Horsemasters - United States Pony Clubs

USPC Horsemasters Program for Adult Volunteers!

Started in 2001, the USPC Horsemasters Program for Adult Volunteers was developed to meet the needs of Pony Club parents and other adults to learn more about horses, to feel comfortable around the animals and secure in their knowledge about horsemanship and riding skills, thereby becoming more empowered volunteers to USPC at the local, regional and national levels.

“Taking an inventory of our resources, one sees at the top of the list a large group of competent individuals who serve the Pony Clubs in many capacities, from District Commissioner and local committee member to national officer or member of a national board. Here lies our greatest asset – people; people dedicated to helping children to enjoy a way of life with horses and ponies, which has meant so much as a part of their own lives.”

Sherman P. Haight, Jr., M.F.H.

USPC President, 1961-1963

Horsemasters Groups may be formed in affiliation with a Pony Club, a Riding Center or a Region, and are open to anyone, who is not a current Participating Member, 18 years of age

or older. While the Horsemasters Program is based on the USPC Standards of Proficiency, members do not do the ratings of youth participating members. Their achievements are topic based, meaning that members can learn as much or as little as they want about a particular topic, such as grooming, bandaging, jumping, etc... This means that while mounted meetings will be offered, it is not necessary to ride in order to be a member.

Currently there are two levels of Horsemasters Expectations, the Bronze and Silver Awards, but higher levels may be offered in the future. The Bronze level is based on D-1 through D-3 standards for unmounted instruction and on D-1 and D-2 standards for mounted instruction. The Silver level is based on C-1 and C-2 standards for unmounted and D-3 through C-2 for mounted instruction. Please remember, while the awards are divided into sections similar to the participating member ratings, the Horsemasters Expectations and Awards remain different.

Unmounted Expectations

Mounted Expectations

Turn Out/Tack
Travel Safety
Conditioning
Teaching
Nutrition
Stable Management,
Conformation and Lameness,
Loading/Longeing,
Record Book,
Health Care and Veterinary Knowledge, and
Foot and Shoeing/Bandaging.

Riding on the Flat
Riding Over Fences, and
Riding in the Open.

Please, first, take the time to find out if there is, or is not, an active Horsemasters Group in your area. If you were unable to find an active group, we would love to help you get one started. Please fill out the form below for further information!

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