Pony Club Activities During the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

Pony Club Activities During the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

May 9, 2018 (Lexington, KY) — Attendees of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park were treated to all things Pony Club including demonstrations, Prince Philip Cup Games, educational opportunities and more.

In its 18^th consecutive year at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, four teams competed in the Prince Philip Cup Games sponsored by Hero Kids Foundation.  Although the riders were there to compete, they kicked off the Games competition with a Celebrity Games Round on Friday, April 27^th.  Pony Club Alumni Clark Montgomery (Brazos Valley Pony Club), Ellen Doughty-Hume (A, Trinity Hills II Pony Club) and Elinor MacPhail O’Neal (C-2, Hunter Run Pony Club) saddled their ponies and took turns running through the games with the Prince Philip Cup competitors. After two hotly contested rounds, Sunshine Region BUTTERFINGERS finished as the winners of the coveted trophy.  Sunday morning, all four teams entered the Rolex Stadium for their honor round in front of a cheering crowd.

Final placings for the Prince Philip Cup Games:

Thanks to the support of Equestrian Events, Inc., event officials and Pony Club alumni, USPC members had several chances to gain first-hand knowledge of what it takes to run the only CCI4* event in North America.  Two Pony Club members Isabel Brunker (H-B, Keeneland Pony Club) and Kaila McCormack (H-B, Metamora Hunt II Pony Club) were selected, from on their essay submissions, as media interns in the Land Rover Kentucky Media Center under Pony Club Alumni Ann Haller.  “I had a great time being a media intern at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.  I got to see what goes on behind the scenes of the event as well as what it takes to get the information, quotes and pictures for the articles we all see after the event.  It was a wonderful learning experience and I got to meet so many great people!” said McCormack.

On Friday, ten current member’s names were drawn to take part in the second “Meet and Greet” with current Pony Club alumni involved in the event.  Competitor Colleen Rutledge (A, Fredrick Pony Club), FEI Steward Kathy Barker (Pony Club Volunteer) and Will Coleman’s groom Lucy Beard (C-3, Big Sky Region) spent time interacting with the members and provided insight on how Pony Club knowledge helps them in their roles. With the introduction of the Split Rock Tour Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix, Course Designer Guilherme Jorge gave an in-depth tour of his course and designing decisions.  On Sunday, Richard Jeffery, Pony Club alumni, and Marc Donvan (A, Meadow Brook Hounds Pony Club) led the popular Pony Club Stadium Course walk before the final phase of the event commenced.

The local Midsouth Region was well-represented members of the Keeneland Pony Club showed off with a daily quadrille demonstration, many members volunteered as gate crew for Dressage, and nine USPC riders carried flags for the opening ceremony on Sunday before the Stadium Jumping phase.

All week Pony Club alumni and members made a special stop at the USPC Booth to sign the Pin Promise to show their Pony Club pride and pledge to wear their pins beyond Pony Club and purchase logowear and/or UPSC educational materials.

About Pony Club – The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (Pony Club) was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit national youth organization to teach riding and horsemanship through a formal educational program. There are approximately 9,000 Pony Club members in over 600 clubs and riding centers throughout the country. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including several of our Olympic team members, 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. Pony Club also offers educational opportunities to a growing number of adults through Horsemasters Membership. www.ponyclub.org.