USPC Festival 2021 Recap

USPC Festival 2021

Presented by SSG Riding Gloves | Sponsored by State Line Tack

The United States Pony Clubs was pleased to welcome close to 3,000 Pony Club members, their families, friends, volunteers and Pony Club leaders from across the country to enjoy competition, learning and fun July 19-26 at the USPC Festival 2021 presented by SSG Riding Gloves, sponsored by State Line Tack. The USPC Festival is held every three years at the legendary Kentucky Horse Park. The first part of the week was dedicated to National Championships team competition, while the second part of the week hosted clinics, demonstrations, and workshops offering education in all aspects of riding and horse care.

“Festival is the ultimate Pony Club event, highlighting the teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship and horsemanship that are such an important part of everything we do in Pony Club,” said USPC Executive Director Teresa Woods. “Pony Club is grateful to the many volunteers, parents and sponsors who made USPC Festival 2021 a success. We couldn’t do it without their hard work and support. We are also proud of each and every Pony Club member who participated in Festival, and all that they learned and achieved during the week.”

USPC kicked off the event by welcoming and celebrating all Festival Championships competitors. It was a proud and exciting moment as members from 37 regions representing 42 states, including Hawaii and the District of Columbia gathered and marched into the Rolex Stadium, followed by a color guard from the Kentucky Horse Park mounted police.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear was a special guest speaker, welcoming Pony Club members to the Horse Capital of the World. As a Pony Club dad, Beshear is familiar with the benefits of a Pony Club education. “Pony Club is an incredible organization. It builds good horse people, and most importantly, good people,” he said.

With that, USPC Festival 2021 was underway, and Pony Club took over the 1,200 acre Kentucky Horse Park, filling every arena from the Dressage complex to the Rolex Stadium, and all the way out to the Polocrosse fields.

USPC Festival 2021 gathered over 650 competitors for National Championships in eight disciplines, including Dressage, Eventing, Mounted Games, Polocrosse, Quiz, Show Jumping, Tetrathlon, and Western Dressage.

While the USPC Eventing Championships sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation and United States Eventing Association are part of Championships every year, some new collaborations and disciplines were part of the competitive action at Festival this year.

“USPC Festival 2021 brought several firsts to the event, including invitational competitions for both Gymkhana and Western Trail,” said USPC Activities Director Erin Woodall. “Additionally, the sanctioning of Polocrosse Championships by the American Polocrosse Association (APA) allowed for APA members to experience Pony Club firsthand. We are excited to diversify Pony Club’s disciplines and share what Pony Club is all about with even more equine enthusiasts on a national level.”

A special highlight of USPC Festival 2021 was the Member Showcase held on Thursday night during the competitor party in the Rolex Stadium. The concept debuted at Championships in 2019, and USPC was pleased to include the Member Showcase at USPC Festival 2021 Championships Presented by SSG Riding Gloves and Sponsored by State Line Tack with plans to continue the event at future Championships.

At Festival, competitors holding a national level certification had the chance to shine in the spotlight of the Rolex Arena as 30 of USPC’s finest rode in demonstrations including Dressage Musical Freestyle, Mounted Games, Polocrosse, Show Jumping from Eventing, Show Jumping and Western Dressage. “Are You Smarter Than A Quiz Competitor” trivia entertained the crowd, estimated at close to 1,000 spectators.

The educational portion of Festival featured over 400 members learning from more than 60 equine experts consisting of respected professionals, USPC national examiners and Pony Club graduates including two-time dressage Olympian Lendon Gray and four-star event rider Alexa Ehlers, one of three USPC members to attain a triple “A” certification. Attendees of all ages and levels participated in mounted and unmounted sessions gaining equine knowledge and skills. A thrill for many was the Monday morning mock foxhunt lead by the Iroquois Hunt Club. Other highlights included a Masters Clinic presented by the Retired Racehorse Project and special Polo and Vaulting demonstrations.

The chance to ride at a world-class facility like the Kentucky Horse Park is always exciting, and with riding clinics in nine different disciplines, Festival Education gave members the opportunity to hone skills in their favorite riding sports and also discover new ones. Unmounted workshops allowed members of all levels to add to their knowledge with or without bringing a horse.

“We had so many inspiring clinicians from which to learn, with education for the youngest D-Camp participants all the way up the levels,” says USPC Instruction Director Connie Jehlik. “When it comes to Festival Education, we have experts from all areas of the horse world, including vets and equine nutritionists, professional grooms, judges, coaches and riders from a variety of disciplines. Many USPC leaders, National Examiners, and graduates, including “A” level members, also come to Festival to share their expertise.”

Festival is a unique part of the Pony Club experience, celebrating the best of all that Pony Club has to offer. It’s the one event that brings members together from more than 500 clubs and centers across the country to ride, compete and learn, and share their joy of horses and Pony Club. Being able to gather in person for the 2021 event was even more special after facing the challenges of 2020.

The tradition of Festival continues to grow, along with the event itself. While Pony Club members come to Festival for the competition and education, they leave with amazing memories and friendships to last a lifetime. Thanks to all who participated in USPC Festival 2021 and made it the best yet. The next USPC Festival will be held in 2024 with more memories in the making.