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History and Development
of the Riding Center Program
2003
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In September, by invitation of the Chair of The Pony Club in Britain, USPC visits with UK Pony Club Centers. Report on the visit is given to the USPC Board of Governors at the November meeting. |
2004
In May a draft of a business plan for the USPC Riding Center Program and presented to the Board of Governors. An Ad-Hoc Committee is formed to complete the business plan.
2005
At the Annual Meeting in January of 2005, the Board of Governors approved the Pony Club Riding Center as a five-year pilot program. The intent of the program was to make the Pony Club curriculum available through facilities that have an existing lesson program, thereby making membership and the Pony Club program available to youth who would not traditionally been able to participate due to not owning or having access to a horse or pony.
By the fall of 2005 the Ad-Hoc Committee had framed the structure and procedures for the recognition of facilities as Pony Club Riding Centers. In September a press release was issued regarding the program and inviting interested facilities to make an Application to participate in the program. Over 40 Applications were received by the end of the year.
The Committee conducted the first site visits and recommended two facilities for recognition.
2006
At the 2006 Annual Meeting the Board of Governors recognized the first two Riding Centers.
In 2006 the Ad-Hoc Committee controlled the growth of the program to allow for through testing of the structure of the program. Throughout the year, an additional six Riding Centers were recognized.
In the fall Area Coordinators were appointed and trained in their responsibilities. By the end of the year, eight of the ten areas had Area Coordinators.
At the end of the year over 150 inquiries into the program had been received; 8 centers had been recognized; and there were 161 USPC youth members through centers.
2007
At the 2007 Annual Meeting the Board of Governors recognized an additional six Riding Centers. Center Administrators had meetings specifically designed for them and attended the joint meeting of the DCs and RSs during the Annual Meeting.
Throughout the year additional centers were recognized. Pony Club members through the Riding Centers began to participate in more Regional activities.
By the end of the year, there were 33 centers in 21 regions, and 25 centers were active with a combined membership of over 375 members.
2008
There was slow growth in the number of the centers recognized throughout the year, but a steady climb in the number of members joining Pony Club through the Riding Center program. By October 15, there were 39 recognized centers, with 32 having members with a combined membership of over 515.
The fall also saw the creation of a new Riding Center Program position at the regional level, the Regional Center Adminstrator (RCA). The RCA is an optional position that a region may implement. The RCA, working under the supervision of the Area Coordinator, is a liaison between the centers in the region and the RS and Area Coordinator. The RCA hold a position on the Regional Council and, acting as an advocate for the members through the centers, has a vote on the council. | 
