USPC members are commonly recognized by the horse community as well rounded and responsible with a complete approach to horse care.
Meetings:
Blackhawk Pony Club members participate in mounted and unmounted meetings where the basics of riding skills and horsemanship are emphasized and taught at all levels. We typically hold one unmounted meeting every month and 1-2 mounted clinics or lessons as weather and timing allow May-November. Monthly unmounted meetings are usually held at Mane View Equestrian Center near Oregon, and clinics are at several different stables in the Verona-Oregon-Albany area.
Ratings:
Certifications are a benchmark of progression throughout multiple equine disciplines, and you don't even need a horse! Ratings are available to all members and have an intuitive progression to help members develop in each area of understanding and horse management. Certifications are available to all riding disciplines with coordinating horse management. For example, a rider taking a western certification will not be asked to name parts of an english saddle. However, this is a normal question for a rider in the eventing track, or one testing in the showjumping category. Testings are offered 2-3 times a year by Blackhawk, but members can also attend any other club's testing in Lake Shore Region. From lowest to highest, the levels are: D1, D2, D3, C1, C2, C3, B, A.
Competition:
Pony Club members may participate in competitive rallies as a team. Pony Club rallies provide an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in an atmosphere of cooperation, fun and teamwork. A rally allows Pony Club members to test their skills against others. In addition, rallies are educational experiences that expose participants to new ideas and ways of doing things.
There are generally two to three regional rallies held each year, Quiz Bowl, Pick Your Ride (a Dressage/Show Jumping combo rally), and Eventing, along with Little D and Jamboree (a rally and camp just for D1 and D2 riders) and regional camp (D3 riders and up).
Participation in the regional rallies can lead to opportunities to compete in the National Championship rally each year. Every three years the National Championship Rally is held at the Kentucky Horse Park, along with the 3-day Festival Camp all members can participate in. The next Kentucky Champs and Festival will be in 2021 (rescheduled from 2020 due to COVID).
Mentoring and Teaching Opportunities:
Cooperation, confidence and leadership are all traits that Pony Club develops in its members and these are best built up through teaching. Teaching is the best way for members to work together, gain self-confidence in their skills, and learn how to lead others. It is also a great way to really cement what they have already learned.
Peer-to-peer teaching is a very important part of Pony Club. Most clubs and centers have a mentoring program in place where an older Pony Club member is assigned to a younger member. The older member can answer questions (or refer the question to someone who can), encourage participation, explain the intricacies of Pony Club and to just "be there" for the new member. As new members become integrated into the club or center and progress in their learning, they in turn are expected to help newer and younger members.
As members reach the C certification, they will begin to learn how to formally teach. They will begin with teaching horse management skills and advance to teaching riding skills. With the help of instructors and other adults in the club or center, members will learn how to make and implement a lesson plan, how to handle the unexpected (i.e., uncooperative mount, distressed child, etc), how to evaluate the progress of students, and so
much more.
Adult Membership/Horsemaster Program:
BHPC has a Horsemasters group associated with the club. This was developed to meet the needs of Pony Club parents and other adults to learn more about horses and ponies and ultimately become more secure in their knowledge about horsemanship and riding skills. The Horsemasters program is open to anyone 18 years of age or older and of any level of experience.
Blackhawk Pony Club members participate in mounted and unmounted meetings where the basics of riding skills and horsemanship are emphasized and taught at all levels. We typically hold one unmounted meeting every month and 1-2 mounted clinics or lessons as weather and timing allow May-November. Monthly unmounted meetings are usually held at Mane View Equestrian Center near Oregon, and clinics are at several different stables in the Verona-Oregon-Albany area.
Ratings:
Certifications are a benchmark of progression throughout multiple equine disciplines, and you don't even need a horse! Ratings are available to all members and have an intuitive progression to help members develop in each area of understanding and horse management. Certifications are available to all riding disciplines with coordinating horse management. For example, a rider taking a western certification will not be asked to name parts of an english saddle. However, this is a normal question for a rider in the eventing track, or one testing in the showjumping category. Testings are offered 2-3 times a year by Blackhawk, but members can also attend any other club's testing in Lake Shore Region. From lowest to highest, the levels are: D1, D2, D3, C1, C2, C3, B, A.
Competition:
Pony Club members may participate in competitive rallies as a team. Pony Club rallies provide an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in an atmosphere of cooperation, fun and teamwork. A rally allows Pony Club members to test their skills against others. In addition, rallies are educational experiences that expose participants to new ideas and ways of doing things.
There are generally two to three regional rallies held each year, Quiz Bowl, Pick Your Ride (a Dressage/Show Jumping combo rally), and Eventing, along with Little D and Jamboree (a rally and camp just for D1 and D2 riders) and regional camp (D3 riders and up).
Participation in the regional rallies can lead to opportunities to compete in the National Championship rally each year. Every three years the National Championship Rally is held at the Kentucky Horse Park, along with the 3-day Festival Camp all members can participate in. The next Kentucky Champs and Festival will be in 2021 (rescheduled from 2020 due to COVID).
Mentoring and Teaching Opportunities:
Cooperation, confidence and leadership are all traits that Pony Club develops in its members and these are best built up through teaching. Teaching is the best way for members to work together, gain self-confidence in their skills, and learn how to lead others. It is also a great way to really cement what they have already learned.
Peer-to-peer teaching is a very important part of Pony Club. Most clubs and centers have a mentoring program in place where an older Pony Club member is assigned to a younger member. The older member can answer questions (or refer the question to someone who can), encourage participation, explain the intricacies of Pony Club and to just "be there" for the new member. As new members become integrated into the club or center and progress in their learning, they in turn are expected to help newer and younger members.
As members reach the C certification, they will begin to learn how to formally teach. They will begin with teaching horse management skills and advance to teaching riding skills. With the help of instructors and other adults in the club or center, members will learn how to make and implement a lesson plan, how to handle the unexpected (i.e., uncooperative mount, distressed child, etc), how to evaluate the progress of students, and so
much more.
Adult Membership/Horsemaster Program:
BHPC has a Horsemasters group associated with the club. This was developed to meet the needs of Pony Club parents and other adults to learn more about horses and ponies and ultimately become more secure in their knowledge about horsemanship and riding skills. The Horsemasters program is open to anyone 18 years of age or older and of any level of experience.
