Maryland Regional Newsletter

Elkridge Harford Pony Club were the winners of the first ever Foxhunting contest offered by USPC. They were also chosen as one of the "Sweet Success Clubs" and highlighted in the Summer 2006 USPC News. If you have not read the article, check it out! USPC New Construction Update

Take a minute and check out the update on the USPC web site announcing the second USPC Headquarters building: https://www.ponyclub.org/bldgconst/building_updates.htm Be sure to scroll down to the photo on the bottom. Mary Pierson USPC Communications DirectorLost Alumni

Pony Club is currently undertaking a big project tracking down many of our "lost alumni" from as far back as 1954. While we have the names and addresses of many of our graduates, like any organization there are some who have fallen through the cracks for various reasons.

As part of this initiative, we are contacting all alums once we have a current address for them and having them update their Pony Club information. Many of these alums have asked about volunteer opportunities with a local club in their area. If you get a call from a "long lost Pony Club Alum" I hope you will be able to find a volunteer position for them. Many of these graduates have been away from Pony Club for many years and may or may not still be involved with horses, but want to give back.

Thanks for your help.

Marian W. Vester
Development Director
U.S. Pony Clubs, Inc.
(859)254-7669

C3 Testing Information/Updates
Just an update on a couple of things pertaining to the C-3 rating. Ratings updates are no longer needed for the C-3s as this is now a national rating and our database will be updated upon receipt of the PIP packets from the testing.

For C-3 candidates who take their test after the July 1st testing deadline and do not meet the standard requiring them to take the entire test again, they must wait the required 60 day period between testings. As the deadline for testing in the second half of the year will have passed, we will need a written statement (email, mail or fax) from the DC and the RS saying the candidate is allowed to test again along with the testing fee and 3 new test site choices. We will NOT require an entire application as we already will have their original application. Please be aware that as these requests will come in after the final deadline and testing assignments will already be made, they will be assigned on a space available basis and will not receive the "in region preference" if a testing is already filled.

Please contact me at instruction@ponyclub.org if you have any questions.

Lynn Anthony
Instruction Services Director

The Maryland Region's C3 is being held at The William's Farm on October 7 and 8th.

Regional Happenings and Reminders

Eventing, Tet, Show Jumping Rallies

All results are linked off the calendar.

International Games Tryouts for the Tryouts

Information has been provided to all DC's. The tryouts are being hosted by Antietam PC on August 5, 2006. For more information contact your DC.

H/HA Testing - July 21 - 23, 2006 Talbut Run Farm - Margie Williams Coordinator

A Testing - August 25 - 27 Glenwood Farm - Averil Nicewarner Coordinator

Best of luck to all our candidates! Study, ride, and practice!

Show Jumping Rally - A Success
by A. Hasse, A Long Green Pony Club

I have been a member of pony club for 11 years. I came in when I was 10, and climbed through the levels to attain the A at 16. Never once did I have the privilege of learning from anyone but HM judges, parents, or coaches. Not once did I have the opportunity to see what it was like or how it was done by an older PC member who had been where I was and wanted to go where I dreamed. I had to do it alone.

At the 2006 Show Jumping Rally, the D's and C's were combined. I was placed on a team of D2's and D3's, two of the girls being at their very first rally. Did we get a perfect HM score? No. Did we learn and experience the reality of a grueling PC rally and HM process? Yes. And that is all I ever wanted as a D. I wanted to learn and to be respected and to know that there was hope for me as a little kid in Pony Club. I wanted to see that it was possible for other children my age to get through the tedious tack cleaning and extensive horse grooming and out to the other side. I wanted someone to show me that it was OK to make mistakes, and instead of doing it for me, to show me how to do it a little better next time. I just wanted to see that it was all possible.

By keeping the D's with D's and the C's with C's, we only isolate them. They never learn in the same way what they could from another Pony Clubber. They never get to feel grown up and capable unless we show them that they are. As the higher level ratings require teaching, what better opportunity to acquire these skills than at a combined rally? Why force the kids out on their own to learn and to experience what they could in a weekend at a regional rally? The opportunities are endless today as Pony Club expands and grows. Before I leave, I would love to see the older kids join sides with the younger. We were all there once, why pretend that we weren't?

The region welcomes all articles from all levels of pony clubbers. Please send your article to Kim Cranford and she will be glad to add those to our next newsletter!