Frederick Pony Club

The Pony Club is a nonprofit educational organization for children up through 21 years of age. "Pony" refers to any size pony or horse ridden by children in a Pony Club. A Pony Club began in England in 1930, and the United States Pony Clubs (USPC) began in 1954. Today there are pony clubs in 31 countries with a worldwide membership over 130,000. USPC is divided into 42 regions with over 600 local clubs and has a nationwide membership of over 12,000 children.  The Frederick Pony Club was organized in 1961 and became a member of the USPC in 1963. The Frederick Pony Club (FPC) is part of the Capital Region, which consists of 7 local clubs- Frederick, Howard Co., Meade, Potomac, Seneca Valley, Shenandoah Valley and Wakefield Valley. These 7 clubs have a total membership of over 200.

The mission of USPC is to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership, and self-confidence. Some of the Pony Club's objectives are to provide instruction in riding and horsemanship, to instill in members the ability to properly care for and enjoy their horse, to promote good sportsmanship, and to help each pony clubber develop as a well- rounded, self-disciplined and responsible citizen.

The most unique aspect of the Pony Club is that members compete at rallies as teams rather than as individuals, and they are expected to be self-reliant, with no assistance allowed from non-competitors except for rally officials who are there to help them learn during the competition as well as have fun. Also, the competitors are judged not only on their riding skills, but on their knowledge (a written test is given) and on their horse management skills which includes safe, effective and efficient teamwork in the care of their horses, equipment and themselves, and their work in the stable area.

Pony Clubbers participate in many disciplines . They include dressage, show jumping, combined training, (includes dressage, stadium jumping and cross-country), mounted games, polocrosse, tetrathlon (includes running, swimming, shooting and riding), vaulting, and Know-Down (an unmounted quiz similar to 'It's Academic').

Kara takes her round at the 2003 Show Jumping Rally Quinton, PA., 2003

The Frederick Pony Club has grounds at Moxley Field in Ijamsville where lessons, practices, camps, regional rallies and other activities such as horse shows are held. There is no specific lower age limit, but children must be able to walk, trot, and steer before joining. They need to have access to a pony or horse and transportation for their mount.  The Pony Club has a ratings system with specific standards outlined for each level. Children move up through the ratings at their own pace as their skills and knowledge increase, and older, higher rated members assist in teaching the younger ones. The children enjoy the team atmosphere and participating with children sharing similar interests - some great friendships evolve. Some of our members also belong to 4-H and to the Potomac Valley Dressage Association.  Many of the top riders in the US began as pony clubbers.

If you would like information about membership, please contact FPC Distict Commissioner, Sissy Fleming, SissyFleming1@aol.com.