01/13/2024
An Introduction to Bath Pony Club
Bath Pony Club (BPC) is a chapter within the TriState Region of the United States Pony Club (USPC). We are based at 141 Remsen Rd (Allardale Park) in Medina, Ohio. We are active Feb-Oct. We generally have between 35-40 members, ranging from 7-25 years old with the majority in the 10-16 age range. Our kids come from multiple school districts and varying types of equestrian backgrounds.
Pony Club is not just a mounted lesson program. We have unmounted, horse knowledge activities that run throughout our season. We teach everything related to horses from proper horse care, maintaining safe equipment, proper nutrition, bandaging, tack cleaning, trailer safety, first aid, and much more. Our members are expected to attend both unmounted and mounted activities. We offer weekly mounted lessons that run from March to October. Our mounted lessons start indoors in March with flat/dressage work and in mid April, we transition outside to Remsen where we add jumping lessons in addition to dressage. Many of our members continue to take lessons and participate in outside training programs and use Pony Club as a supplement to their professional trainer's program. Our activities are always optional, and our members/parents all participate to varying degrees.
We hold 3 fundraising horse shows each year; a combined test (show jump and dressage) in April, and two mini trials (dressage, show jump and cross country) in early August and early October. We have various riding clinics with visiting clinicians each year besides our normal weekly lessons. These clinics are either free or offered at a highly reduced rate for our members. In addition, we participate in regional Pony Club rallys (Quiz in April (unmounted horse knowledge), Games in May, Show Jump and Dressage in June, Tetrathlon and Eventing in September). We also hold two camps each year; an upper level camp for ages 14+ and an all member fun camp. We are a completely volunteer run organization so every member and parents are expected to put in volunteer hours doing such things as setting up jumps, w**d whipping, mowing, painting, concessions, jump judging, ring stewards, etc.
Below is the Mission Statement and Core Values from the USPC that summarizes our philosophy very well.
Mission:
The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. is an educational organization that builds the foundations of teamwork and sportsmanship through riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, while developing and enhancing leadership, confidence, responsibility, and a sense of community in its youth and adult members.
Core Values:
Horsemanship with respect to healthcare, nutrition, stable management, handling, and riding a mount safely, correctly and with confidence.
Organized teamwork, including cooperation, communication, responsibility, leadership, mentoring, teaching, and fostering a supportive, yet competitive, environment.
Respect for the horse and self through horsemanship, for land through land conservation, and for others through service and teamwork.
Service by providing an opportunity for members, parents, and others to support the Pony Club program locally, regionally, and nationally through volunteerism.
Education at an individual pace to achieve personal goals and expand knowledge.
For more general information about USPC, please visit www.ponyclub.org. If you would like more information about Bath Pony Club specifically, please email DeAnna Koch at [email protected].
