Two Ride at Nationals

Courtney and Hope Whitelock, center, were among the participants in the national championships of the U.S. Pony Club in Lexington, Va.

21 August 2008

From Hersam Acorn

Courtney and Hope Whitelock recently represented the New York and Upper Connecticut Region of the United States Pony Club in the National Championships of the United States Pony Clubs.

Courtney was a member of the region’s Training Level Dressage team that earned second place. Hope participated in the D Level Quiz competition and was the highest placed member of her team. Both girls participated in the opening ceremonies in Lexington, Va.

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 Olympic team members, have Pony Club roots.

Members range in age from as young as 4 through age 25. Activities are English-riding based, and members ride both horses and ponies, depending upon the size of the rider and the discipline in which the rider is competing.

Pony Club competition is team competition, much like the Olympic games, where members learn the importance of cooperation and teamwork.