Pony Club Updates Certifications

THE UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS, INC. PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Press Contact: Shelley Mann, Shelley@PonyClub.org

Pony Club: www.ponyclub.org, 859-254-7669

Pony Club Releases Updated Certificates and Certifications

Lexington, KY, December 20, 2011—The United States Pony Clubs is one of the oldest equestrian education organizations in the US. Recently Pony Club completed a comprehensive review and update of its educational Standards of Proficiency (SOP). In addition, Pony Club released for 2012 new Hunter Seat Equitation Standards of Education.The update and release of these Standards was undertaken as part of Pony Club’s general practices to keep its standards of education current.This enables Pony Club to continue to provide it's comprehensive programming in horsemanship and rider education.

Pony Club offers a number of educational tracks - Horse Management, Eventing, Show Jumping and Dressage - each of which require members to undergo rigorous examinations to test their horse management knowledge and riding skills. The Pony Club educational curriculum is designed to be a progressive learning model. Members master knowledge and skills at different educational levels. Upon successful completion of each examination, members are awarded certifications of completion.

About Pony Club— The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit national youth organization to teach riding and horsemanship through a formal educational program. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including many of our Olympic team members and many business professionals, government leaders and career military officers, have roots in Pony Club. Youth members range in age from as young as 4 through age 25, and include adult members of the Horsemasters Program. There are approximately 10,000 members in 600 clubs and riding centers in 43 regions throughout the country www.ponyclub.org.