July 13—19, 2026
The week-long USPC Festival is held every other year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. More than 3,000 Pony Club members, volunteers, and families participate, and the public comes to enjoy the festivities as spectators. Anyone is welcome. USPC Festival is divided up into two parts: Championships and Education. The National Championships are held the first part of the week, followed by mounted and unmounted clinics and workshops taught by Olympians, Pony Club experts, and equine industry professionals. Throughout the week, participants, family, and visitors can shop at the USPC Festival trade fair, participate in and watch the mock foxhunt, and enjoy all aspects of Pony Club activities.
Support the event and connect with Pony Club members in the trade fair or through a variety of sponsorship opportunities.
2024 USPC Festival Championships Final Results
The qualification period for 2026 USPC Festival Championships runs January 1, 2025—June 22, 2026
Every other year, Pony Club is proud to offer Championship competitions in eight competitive disciplines, as well as open competitions in Gymkhana and Trail. Held at the Kentucky Horse Park, these competitions allow members to compete on regional or scramble teams throughout our 41 regions. Members showcase their Horse Management abilities and riding skills across the different disciplines on a national stage.
Competing as part of a team teaches members sportsmanship, respect for others, communication, and the importance of working together. Festival Championships are a time of excitement as friends are made, goals are met, and awards are earned. With up to 10 disciplines running over several days, there is something at Festival Championships for everyone.
Festival Education clinics will occur prior to Championships competitions in 2026. Members and non-members who register for mounted educational sessions have the opportunity to ride in mounted clinics twice a day and may choose to attend as many unmounted clinics as they wish. Mounted clinics include Eventing Cross-Country, Distance Riding, Western Dressage, Mounted Games, Hunter Seat Equitation, Show Jumping, Dressage, Trail, and Groundwork and Natural Horsemanship. Additionally, members can participate in a mock foxhunt at the Kentucky Horse Park but must sign up when they register. Members and non-members can also register for Unmounted Education, with workshops that will focus on hands-on learning, demonstrations for all levels of equestrians, advances in equine health care, and more.
For the younger Pony Club members, we offer a special D Camp which is designed for the Pony Club youth members up to the D-2 certification, ages 6 to 12. This exciting opportunity allows youth to ride their mount twice each day in small group instruction, to participate in unmounted instruction in the barn, and gives attendees the chance to care for their mount at the iconic Kentucky Horse Park. (Space is limited for this opportunity - entry is required.)
Equestrian professionals and clinicians may apply for consideration to present workshops, teach mounted clinics or provide other hands-on education at the U.S. Pony Club's biggest event, July 13-16, 2026.
