Letter from the President

It is hard to believe that this is my last column as President for the Pony Club magazine. Four years have flown by, and they are four years that I never will forget. When I took the reins as the Pony Club President in January of 2018, I was humbled by the trust placed in me to help guide this amazing organization, but I realized very quickly that I was in no way taking on responsibilities alone. Pony Club has the most amazing volunteers and staff that every day of every year work diligently and robustly to provide an incredible educational experience for all our members.

Believe it or not, I am going to miss the weekly calls with other board members, with the USPC staff, with donors, with members, and various volunteers. Even though there seemed to be weeks when there were calls all day and every evening, it became easy to recognize and to celebrate the dedication that virtually everyone has for our organization. Every minute has been rewarding, even when there were challenges that seemed daunting or even surreal (think COVID-19). Over the past six months or so, a great deal has been happening at Pony Club. In addition to a very successful Festival and Championships in July, other initiatives and programs have continued to advance.

The Strategic Planning Committee, under Deb Kirsch’s leadership, has created a solid plan, based on the Task Force recommendations and the still-amazing work of Dr. Garkovich. It will help guide the organization over a number of years. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee, under the capable leadership of Devyn Hinkle, has begun to identify key areas where Pony Club can both expand and augment its program. Sue Smith continues to work with the Pony Club International Alliance, and it is refreshing and rewarding to see the great coordination and sharing of ideas between our sister organizations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.

However, as I personally reflect back on the past four years, I am pleased by what we have been able to accomplish, thanks to our cadre of volunteers, our always hard working and resilient staff, and the enthusiasm of Pony Club’s many members and supporters. When I became President, there were several things on which I hoped the organization would focus: over the long history of Pony Club, many things had become very complex and almost burdensome. I wanted Pony Club to put emphasis on keeping things simple and efficient. I also was concerned that over time, Pony Club had begun to put too much emphasis on rules, expectations, and unnecessary “polish,” sometimes referred to as “the Pony Club way.” It occurred to me that we had, at times, overlooked the fact that our clubs, centers, and members come from virtually every corner of the United States, and that customs, efficiencies, and procedures sometimes differ greatly as a result. Many have heard me state, perhaps all too often, that we must remember that in Pony Club, excellence is attainable, but perfection is not. It was apparent that as a national organization that is part of an international movement, we must be flexible, reasonable, and willing to embrace multiple points of view. Our Pony Club tests and competitions did not always embrace that thinking.

I am very pleased to report that Pony Club has addressed these things and is on a trajectory to meet the educational needs of members and volunteers in new, exciting, and efficient ways. Some of the activities over the past four years that have facilitated this include: • A complete review and reorganization of Pony

Club bylaws, policies, and procedures, literally eliminating hundreds of unnecessary policies, and combining many that logically should have been. • An amazing survey and study of Pony Club by Dr.

Lori Garkovich (University of Kentucky) and her committee that interviewed dozens of Pony Club members and supporters and produced a survey for which there were over 1,000 respondents. Dr.

Garkovich’s analysis of each and every survey led to the formation of four Task Forces that quite literally recommended some of the most sweeping changes Pony Club is now implementing through its newly completed Strategic Plan and through numerous changes in programmatic procedures. • COVID-19 actually helped Pony Club reevaluate the delivery of many of its programs, ushering in numerous very effective and popular virtual experiences that helped members from all over the country connect in new and stimulating ways. • Pony Club has established a new Diversity, Equity,

Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee to both expand and augment programs. For decades, Pony

Club has offered a great deal to a vast array of members and volunteers, but through the work of this committee, our organization will continue to grow and develop innovative initiatives. • Pony Club always has made the safety of its members and volunteers a priority. Over the past four years, we have put in place new training requirements for adults, through Safesport and background checks, that will continue to promote safe environments for the entire Pony Club family. • Pony Club’s presence on various social media platforms has transformed its marketing efforts.

The happy result has been in the increased membership numbers. • We all should be proud of the financial and fiscal sustainability of Pony Club, thanks to the tireless efforts of both the Finance and Development departments, and their many dedicated volunteers.

We are strong, solvent, and proactive by any measure. • Over these past four years, Pony Club has renewed and strengthened its long-time and historical relationship with the Masters of Foxhounds

Association (MFHA). The United States Pony

Clubs might never have come into being were it not for the MFHA leadership 67 years ago. Our shared

values relating to land conservation and animal care have been a part of Pony Club’s educational program since the beginning. • Pony Club has recognized and embraced its role as the premier educational organization for the teaching of horse-related skills, horse management, sportsmanship, and leadership.

It has been a tremendous honor to have been a part of Pony Club these past four years, and I think that you will agree that your organization has accomplished a great deal. The organization is poised to take on its next chapter with confidence and proficiency. We are very dynamic and proactive; and, we all can and should be very proud. I once again would like to thank the many volunteers who make Pony Club work. Their dedication and tireless approach to problem solving serve as a model for numerous other organizations. The USPC Board of Governors and Advisory Committee are an amazing group, always ready and willing to take on responsibilities and tasks that no job description ever could have spelled out.

The Pony Club staff members in Lexington represent the finest any equestrian or educational organization could produce. Their dedication, their work ethic, and their always-friendly demeanor ensure that everything Pony Club does, is done with professionalism, competency, and fun. I particularly want to thank Teresa Woods, Pony Club’s Executive Director, for her remarkable and steadfast leadership. She understands Pony Club perhaps better than anyone I know, and her efforts on behalf of the members, volunteers, and staff know no bounds. It has been a distinct pleasure working with her over the past four years.

As we quickly approach a change in the leadership at USPC, I am happy that Jennifer Sweet will be the new USPC President. Teresa and I have been working together, with Jennifer, for some time now to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. Jennifer has incredible passion for Pony Club, and both her vision and her determination to see things through thoughtful lenses will serve our organization well. Please welcome Jennifer with the same enthusiasm you all showed to me when I took the reins from the immensely capable Nancy Pittman.

Ben Duke