New Member FAQs
What will I do in Pony Club?
In Pony Club you will attend mounted and unmounted meetings where you will learn how to safely and confidently work around horses and in the barn and how to ride well. Opportunities abound for members to attend camps, Rallies, Championships, and Festival. Camps are fun ways to be with your friends, learn a ton of good horsemanship, and see a big jump in your riding skills. Rallies give members the chance to learn what it is like to be a part of a team as well as how to be a leader. Rallies, Championships, and Festival give members valuable lessons in organization, communication, teamwork, and respect for themselves and others in a team competition environment.
Learn new horse sports, such as Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Polocrosse, Polo, Western, Games, Quiz, and Tetrathlon. If teaching is something that interests you, there are opportunities to learn to be an instructor. This includes mentoring at camps and mounted meetings to help you and your fellow members reach your full potential.
Members progress through the certification levels. Each level earned requires an increasing depth of knowledge and skills. The highest certification, the “A”, distinguishes the member as an accomplished, professional horseman.
Opportunities to partake in International Exchanges begin at the age of 13. Exchanges include traveling abroad to train and compete in Mounted Games, Foxhunting, Quiz, Eventing, and Show Jumping.
What are meetings all about?
FCHPC meets weekly, on either Saturday or Sunday depending on member availability. Each week has a different focus, working toward certifications and rallies. In the past, we have discussed and learned about hoof care and been visited by the farrier, veterinary care and been visited by an equine vet, lameness management (boots, bandages and more), trailer safety, types of jumps, equine colors and many, many, many others! All our members love and look forward to our meetings, which allows us to progress as a team!
What are certifications and when do they occur?
Certificate Tests occur when members have been deemed ready to advance to the next level on the track or tracks they have chosen. Lower level tests (D-1 to C-1) are taken on site. Upper level tests (C-2 and above) happen at Regional or even National venues. Members must be recommended by the Center Administrator to be eligible for any test.
I'm a parent - what are my responsibilities?
USPC is a family-friendly organization! Please see the 'Parents' tab under members for more information.
What are rallies (a.k.a. competitions)?
Pony Club Rallies are all day competitions where participants compete as a team. The Metro Pony Club Region generally hosts two unmounted rallies each year—Quiz and Horseless— as well as Dressage Rally, Stadium Jumping Rally, and D-Rally which is the entry level rally. Participation in rallies is optional. Testing costs and Rally costs are made available prior to the event. Rallies include; Horseless Rallies (where members use model horses to learn the ropes of team competition), Quiz Rallies (where members use their horse management knowledge to compete in a battle of the brains), and riding Rallies for all ages. Members over the age of 10 can compete in regional Rallies in many disciplines to qualify for Championships competition.
How do I join?
We're so glad you want to join us and we're very excited to get to know you! Please view the Joining? New Members tab under 'Members' in the navigation bar for more information!
What are the 2022/2023 current membership fees?
To join our Pony Club, each member will incur the following membership fees and dues:
USPC National Dues: (one of the options below)
-
United States Pony Club New Member 2022: $155.00
-
United States Pony Club Prorated New Member (remainder of 2022 & all of 2023; postmarked between 9/1/22 & 12/31/22): $200.00*
-
United States Pony Club Prorated Renewal Membership (rejoining for remainder of 2022 & all of 2023 (postmarked between 9/1/22 & 12/31/22): $180.00*
-
United States Pony Club Early Renewal Membership 2023 (before 11/15/22): $135.00*
-
United States Pony Club Renewal Membership 2023: $145.00*
*These are projected fees
USPC Metro Regional Dues: (all members)