News Release

Contact: Mary Robertson Pierson

859/254-7669

mary@ponyclub.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

USPC Standards of Proficiency Revised for for 2009

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY: The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., announces that the review of the 2009 Standards of Proficiency has been completed and that the new Standards will be published by January 1, 2009. For a comparison of old vs new standards, visit http://www.ponyclub.org/proposedstandardschanges.htm.

This SOP review is part of USPC’s traditional triennial Standards of Proficiency evaluation cycle. Approved SOP modifications, deletions, and/or additions will be in effect for the calendar year 2009. The Vice President, Instruction (VP/I), provided a representative from every committee of the Instruction Council to the Chair, Curriculum and Standards Committee, to form the ad hoc SOP Review team. The Vice President, Activities (VP/A), also supported the review efforts with selected representatives. VP/I provided the following directed guidance to the ad hoc SOP Review team: 1) conduct a holistic review of all levels, D-1 through A (to include Specialty ratings); 2) concentrate on Horse Management (HM)-related standards to ensure relevancy and appropriateness (“Back to the Barn”); and 3) review the developmental steps outlined in the rating levels as they apply to teaching and training, especially with respect to risk management and safety.

The preliminary review period of 90 days began in February 2008 and concluded in April 2008. With the concurrence of the Executive Committee, the VP/I provided the initial SOP recommendations to the USPC membership via the various Digests and the web site in May 2008, soliciting comments until end of July 2008. At the conclusion of the open comment period, the ad hoc SOP Review team continued assessment in order to incorporate all input as appropriate or make recommendations for further study. The SOP review was completed end of August 2008.

As part of the review process (and particularly during the open comment period), the ad hoc SOP Review team recognized other USPC organizational requirements or issues that need to be modified, added, or deleted to facilitate both the implementation of the new SOPs as well as improving the overall rating environment, especially at the Club Levels. The team forwarded these requirements or issues to the respective committee for further development.

Pony Club is a misnomer: it is not a club for ponies. The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., was founded as a national non-profit educational youth horsemanship organization in February 1954. Pony Club teaches horsemanship, riding and the care of the horse to young people through the age of 25. Today, there are over 600 Pony Clubs nationwide – including those in Alaska and Hawaii – with 12,000 members.

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