The United States Pony Clubs, Inc.

The Kentucky Horse Park, 4041 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511

859/254-7669 (PONY)   Fax 859/233-4652   email: uspc@ponyclub.org

News Release

Contact: Mary Robertson Pierson

859/254-7669

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., Presents the

Founders Award to Six Volunteers

(Presented by Laura March, Chair of the Advisory Committee)

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 given 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 six 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.

Larry E. Byers, Aiken, SC, has been described as an avid foxhunter who has been active at all levels of Pony Club for the past 30 years. Larry's son is a graduate B and his daughter a graduate C-3. His service began as DC of Low Country Pony Club, Carolina Region, 1975-1976. By 1982 Larry was Vice RS and in 1984 RS of Southern California Region. Larry was a presenter at the first DC Camps. Along the way Larry became a Chief Horse Management Judge, a role he still enjoys today. He has served as a CHMJ at 15 Championships and in 30 different regions.

Larry has served on the Board of Governors five different times, held four offices, served on several board committees, and represented USPC to the Masters of Foxhounds Association and USA Equestrian (now USEF). A board member from 1984 to 1986, he served on the Combined Training Committee. From 1991 to 1993 he was again on the board, serving as Secretary 1992-1993. His third term began in 1995 and he was Treasurer 1996-1998, along with chairing Finance Committee and Personnel and Compensation.

In 2000 Larry was First Vice President and Annual Meeting Chair. He was President of USPC 2001-2003 and continued on the board in 2004 on the Nominating and Finance Committees. Larry was a non-board member of board committees and USPC representative to the same two organizations in 2005 and 2006. Then for 2007 he served his fifth term on the board, this time as Vice President/Instruction. He also was on the ad hoc Committee on Land Conservation, in keeping with his place on the board of the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR).

Larry's career of dealing with Pony Club issues includes: working with past President Cindy Piper to convince the board of a way to finance the move to Kentucky Horse Park and have them reverse the decision to stay in Pennsylvania; serving with past President Melanie Heacock and few others to develop first strategic plan; working with Cindy and others to hold the first "Festival"; and chairing the ad hoc Committee to determine whether there could be a role for what has become the recognized Horsemasters program.

Janis Goodmundson, Chesapeake, VA, has been active in Pony Club since the 1980s in the roles of parent, volunteer and leader. Her daughter is a graduate H-A and her two sons are not horsey. Jan was the Joint DC and then DC of Crescent Bay Pony Club, Old Dominion Region, between 1989 and 1995. She revitalized the club by increasing membership and keeping older members active. To everyone's benefit, Jan started a thorough and meaningful Rally Readiness Program.

Jan co-chaired the Old Dominion Region's Mega-Rally 1994-1995. She became Vice RS in 1996 and then RS, a position she continues to hold. At the regional level, Jan has initiated successful fundraisers and promotes involvement of upper level members by providing educational opportunities for them. A special achievement for Jan is the yearly DC Retreat, providing training for new DCs, yearly review of responsibilities, and helpful hints. This retreat promotes cohesion of club leaders and strengthens club programs through networking.

Pony Club has found outlets for Jan's talents as an active committee member. She has served on the Crisis Advisory Team, Safety Committee and the National Youth Congress/Academy of Achievement Committee. Jan has also served as Co-Organizer of Parents, Leaders and Friends program for Festival 1992 and Festival 1995; Vet-Med Coordinator at Championships East 1996-1997; Commissary Chair Festival 1998; Co-Organizer of Championships East 1999; and Organizer of Championships East 2000-2005, which included Championships at Festival 2001 and 2004.

Jan was a member of the Board of Governors 2000-2005 and has joined the Advisory Committee during 2008. Prior to the introduction of the Leaders Camp Jan participated in several Leadership Training weekends in several regions. She was co-chair of the HM Committee and instrumental in the revision of the 2007 HM Handbook. Jan currently is a member of the RIC Committee.

Perhaps best known for her thorough approach to tackling any issue, Jan can be counted on to give a considered answer to questions asked of her. She continues to get her greatest enjoyment out of those roles that keep her in close contact with our youth members.

Deirdre Pirie, South Hamilton, MA, is a name well known in the horse world. She earned the USEF Pegasus Award for her significance as a national horsewoman and was honored as a USPC Legend at our 50th year celebration. As a licensed race horse trainer and race track partner, four-in-hand Combined Driving Competitor, endurance rider, and member or life member of several equestrian organizations, Deirdre is someone who has benefited equestrian sports in the US, not just Pony Club, but in doing so has made the reputation of USPC shine even brighter.

Deirdre co-founded the Myopia Hunt Pony Club (New England Region) and was a sponsor and secretary from its Application for Membership in 1966 and Articles of Organization in January 1967 through 1980. A few years after founding Myopia, they hosted Nationals and the Inter-Pacific Exchange in 1976. Later, she served on the Board of Governors from 1998-2003. She was a member of the Governance and Communications Committees (1998-2002), as well as Regional Administration and Strategic Planning Committees (2003). There are those who say Deirdre IS the Driving Committee, for she served as a Driving Resource on the Activities Council (2005-2007).

Her role as an instructor is the reason many Pony Club members remember Deirdre. "She taught effectiveness and true horsemanship. She made her riders be independent learners and thinkers and problem-solvers. She taught kids to pull their act together and get their horses and themselves to do something. She cultivated determination and self-confidence. It was NOT easy to be taught by her."

Deirdre made it possible for children to participate in Myopia activities by loaning her own ponies. She mentored Pony Club members through the ratings, including several to their A. She maintained relationships with the local hunt, worked with others to run the Pony Club horse trials which became a recognized event, and prioritized keeping land and trails open for equestrian use.

Deirdre had three children: Sophie Pirie Clifton, graduate A, USPC Board of Governors member, and noted dressage rider, clinician, and author; John Pirie, school teacher, former Pony Club member, and polo player; and Amanda Pirie Warrington, long-listed eventer, who suffered a fatal fall competing at an Advanced level at Fair Hill in 1997.

Michael Ragland, Annapolis, MD, has been a Life Member of USPC since 1988, and his daughter Cheryl, a graduate C-3, is also a Life Member. Mike served as the DC of Annapolis Pony Club in the Maryland Region in 1989 and also as the last DC of Middletown Pony Club in the Delmarva Region 2002-2003.

Mike was Vice RS for the Maryland Region 1990-1999 and also served as RIC 1993-2003. Adding to this, he was RS in 2007.

Through the years he has been the Maryland Region's legal advisor. He has scored numerous rallies, taxied kids and horses, done club ratings as the D-1/C-2 Examiner from 1992 to 2007, coached candidates for C-3 and B ratings, coached Quiz teams for Championships, and generally helped with whatever was needed.

At the national level, Mike was the Impartial Observer at 15 B ratings 1995-2006 and also served as IO for national C-3 testings. He was a Dressage Committee member and/or resource person 1994-2007 and a Dressage Championships Scorer 1998-2004, as well as the Technical Delegate at Dressage Championships 2005-2007.

He has served as a Chief Horse Management Judge in Dressage, Combined Training, Games, and Show Jumping at regional qualifying and non-qualifying rallies across the country. Mike was a Member-at-large on the Activities Council 2001-2005 and a member of the HM Committee 2002-2005. He was the liaison from Horse Management to the Instruction Council 2003-2005 while he was HM co-chair. Mike was the editor of the 2006 Horse Management Handbook.

From 1994 to 1999 Mike was on a panel to review new rulebooks and reviewed or edited rulebooks for Polocrosse, Dressage, Combined Training, Show Jumping, Games, and Tetrathlon. While on the Board of Governors 1996-1999, Mike served on By-Laws and Policy Committee and spearheaded the overhaul of the national By-Laws which took effect in 1999.

It is his eye for detail and his willingness to help that have distinguished Mike's career in Pony Club. His enthusiasm for the specific and necessary formalities and his positive attitude in dealing with issues over the years have helped keep Pony Club a strong, vibrant organization.

Susan Smith, Eastham, MA, began her service to USPC in 1981 with the Anawan Pony Club. She was Joint DC in 1982 and DC 1983-1987. In addition to her regular DC duties, Sue organized fundraising events, such as annual horse trials and summer camp. Sue went on to become RS of the Southeastern New England Region 1987-1993. She was the first RS of this region when it split from the Eastern New England Region and was very active in encouraging activities for the older members.

At the national level Sue served on the Board of Governors 1992-1997. In 1995 and 1996 she held the office of First Vice President/Regional Administration, and in 1997 Vice President/Regional Administration. Sue was elected to the Board again 2004-2006. During this term she served on the Nominating and Development Committees, chairing Nominating in 2005 and 2006.

It is at the international level that Sue's work for Pony Club has blossomed. Her involvement with International Exchanges initially began with USPC renewing its membership with the Inter-Pacific Exchange. After the formation of the International Exchange Committee, Sue became chair in 1998. Her experience with participating in an exchange began with the first Show Jumping exchange to South Africa in 1998. From here the exchanges expanded to other disciplines: Quiz, Combined Training, Polocrosse, Dressage, as well as the long-established Games and Tetrathlon exchanges.

Sue helped organize and was the USPC representative to the Millennium Conference Board of Canada for 2000. From this Conference came the country group leaders and representatives meeting every other year to discuss exchanges and Pony Club as a whole. This group was formalized under the name of Pony Club International Alliance in 2005.

So many Pony Club members have had horse-related experiences in other countries because of Sue. So many Pony Club members have made the International Exchange a goal of their time in Pony Club. So many Pony Club members' lives have changed because they had the opportunity to travel and spend time with horses in another part of the world.

As if to prove the value of proximity to equines outside the United States, Susan now spends several months a year in the British Virgin Islands and is an active sponsor and volunteer with St. Croix Pony Club, Sunshine Region (U.S. Virgin Islands).

Georgine (Gegi) Winslett, Locust Grove, VA, started working with Difficult Run and Dominion Valley Pony Clubs in the late 1970s as an instructor and clinician. Casanova-Warrenton Pony Club was soon added to the list of clubs taught in the Virginia Region, and Gegi has since helped clubs in many other regions learn about her favorite activity - show jumping.

Gegi was asked to serve on the ad hoc Show Jumping Committee at her first Annual Meeting in January 1980, the USPC's 25th anniversary celebration. From 1981 to 1984 she chaired the committee, which brought Show Jumping into USPC as a recognized national activity, and she wrote its first official rulebook. The first National Championship of Show Jumping was held in 1984 in Saxonburg, PA, along with Combined Training and Dressage National Championships.

It was Gegi's idea that the only way Show Jumping would succeed was if it also taught the Pony Club members about the sport and how to participate, while giving them the competition they desired. Gegi continued to serve on the Show Jumping Committee for several years and also from 2001 to 2003, currently acting as an advisor to that committee.

Gegi also served on the Strategic Planning Committee under Cindy Piper for several years and worked with Dr. Doris Hammett and the Safety Committee on the helmet issue. In 1979 Gegi co-authored the first study of accidents at AHSA recognized shows.

In 1987 Gegi was elected to the Board of Governors, serving through 1993, including the office of Treasurer in 1990 and VP Activities in 1991 through 1993. She chaired the Compensation Committee from 1988 to 1990 and was Fund Raising Chair in 1990. She has served two terms on the Advisory Committee from 1994 to 1996 and 2004 to 2006.

A frequent presenter at Annual Meetings since the early 1980s and at Festivals, Gegi was the overall organizer for Championships, served on a number of ad hoc committees, and was on the 1997 Crisis Advisory Team of the Board. She also served as the USPC representative to the AHSA during the early and mid 1990s.

Gegi was named a Legend at the USPC 50th anniversary celebration during the Annual Meeting in 1995. Since 2006 she has been a member of the ad hoc Riding Centers Committee and as an Area Coordinator for the Centers Program. She holds a USEF "R" judge's license in Hunters, Hunter Seat Equitation, and Jumpers. Gegi is a life-long horse person.

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