approval comes after a five-year ‘beta’ period during which the program was tested at over 50 Pony Club Riding Centers serving more than 700 members around the United States. USPC offers the Pony Club Riding Center Program to professional facilities with an established riding lesson program. Just as in the traditional Pony Club run by volunteers, Pony Club Riding Center members move through the Standards of Proficiency, 10 levels of achievement demonstrating advancing skills in both riding and horse management.
The Pony Club program also develops camaraderie, responsibility, self-confidence and leadership. Tom Adams, USPC President, said, “In response to the changing demographics of our youth, the Riding Center Program was started to help provide the Pony Club program to those who may not have direct access to a horse.”
Since the establishment of USPC in 1954, there has been a steady decline in the backyard horse. Today, young people are typically introduced to horseback riding through established riding lesson programs, and more people board their horses versus keeping them at home. In 2005, USPC introduced the Pony Club Riding Center program as a way to reach young people who were taking riding lessons, but were not able to participate in a local Pony Club because they did not have access to their own horse.
Participating in the Riding Center program affords stables the benefit of the entire USPC curriculum for their members. The Pony Club curriculum allows clubs and centers to offer a unique educational experience, based on the USPC Standards of Proficiency, which places equal emphasis on the teaching of riding skills, horse-care fundamentals, and sportsmanship through team participation. From the moment young people join Pony Club until they graduate, they are part of a broad network of activities and educational programs that promote the safety and well-being of both horse and rider. Ratings (evaluations of skill in both riding and the care of the horse) are given in an effort to recognize achievement and encourage members to gain confidence, independence and good safety habits while working with mounts. Goal setting, teaching and testing are good ways to accomplish this purpose.
All Pony Club members are encouraged to progress at a pace that is comfortable for them. To learn more about Pony Club, the Riding Center program, and how a facility may offer the Pony Club program, visit The U.S. Pony Clubs is a non-profit educational organization whose goal is to develop character, leadership, confidence, and a sense of community in youth through a program that teaches the care of horses and ponies, riding, and mounted sports. Pony Club is open to youth up to age 25. Members participate in team competitions known as rallies in a variety of disciplines including quiz, dressage, eventing, mounted games, tetrathlon, show jumping, and polocrosse. There are over 600 Pony Clubs and Riding Centers throughout the country. Currently, Pony Club Riding Centers are located in the following locations throughout the country: PONY CLUB RIDING CENTERS
Camino Real Region
Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, North Hollywood, CA
Capital Region
Good Choice Farm, Clarksburg, MD
Carolina Region
Bramblewood Stables, Greenville, SC
Hidden “K” Stables, Pfafftown, NC
White Winds Farm, Raeford, NC
Central New England Region
Cedar Brook, Sutton, MA
Hybid Farm, Chelmsford, MA
North Gate Farm, Marlborough, MA
RER, Hatfield, MA
Deep South Region
Silver Lining Farm, Mobile, AL
Eastern Pennsylvania Region
Burbank Riding Academy, Reading, PA
Windswept Acres at Stonetown, Oley, PA
Hawaii Region
Woods Riding, Honolulu, HI
Heartland Region
Rocky River Farm, Greencastle, IN
ADVERTISEMENT
Inland Empire Region
Spokane Sport Horse Farm, Spokane, WA
Intermountain Region
Kaizen Farm, Meridian, ID
Lake Shore Region
Hillside Farm, Richfield, WI
Kuenzi Equestrian Center, Beaver Dam, WI
Maryland Region
Waredaca, Laytonsville, MD
Middle California Region
California Riding Academy, Menlo Park, CA
Glenoaks Stables, Woodside, CA
Monterey Bay, Soquel, CA
Willow Pond Ranch, Soquel, CA
Midsouth Region
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Lexington, KY
Galerie Farm, Hamilton, OH
Greenacres Equine Center, Cincinnati, OH
Maple Leaf Equestrian Centre, Granville, OH
Peachtree Farms, Arrington, TN
Rolling Hills Equestrian Center, Henderson, KY
Midwest Region
Irish Run Farms, Des Mounes, IA
New Jersey Region
Oxbow Stables, Montclair, NJ
New York/Upper CT Region
Oakendale Farm, Bristol, CT
Northeast Region
ADVERTISEMENT
Salt Pond Farm, Vinalhaven, ME
Northern Lakes Region
The Stables, Rochester, MN
Turn Crest Stables, Kasson, MA
Old Dominion Region
Arbor Gate Farm, Virginia Beach, VA
Oakside Stables, Amherst, VA
Sierra Pacific Region
Four Star Farm, Bodega, CA
South Region
Springstone Equestrian, Birmingham, AL
Southern California Region
Sandia Creek Ranch, Lake Elsinore, CA
Tahquitz Equestrian Center, Palm Desert, CA
Sunshine Region
The Oaks Equestrian Center, Newberry, FL
Tri-State Region
Summer Wind Stables, Chesterland, OH
Virginia Region
Misty Brae Farm, Aldie, VA
Serene Acres, Bluemont, VA
Western New England Region
Pinnacle Farm, Jeffersonville, VT
Plumbrook Pony Farm, Norfolk, NY
Western New York Region
Heart to Heart Morgans, Alexander, NY
Honey Dew Acres, Canton, NY
