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In the Fall of 1987, upon the recommendation of the USPC Advisory Committee, the Board of Governors established the Founders Award in honor of Louise Lott Bedford, Howard C. Fair, and Alexander Mackay-Smith. They were the three individuals who, in November of 1953, called a meeting in New York City that led to the establishment of the United States Pony Clubs, which became a formal organization in February of 1954.

This Prestigious Award is made each year to one or more living persons who have made a significant contribution to USPC at the Local or Regional and National levels over a period of 20 years or more.

This year we honor four individuals who have served Pony Club in many different and overlapping capacities. All four nominees were honored as Legends at our Jubilee Celebration in Philadelphia.

Betsy helped to found the Woodside Pony Club in 1977 and became DC in 1978. She went on to serve on the BoG from 1984 until 1991, serving on many committees and as Treasurer from 87 until 89. During this time she most appreciated for her paralegal services that enabled our Organization to trademark it’s name “Pony Club” and “USPC”. This took several years and many hours of her time and was a very important transition to have an established and protected name.

After those years she continued to serve on the Advisory Committee and as its Chair. She continues even today helping Woodside Pony Club write policies and still volunteers at the Annual Horse Show.

Marge Beardsley began her involvement with Pony Club in the early 1960’s and served as the DC of the Vashon Island Pony Club, where both she and her husband Jim were great supporters of USPC both physically and financially. She was always willing to do what ever was asked of her, be it scribe or secretary, and the club meet on many occasions on their property.

She is the mother of two Graduate daughters, Kim, a B and a Grand Prix rider and instructor in Langley, BC and Melissa, an A, who owns Blackwood Farm in Redmond WA.

Margaret Good arrived in Virginia with her family in 1974, and by 1977 she was the DC of the Loudoun Hunt Pony Club, and is still the DC today! A region rich in the culture of Foxhunting and Steeplechasing, she continues to instill a love of these sports in the children in her club. She is a dedicated volunteer who organizes the USEA Spring Horse Trials at Morven Parkand the Fall Horse Trials at Oatland. Thanks to her hard work Morven Park today offers Advanced, Intermediate, Preliminary and Training level courses. She is described in her Region as the ‘energizer bunny’ behind these horse trials. It would be difficult to imagine the sport of eventing in Virginia without her leadership and expertise. She starts the kids early by hosting a D-2 Rally on her property that is reportedly second to none!

USPC was fortunate to benefit from her knowledge when she served on the National Combined Training Committee form 1990-1996, chairing that committee in 1994 and 1995.

Amy Lewis started in Pony Club in 1954 as a member of the Wilton Pony Club, a club that her grandfather helped organize.

In 1974 she and her husband Frank became active with the Radnor Hunt Pony Club in Malvern PA. There she became the steadfast parent volunteer, setting up jumps, dressage arenas and judging. She was also involved in the fund raising effort that allowed the club to purchase the land they are now privileged to ride on. In 1976, when the national rally was held at RHPC, a hurricane blew through, Amy was out in the middle of the night, moving horses to safe locations, with her first concern being for the horses and not her own safety. In the early 1980s she became the DC of RHPC and stayed on even after her children graduated.

Show Jumping has been her passion. While also serving as Vice RS during this time, she has been the organizer of the EPA Regional Show Jumping Rally for over 25 years. She has worked on the National Show Jumping Committee since 1980 and served as its chair in 1985, 86 and 87.