Horse Illustrated Magazine

Hundreds of Pony Club members from around the country are competing for national honors in various events, including polocrosse, tetrathlon, dressage, eventing, show jumping and more, during the United States Pony Clubs National Championships, July 24-27, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va.

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 among 48 states and the Virgin Islands, with more than 12,000 members. Pony Club is a well-respected organization that aims to teach children proper horsemanship skills, including handling, grooming, health care and riding.

Children involved in Pony Club don’t need to own their own horse or pony, and the organization offers programs in mounted games, quiz, vaulting and foxhunting in addition to those listed above.

Pony Club members are encouraged to work their way through the organization’s nine stages of the progressive Standards of Proficiency, which test knowledge and riding ability. Pony Club members who attain the specific rating levels meet standards of competence that are recognized throughout the horse world.

For more information about the championships and the Pony Club, visit www.ponyclub.org.