New Member Guide to Dune Riders Pony Club
Welcome to the Dune Riders Pony Club! The United States Pony Club (USPC) is a nationally recognized non-profit teaching organization designed to help youth, ages 5-25, and adults learn to ride, care for, and train their horse (not just ponies!). As a club of the USPC, we are required to follow the highly-organized national rules. Although we are part of national and regional groups, our club is a locally-run volunteer group, dependent on our parents and families to run any and all activities, and guided by the interests and talents of our own members. Check out the USPC New Member Booklet: A Guide to Membership for as a helpful guide to understanding the USPC. Another helpful document is the Parent's Answer Book.
WATCH:
"We are Pony Club" YouTube Video
2024 NEW MEMBER DUES
National Pony Club Dues: $155
Regional Lake Shore Region Dues: $0
Local Dune Riders Pony Club Dues: $0
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Membership Application
or email District Commissioner for an online application & payment.
The application should be filled out and sent to the District Commissioner along with a check made out to Dune Riders Pony Club with all dues (national, regional, local) included.
HORSEMASTERS/SENIORS
Started in 2001, the Pony Club Horsemaster's membership option was developed to meet the needs of Pony Club parents and other adults age 18 and older to learn more about horses and participate in all the same activities as a regular member. The Pony Club Horsemaster's curriculum is based on the same USPC Standards of Proficiency.
MEETINGS
DRPC meetings are generally scheduled for the 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Town of Sheboygan Town Hall. Besides the meeting, there is an educational topic where more experienced members are expected to help instruct younger members. Or we bring in professionals to instruction all members and parents. Visitors are welcome to join us at one of our meetings to meet our members and see why Pony Club is so awesome!
In addition to the unmounted meetings, there are many mounted meetings throughout the year. These clinics, held at local farms, are optional and conducted by outside instructors for a fee. We also have several mounted activities throughout the warmer months such as trail rides, cross country rides and mounted games. Access to a horse and trailer is beneficial to getting the most out of Pony Club.
SUITABLE HORSE
Whether you own or lease a horse, the horse must be at least 5 years old to participate in Pony Club activities and it must be suitable for the activities you want to participate in. Stallions are not allowed. As long as your horse is suitable for the given activity, there is no maximum age limit. The safety of both rider and horse are of the top priority at any Pony Club activity. If a horse is deemed inappropriate for the rider and/or the activity, the club's District Commissioner (DC) will not allow the rider to continue to participate in the specific activity for the safety of the rider and for the safety of others present. Unfortunately, Dune Riders Pony Club does not provide horses for members. However, we can provide excellent connections to find a perfect mount to buy or lease!
EQUIPMENT/RESOURCES
As a member of Pony Club you will need several things to get you started. USPC D Level Manual 2nd Edition paperback from Amazon, a Medical Armband for displaying the USPC Medical Card (found under "Volunteering" tab) or Medical Bracelet, appropriate footwear such as paddock boots, an approved ASTM riding helmet that fits correctly, a leather or breakaway halter, a cotton lead rope, and a USPC pin which is provided with your membership. Not required, but advisable is a cross country protective vest for jumping.
FUNDRAISING EXPECTATIONS
Our main fundraiser is the Dune Riders Mini Event which is held on a Sunday typically in July or August. In order for this event to be a success, all members and their families are expected to help out. This includes helping out at the Friday setup along with helping out the entire day of the Sunday event. This fundraiser is time consuming but the funds raised are used toward all members. Therefore, to be fair and considerate, all members are expected to set aside time and come help out at our fun-filled event.
PARENTS’ ROLE
Parents are essential to Dune Riders Pony Club. DRPC is a small club and so cannot exist without parental involvement. Parents are expected to volunteer in some capacity throughout the year to help run the many aspects of Pony Club, including fundraising, meetings, administration, activities and events. Horse knowledge isn't a requirement! Our one and only fundraiser is the Dune Riders Mini Event and without the help of the parents the event would not be able to function. Therefore parents are expected to help out all day at the Mini Event, otherwise we would not be able to offer the many mounted opportunities that we do.
SPONSORS
Parents can become a “sponsor” of DRPC by paying the small yearly sponsorship fee. Under the USPC rules, only official “sponsors” of the local clubs have voting rights within their club. It is important that every child be represented by a sponsor who can vote on the leadership of the club and on how the club allocates funds.
BASIC DESCRIPTION OF CERTIFICATION LEVELS:
D1: Walk/trot
D2: Walk/trot/canter - Can solidy compete a USDF Intro Test C
D3: A rider that can independently care for, tack up and function at a horse show (like DRPC Mini Event) with little parental intervention. Can solidly compete at Training Level Test 1 & 2 skill level. A jump grid is included in testing and rider can effectively compete at Starter Novice for cross country.
C1: A rider that is working toward lateral movements and can compete solidly at Training Level Test 3/First Level Test 1. A C1 Jump rider can effectively compete at a recognized HT at the Beginner Novice level.
C2: A rider that can effectively implement lateral movements and can compete solidly at First Level Test 2. A C2 Jump rider can effectively compete at a recognized HT at the Novice level.
WATCH:
"We are Pony Club" YouTube Video
2024 NEW MEMBER DUES
National Pony Club Dues: $155
Regional Lake Shore Region Dues: $0
Local Dune Riders Pony Club Dues: $0
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Membership Application
or email District Commissioner for an online application & payment.
The application should be filled out and sent to the District Commissioner along with a check made out to Dune Riders Pony Club with all dues (national, regional, local) included.
HORSEMASTERS/SENIORS
Started in 2001, the Pony Club Horsemaster's membership option was developed to meet the needs of Pony Club parents and other adults age 18 and older to learn more about horses and participate in all the same activities as a regular member. The Pony Club Horsemaster's curriculum is based on the same USPC Standards of Proficiency.
MEETINGS
DRPC meetings are generally scheduled for the 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Town of Sheboygan Town Hall. Besides the meeting, there is an educational topic where more experienced members are expected to help instruct younger members. Or we bring in professionals to instruction all members and parents. Visitors are welcome to join us at one of our meetings to meet our members and see why Pony Club is so awesome!
In addition to the unmounted meetings, there are many mounted meetings throughout the year. These clinics, held at local farms, are optional and conducted by outside instructors for a fee. We also have several mounted activities throughout the warmer months such as trail rides, cross country rides and mounted games. Access to a horse and trailer is beneficial to getting the most out of Pony Club.
SUITABLE HORSE
Whether you own or lease a horse, the horse must be at least 5 years old to participate in Pony Club activities and it must be suitable for the activities you want to participate in. Stallions are not allowed. As long as your horse is suitable for the given activity, there is no maximum age limit. The safety of both rider and horse are of the top priority at any Pony Club activity. If a horse is deemed inappropriate for the rider and/or the activity, the club's District Commissioner (DC) will not allow the rider to continue to participate in the specific activity for the safety of the rider and for the safety of others present. Unfortunately, Dune Riders Pony Club does not provide horses for members. However, we can provide excellent connections to find a perfect mount to buy or lease!
EQUIPMENT/RESOURCES
As a member of Pony Club you will need several things to get you started. USPC D Level Manual 2nd Edition paperback from Amazon, a Medical Armband for displaying the USPC Medical Card (found under "Volunteering" tab) or Medical Bracelet, appropriate footwear such as paddock boots, an approved ASTM riding helmet that fits correctly, a leather or breakaway halter, a cotton lead rope, and a USPC pin which is provided with your membership. Not required, but advisable is a cross country protective vest for jumping.
FUNDRAISING EXPECTATIONS
Our main fundraiser is the Dune Riders Mini Event which is held on a Sunday typically in July or August. In order for this event to be a success, all members and their families are expected to help out. This includes helping out at the Friday setup along with helping out the entire day of the Sunday event. This fundraiser is time consuming but the funds raised are used toward all members. Therefore, to be fair and considerate, all members are expected to set aside time and come help out at our fun-filled event.
PARENTS’ ROLE
Parents are essential to Dune Riders Pony Club. DRPC is a small club and so cannot exist without parental involvement. Parents are expected to volunteer in some capacity throughout the year to help run the many aspects of Pony Club, including fundraising, meetings, administration, activities and events. Horse knowledge isn't a requirement! Our one and only fundraiser is the Dune Riders Mini Event and without the help of the parents the event would not be able to function. Therefore parents are expected to help out all day at the Mini Event, otherwise we would not be able to offer the many mounted opportunities that we do.
SPONSORS
Parents can become a “sponsor” of DRPC by paying the small yearly sponsorship fee. Under the USPC rules, only official “sponsors” of the local clubs have voting rights within their club. It is important that every child be represented by a sponsor who can vote on the leadership of the club and on how the club allocates funds.
BASIC DESCRIPTION OF CERTIFICATION LEVELS:
D1: Walk/trot
D2: Walk/trot/canter - Can solidy compete a USDF Intro Test C
D3: A rider that can independently care for, tack up and function at a horse show (like DRPC Mini Event) with little parental intervention. Can solidly compete at Training Level Test 1 & 2 skill level. A jump grid is included in testing and rider can effectively compete at Starter Novice for cross country.
C1: A rider that is working toward lateral movements and can compete solidly at Training Level Test 3/First Level Test 1. A C1 Jump rider can effectively compete at a recognized HT at the Beginner Novice level.
C2: A rider that can effectively implement lateral movements and can compete solidly at First Level Test 2. A C2 Jump rider can effectively compete at a recognized HT at the Novice level.
