Polocrosse
Polocrosse, a game related to polo but played with a racquet similar to that used in Lacrosse, was approved by the Board of Governors as a USPC discipline in February 1997. The game was developed in Australia in the late 1930's, and it is now played with great enthusiasm internationally. Across the U.S. the sport of Polocrosse is growing through clinics, tournaments, and rallies.
A Polocrosse team for Pony Club consists of three players and a stable manager who may participate as a replacement if qualified. Each rider may use only one horse per game, and that horse may not be played more than 48 minutes per day. Each game period or chukka is normally 6 to 8 minutes. Each team usually plays four chukkas per day. The field is 160 yards long by 60 yards wide. The four-inch ball is made of soft rubber, bounces well and is caught, thrown or carried in the net end of a yard-long cane racquet. Horses wear leg wraps and bell boots on all four legs for protection. Almost any horse may be used, with no limitation on size. However, USPC, separates horse and pony divisions at the intermediate level and only horses may compete at the advanced level.
Polocrosse requires practice of ball handling skills-bouncing, picking up, throwing and catching the ball in the net of the racquet, and players learn to cradle the ball to keep opposing players from hitting it out of the net. Riders develop strong self-confidence in their riding ability, especially riding in the open, while improving their eye-hand coordination and the ability to do more then one thing at a time while riding.
Basic Dressage training is important in developing a good Polocrosse horse, as a horse must have good balance and respond well to the aids. Horses quickly catch on, and seem to enjoy the game as much as their riders!
Polocrosse Rally is Sunday, October 5, hosted by Potomac Pony Club, at Boyds, MD. This will be a Championship Qualifying Rally!
USPC Rulebooks can be found on the USPC website
For more information on Polocrosse please visit:
USPC Polocrosse
American Polocrosse Association
Eventing
Eventing embodies the core activity of Pony Club -- that of three riding disciplines: dressage, cross-country and show jumping and horse management, providing members with a broad equestrian base needed to enjoy any horse activity throughout their lives in a safe and competent manner.
USPC Rulebooks can be found on the USPC website
For more information on eventing:
USPC Eventing
USEA
Show Jumping
Show jumping is a form of competition in which horses are jumped over a course of fences, low walls, and other obstacles (e.g., water-filled ditches or troughs). Show jumping is a competitive sport consisting of many elements. The course is pre-arranged; the event may be timed or untimed event. It is scored by a judge or panel of judges.
Show jumping lessons are currently going on, with the C rally coming up soon. USPC Rulebooks can be found on the USPC website
For more information on Show Jumping:
USPC Show Jumping
Tetrathlon
Tetrathlon as a Pony Club competition which originated in England and was introduced to the USPC in 1972. Tetrathlon programs, originally viewed as added incentive for boys to join Pony Club, began to appear across the country. The first USPC Tetrathlon Championship was held in 1974 at the Modern Pentathlon Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
As the numbers increased and girls teams were added, the rally was moved around the country, often in conjunction with USPC National Championships. One of the special highlights of the Tetrathlon program is an international exchange and competition involving teams from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. This series began when a team of USPC senior boys was invited to compete in England in the late 70s. Competition for girls was added when USPC and The Canadian Pony Club hosted the exchange in 1980. USPC Tetrathlon provides a challenging competition requiring sound, practical horsemanship and general athletic ability. It encourages Pony Club members to broaden their interest in riding, condition their own bodies, and become multi-sport athletes. Tetrathalon combines four events, only one of which is a mounted event: stadium jumping, running, swimming and target-shooting.
USPC Rulebooks can be found on the USPC website
for more information on Tetrathalon please visit:
Dressage
The fundamental purpose of Dressage (a French term meaning "training") is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. Although the discipline has its roots in classical Greek horsemanship, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit during the Renaissance in western Europe.
Objectives and Standards of Levels of competition used in USPC Dressage Rallies or functions:
USDF Introductory Level: To confirm that the horse is ridden on a light but steady contact, and that the rider places great importance upon preparation, correctness and quality of the movements, rather than the gaits of the horse and exact execution of the movements at a specific marker.
USEF TRAINING LEVEL: To confirm that the horse’s muscles are supple and loose, and that it moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, accepting contact with the bit.
USEF FIRST LEVEL: To confirm that the horse, in addition to the requirements of Training Level, has developed thrust (pushing power) and achieved a degree of balance and thoroughness.
USEF SECOND LEVEL: To confirm that the horse, having demonstrated that it has achieved the thrust (pushing power) required in the First Level, now shows that through additional training, it accepts more weight on the hindquarters (collection), shows the thrust required at medium gaits, and is reliably on the bit. A greater degree of straightness, bending, suppleness, thoroughness, and self carriage is required than at First Level.
USEF THIRD LEVEL: To confirm that the horse has achieved the requirements of Second Level. It now demonstrates in each movement, especially in medium and extended gaits and in the transitions to and from collected movements, rhythm, suppleness, acceptance of the bit, thoroughness, impulsion, straightness and collection. There must be a clear distinction between the paces.
USEF FOURTH LEVEL: To confirm that the horse has achieved the requirements of Third Level. These are tests of medium difficulty designed to confirm that the horse has acquired a high degree of suppleness, impulsion, thoroughness, balance and lightness while always remaining reliably
on the bit, and that its movements are straight, energetic and cadenced with the transitions precise and smooth.
FEI Levels: PRIX ST. GEORGES: Test of medium standard. This test represents the medium stage of training. It comprises exercises to show the horse’s submission to all the demands of the execution of classical equitation and a standard of physical and mental balance and development, which will enable him to carry them out with harmony and lightness.
Please contact the officers if you need a dressage instructor.
USPC Rulebooks can be found on the USPC website
for more information on Dressage please visit:
USPC Dressage
United States Dressage Federation
Quiz
Quiz is a non-riding team competition where Pony Club members show their knowledge and skills in 1) the Standards of Proficiency and topics related to the Standards of Proficiency through their rating level and at least one level above their rating level, 2) Rally competition rules, 3) Horse sports (Dressage, Eventing, Games, Polocrosse, Show Jumping and Tetrathlon) in addition to resource activities (Foxhunting, Polo, Vaulting, and Distance Riding), and 4) Safety.
Many aspects of Pony Club mounted Rallies can be learned at the Quiz Rally. This Rally, besides challenging the Pony Club members to learn horsemanship and horse care, provides them with opportunities to display and learn good sportsmanship, leadership, stewardship, and teamwork as they prepare thoroughly, plan and cooperate with their teammates, and take winning or losing in stride. Thus, our purpose is to design Quiz to be competitive but comfortable, comfortable but challenging, challenging but fair, fair yet rigorous, rigorous yet flexible, flexible yet efficient, and efficient but educational while promoting creativity and FUN.
Some help found on USPC from another club can be found at http://www.horsekeeper.com/Quiz.html
http://ponyclub.org/files/bin/1684
USPC Rulebooks can be found on the USPC website
Foxhunting
Foxhunting with Elkridge-Harford Hunt Pony Club is a prominent activity since that is how the club was formed. We are very fortunate to have some the most beautiful countryside to on which to hunt. Ponyclubbers can hunt at Elkridge for only $10, however they must be chaperoned. The chaperones are $35.
Mounted Games
Games is a unique equestrian sport that emphasizes teamwork, speed, accuracy, and fun. Games teams compete in an exciting array of relay races with some pretty unusual equipment -- everything from bending poles to hockey sticks to old socks. Competitive Games players are highly skilled riders capable of vaulting on and off of their mounts, hanging in front of a pony's legs at a full gallop, and executing tight turns around barrels and poles -- yet even beginning riders can learn to play Games. Games ponies are exceptional athletes with speed, agility, and a competitive spirit -- yet any horse or pony can be trained to play Games. Games competitions involve some of the best Games players in the world -- but also include divisions for beginners and mature adult riders who play for the sheer fun of it.
Games practice will begin on April 4th at 5:30. For more information, please contact Candida Lancaster or Karen Bennett. If you don't have a pony, no problem, we will find you one!
USPC Rulebooks can be found on the USPC website
for more information on mounted games please check out the following websites:
United States Pony Club Mounted Games
Mounted Games Across America
United States Equestrian Games Association
Mounted Games Association
International MGA Site