About Pony Club

Pony Club is one of the leading junior equestrian organizations in the world, represented throughout 30 countries! The United States has
over 600 individual Clubs spread throughout 48 states and the Virgin Islands, with more than 12,000 members.

MISSION: The mission of the United States Pony Clubs is to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the
care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership, and self-confidence.

MEMBERSHIP: Membership is open to any boy or girl under the age of 25 interested in horsemanship. The only requirement is that they
must have access to a pony or horse. Pony Club members may start as early as age six, although they must be able to walk and trot well
enough to participate in activities. Membership can start at any age under 25. And members don't just ride ponies, older members usually
ride horses. Bluegrass Pony Club accepts new members throughout the year.

RIDING ACTIVITIES: Riding activities include combined training (dressage, stadium jumping, cross-country), mounted games, show
jumping, dressage, polo, polocrosse (combination of polo and lacrosse), foxhunting, driving, and tetrathlon (riding, running, swimming,
shooting). Vaulting is the nineth discipline of the USPC, but is not currently offered by Bluegrass Pony Club.

Pony Club provides opportunities for instruction and competition in English riding, horse sports and horse management. The term "pony"
reflects the age of the members, rather than the size of the mount. Horses and ponies of many different breeds, shapes, and sizes are
seen in Pony Club activities. It is not necessary for a child to own a horse or pony, but they must have access to one when required.

During "unmounted" meetings, members learn about feeding, shoeing, veterinary care, and other areas of horse management. Under adult
supervision, the more experienced Pony Clubbers instruct and assist younger members.

Pony Clubbers are encouraged to work their way through the nine stages of the progressive Standards of Proficiency which test knowledge
and riding ability. Pony Clubbers who attain the B, H-A, and A rating levels meet standards of competence that are recognized throughout
the horse world.

PARENTS' ROLE

Parents play an important role in Pony Club. There are many areas in which parents are needed. They may share one of many roles within
the Club circle, such as Club leader, chaperone, jump judge, or assist in activity events and fund-raisers.

SAFETY

USPC is committed to safety. It is a membership requirement that Pony Clubbers wear a riding helmet meeting the ASTM/SEI standard
when attending mounted meetings. Parents should be prepared to purchase this item and the minimum basic riding equipment, such as
jodhpurs, boots, etc.

1. How do the ratings work?

Pony Club provides a structured curriculum of both mounted and unmounted skills and knowledge for our kids to follow. Ratings provide a
progression for the mastery of these skills. The USPC ratings system measures each Pony Clubber's progress through the instructional
program.

The D ratings are an introduction to the fun and challenge of riding, establishing a foundation of safety habits and knowledge of the daily
care of pony and tack. The D-1 through D-3 Pony Clubber learns to ride independently and with control, maintaining a reasonably secure
position at the walk, trot and canter and over low fences. All D ratings are awarded at the club level.

The C is a Pony Clubber learning to become an active horseman, to care independently for his or her pony and tack, and to understand the
reasons for what he or she is doing. The C shows development toward a secure, independent seat and increasing control, and confidence in
all phases of riding. The C-1 and C-2 ratings are awarded at the club level. The C-3 is a regional rating and reflects a basis of
competence of riding and horse care that will make possible a lifetime of pleasure with horses.

The B, H-A, and A ratings are national ratings and require great depth of knowledge. Successful candidates are competent, all around
horsemen, and are active, contributing members of USPC who participate in a variety of Pony Club activities. They are also thoughtful
leaders who set a good example for all levels.

The standards of proficiency for all the ratings are outlined in the Pony Club manuals, as well as the national website, www.ponyclub.org.

2. What is a rally?

A rally is a Pony Club competition where teams of Pony Clubbers compete against each other. For many Pony Clubbers, competing in a rally
is one of the best things about Pony Club. Rallies are mounted competitions usually made up of teams of 3-5. All of the team members ride
in the competition except one, who acts as the stable manager, helping with all the essential ground work that must be done to support the
mounted competitors.

During rallies, parents are not allowed to interact with their children at all. It is up to the team to pull together to take care of all the
details and logistics, fostering teamwork and leadership within the Pony Club teams. In addition to the riding performance of the team
members, the rally teams are also judged on horse management.

3. What is horse management?

During rallies, each team is required to set up a complete and organized stable containing all the necessary gear. Saddle racks, bridle
racks, first aid, equipment, tack, etc. is all set up in the stable. Everything must be labeled and in proper cleanliness, repair, and
condition. Points are taken off for things like dirty tack, and missing required items.

Outside the context of rallies, horse management refers to the general care of horses. Pony Club’s emphasis on exceptional horse
management makes the Pony Club experience complete – it's not just about riding! We want our members to know how to take care of their
horses responsibly and safely.

4. If we participate in the mounted meetings and rallies, do I still need other instruction?

Pony Club will hire and schedule instructors and coaches for mounted meetings and rally practices. But we highly encourage our members to
work with instructors individually (or in groups) in addition to mounted meetings.

5. How is Pony Club organized?

Each Pony Club is led by a District Commissioner (DC), a Joint District Commissioner, and a board. All of these positions are volunteer.
Bluegrass is part of the Midsouth Region of the United States. The international organization has its own executive board and we are
required to follow the by-laws and rules mandated by this parent organization.

6. What are mounted meetings?

Mounted meetings are scheduled sessions where Pony Clubbers receive group riding instruction. Bluegrass Pony Club holds its mounted
meetings at various locations around the Bluegrass, including private farms, professional riding facilities, and Masterson Station Park in
Lexington. They are usually on Saturday afternoons.

7. What are unmounted meetings?

Unmounted meetings are educational meetings where Pony Clubbers receive group instruction in various horse management subjects. The goal
is to help members get the instructional support required to master the standards of proficiency outlined in the various ratings.

8. What are flow charts?

Flow charts are charts that have the individual skills for each Pony Club level. Members need to have instructors initial and date when the
member has mastered a skill. Flow charts must be completed before a member may take a ratings test to the next level. Flow charts ensure
that the member is ready to test up to the next level.

9. What is Quiz Rally?

Quiz Rally is an unmounted rally where teams compete against each other on their horse knowledge. Teams are made up of four members.

10. What are the different Pony Club programs?

Official Pony Club programs (instruction and/or competition at rallies) are offered in dressage, combined training, show jumping, mounted
games, tetrathlon, Quiz, foxhunting, and polocrosse.

11. What is dressage?

Dressage is a discipline where the horse performs a series of movements in a flat arena in a prescribed sequence known as a “test.”

12. What is combined training or eventing?

Combined training (also known as eventing) has three phases of competition: dressage, cross country and stadium jumping. The different
levels of competition are Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced. The lower levels of combined training
competitions are called Horse Trials. Higher levels of competition are conducted over two or three days, the ultimate being the three-day
event.

13. What is show jumping?

Show jumping is a jumping event in which the horse jumps a course of fences inside a fenced ring or stadium. It is the rider's goal to jump
cleanly without knocking rails down, and often within the least amount of time.

14. What are mounted games?

Mounted games are a series of competitive games played on horseback in teams of either two or four.

15. What is tetrathalon?

Tetrathalon combines four events, only one of which is a mounted event: stadium jumping, running, swimming and target-shooting.

16. What is polocrosse?

Polocrosse is a mixture of polo and lacrosse on horseback.

17. Do we really need our own pony?

Ownership of a horse or pony is not required for membership, but members must have access to use of a pony or horse.

Dues: Membership with Bluegrass Pony Club is on a Calender Year basis from January thru December of each year. Annual dues are
$150.00, and based on a 12 month period. However, in certain circumstances, these dues may not represent a full 12 month period. For
example,there is currently an "open enrollment policy" in place in our club. If a membership is accepted during a month other than
January, there is no pro-ration of dues. From the annual dues payment, national, regional, & local dues are extracted & recorded for each
member.

Expenses: It is essential each child have an accepted helmet which meets the ASTM/SEI standard and
fits the child properly. REQUIRED proper clothing includes, but is not limited to, breeches &/or jodphurs, boots with a heel, and various
attire for competitions. Mounts must be properly tacked in safe, and discipline-appropriate gear.

Greetings and welcome to our club and website!

The Bluegrass Pony Club is a new branch of the United States Pony Club, a national, non-profit organization whose main purpose is to
teach riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies to members under the age of 25. Chartered in November of 2006, our
primary service area includes Bourbon and Nicholas counties in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky.

Our goal is to give every member with a backyard horse or pony the opportunity to develop his or her skill and confidence in riding, horse
care, and general horsemanship. In doing this, we believe youngsters become more well-rounded, self-disciplined, and responsible. Pony
Club nurtures self-esteem, moral judgment and leadership abilities while instilling respect for fellow riders and their mounts.

The recognized disciplines in the equestrian world which will be made available to our members include, but are not limited to, playing
mounted games, dressage, show jumping, eventing, polocrosse, fox hunting, tetratholon and driving. The testing of horse knowledge (Quiz)
builds intellectual confidence and level advancement.

Meetings are held in various locations around the area, and information about each meeting is posted on our Calendar page. Some public
locations used for gatherings include the Bourbon County Farm Service Agency Office on Hwy 68 as well as Legion Park in Paris, KY. At
this time, members are accepted throughout the year; the primary requirement is an available horse or pony for the member.

In spring, our mounted meetings take place at different facilities in our area, the variety of instructors will give students broad exposure
to the various elements of horsemanship and horse care. Click on our calendar page for details and information.

As a non-profit organization, we want to make participation available to any child or youngster, regardless of financial means. The
expenses of instruction, specialized equipment and location fees are the responsibility of the parent; however, we will actively endeavor to
offset these expenses through fundraisers, sponsorships and contributions from supporters. Financial contributions are tax-deductible and
very appreciated!

As the parent of a young rider (or a child who wants to learn), we welcome you to join us in our next meeting. Pony clubs across America
have produced scores of Olympic riders, and thousands of accomplished horsemen and horsewomen. We are the future of horsemanship,
come join us in the fun!

See you soon!

Bluegrass Pony Club

Member of the U.S. Pony Clubs, Inc.

Established 2006

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