The Pony Club

Many of today’s current top International and Olympic superstars began their careers riding in The Pony Club.  Many parent's over the years have chosen this club to teach their children about horses because the curriculum is very well layed out and defined.

How did it all begin?  The Pony Club began its famous journey into the books of England’s history in 1929.  It had originally started as the Institute of the Horse in 1928.  This branch catered to adults who then organized classes for children including gymkhanas.  A junior branch was formed, and thus The Pony Club was born.  The vision for the club was the need to encourage children to ride, and to give them the chance to grow into top riders and possibly become professionals in their preferred discipline.  At that time districts were formed throughout the country that were closely affiliated with the hunt.  

In 1932 Pony Club Tests were given and certificates awarded.  However, in 1939, because of the war, almost all of the branches in Europe had to be discontinued.  

In 1930, The Pony Club had 300 members, and over 10,000 by 1935.

The United States Pony Club came to America in 1954.  The main office is at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Emphasis in the club is placed not only on the riding skills, but members must also learn about Horse Management, and safety.  Certification is awarded in these programs as well.  Older members that are more accomplished are allowed to grow and pursue their goals at their own pace.  Younger students are educated using fun techniques that keep them engaged.  Older, more experienced members are often teamed up with younger members to teach the skills through a mentoring program.   As the older members progress through the highest levels, they are allowed to teach Horse Management courses and move towards instructing other younger riders.  After these steps are accomplished, lesson plans are created along with evaluation sheets. They are also taught skills to help them deal with unexpected issues and difficult horses as well as distraught children.

The club teaches riders, through a specific curriculum about riding, safety, and the care of ponies and horses as well as leadership techniques, responsibility, and it helps to build each individual’s self-esteem.  Goals are achieved through individuals passing specified tests and certificates are awarded to acknowledge these accomplishments.  Some important topics that are covered include: cost of feeding horses, shoeing, veterinarian visits, training schedules, hauling safely, first aid, grooming, breeding and foaling just to name a few. 

 In order to join a pony club, often children must own a pony of their own or have access to one, but this is not always the case.  Some clubs have access to horses that can be leased.

 Small shows or rallies are held so that members can demonstrate their riding and Horse Management abilities in a fun encouraging environment.

If you are interested in contacting The Pony Club, please copy and paste this link:  http://www.ponyclub.org/ 

Remembering Scamper, the Barrel Racing Legend

People who love horses and want to compete at the top of their sport, often pay extraordinary amounts of money for the ability to rise to the top.  However, on some occasions, an uncut, unpolished diamond can be found in the most unlikely place.

When Charmayne James was 12 years old, her father took her to a feedlot where she was able to pick out a barrel racing prospect.  Little did she know that this horse, that could easily have been purchased by the kill buyers, would launch her into the barrel racing spotlight and leave a legacy that few would be able to surpass. 

His barn name became Scamper while she waited for his AQHA papers to arrive.  Later, Charmayne discovered that his registered name was Gills Bay Boy once the papers were acquired.  But the journey had begun, and around the world people would always know him as Scamper.

The early days for the two were a little rough as Scamper had a tendency to buck when he was cantering, and it was easy to understand how he ended up at the feedlot in the first place.  However, Charmayne took her time with him, and after they got the kinks worked out, the pair were unstoppable. At the tender age of 14, Charmayne  qualified for the National Finals Rodeo, which they won even though the Scamper’s bridle broke during one of the runs.

Charmayne rode in the National Finals Rodeo for an astounding ten years from 1984-1993, and won the WPRA (Women’s Pro Rodeo Association) World Championship each year.  Because of their huge success, Charmayne was given the nickname, “The Million Dollar Cowgirl.”  After those ten years of Championships, Scamper was semi-retired, and finally a few years later, completely retired from competition.  He passed away at the age of 35 on July 4, 2012 on Charmayne’s ranch in Texas.

Although the bay horse was a gelding when he competed as a barrel racer, he has since been cloned.  The clone is a stallion named Clayton who was born in 2006.  He stands at stud on the ranch, but because the American Quarter Horse Association does not register cloned animals, his offspring cannot acquire papers.  Fortunately, however, it is not necessary to have a papered horse in order to run and compete in barrel racing or any other rodeo event.

When Scamper was discovered he was but a dusty gem, but with the help of his partner and friend Charmayne James, he was able to shine like a brilliant diamond, and his legacy lives on.    

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More Than Good Horse Sense:

IHSA Riders Rank Among Rhodes Scholars for Second Time in Two Years 

Rhodes Scholar, Rachel Kolb aboard Ronny

Fairfield, CT—December 5, 2012—Stride for stride, solid horse sense leads to scholarly achievement.  For the second time in two years, the Rhodes Trust has awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association college equestrian athlete to pursue post-graduate study at Oxford University.

This year’s recipient is IHSA hunter seat rider, Rachel Kolb, of Los Ranchos, NM, who is in her second year as president of the Stanford Equestrian Team, and co-terminal year at Stanford (CA) University (i.e., she will graduate this year with a BA in English/minor in Human Biology and a Masters in English). 

Kolb is Stanford’s 2012 IHSA Regional Champion in Intermediate Flat and Fences, and has twice helped bring the team to the national Top Ten:  At the 2010 IHSA Nationals, in Team Intermediate Fences, where Stanford finished fourth, and again at the 2011 IHSA National Championships, in Team Intermediate Flat (Stanford placed sixth).

In the classroom, Kolb earned an 2011 IHSA/EQUUS Foundation Scholarship and, in 2012, was recognized as an IHSA Senior Athletic Academic Achievement Award recipient, and led Stanford to the first Team IHSA All-Academic Award (since the creation of the distinction in 2011). Elected as a junior to Phi Beta Kappa, she is managing editor of the Leland Quarterly, a campus literary magazine, and an opinion columnist for The Stanford Daily. At Oxford, she plans to pursue a Master's degree in Contemporary Literature.

“I feel extremely honored to have received the Rhodes scholarship, and I am looking forward to studying at Oxford over the next two years,” Kolb replied via an electronic interview.  “The news is still sinking in, but I'm already hoping to find a way to ride while in England. I had the opportunity to study abroad at Oxford during my junior year at Stanford, which I loved, so I feel very fortunate to have the chance to return.

“Seeing my trainer, Meredith Houx Remiger (as well as Albuquerque trainer, Elani Rager) ride in high jumper stakes and local Grand Prix inspired me in my youth, and I've loved the chance to learn from all my coaches while at the Stanford Red Barn."”

During her time at Stanford, Kolb has built a unique bond and a second language 

with her IHSA coach, Vanessa Bartsch.  “As Rachel has been deaf her whole life, she is remarkably adept at managing in the ring and out,” said Coach Bartsch.  “After coaching her for four years, signing to her seems completely normal. I sign to her (while speaking) in all of her lessons, when she is working in the barn, and at team meetings. 

“That said, my signing causes a fair amount of hilarity for Rachel, because of my mix-ups and made-up signs.  So much so that it has a bit of a life of its own: instead of ASL (American Sign Language), Rachel jokes that I use VSL (Vanessa Sign Language).”

For coach and student, it has been a learning curve ridden together.  Bartsch explained, “ASL is comprised of a limited vocabulary of signs, and there are no signs for things like ‘trot’ or ‘gallop,’ let alone ‘impulsion,’ ‘counter-canter,’ or ‘bran mash.’ Rachel and I developed our own vocabulary so I can coach her in lessons and in the show arena.

“It’s always funny when she tries to teach horse signs to the interpreters who sign for her when I'm not there, as some signs, such as ‘trot’ and ‘toilet’ look remarkably similar!  None of the interpreters are horse people.  They are used to signing in a classroom, so they've had a steep learning curve about where to stand in a dressage lesson (in the middle, though they report 20 meter circles make them dizzy) versus a jumping lesson (not in front of a fence).”

Kolb said, “I've never viewed my deafness as an impediment to riding, especially since the horses never mind. Having such supportive teammates and coaches, particularly people like Vanessa who make communication so easy, has allowed me to take full advantage of opportunities on the team. Sign language has embedded itself into the team culture in various ways, which has been tremendous fun.”

Kolb is not the first IHSA college equestrian athlete to be named a Rhodes Scholar.  In 2010, Gabrielle Emanuel of Dartmouth College (NH) was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University. Emanuel — who majored in history at Dartmouth before graduating summa cum laude  — used her scholarship to pursue a doctorate in Development Studies, focusing on ethical perspectives in international development. A Rufus Choate Scholar and member of Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, she rode on the Dartmouth IHSA equestrian team and competed as a Walk-Trot rider, while also working to provide health care to Boston’s homeless, help rural Ugandans attend American universities, and support microfinance in India. 

Sally Batton, head coach of the Dartmouth equestrian team, remembered Emanuel for her focus and drive, and for committing herself as an active member of the IHSA team while remaining involved in many other activities.

“She really had great self motivation to get a job done,” Batton said. “She was and is totally capable of doing everything she sets her mind to.”

Bartsch sees a parallel between the high standards of the Rhodes Trust and success as a collegiate equestrian athlete.  “Thanks to our amazing organization, which welcomes all types of riders, Rachel flourished not only as a rider but as a leader. She told me that she was asked about riding--and the IHSA--in the Rhodes Trust interviews.  I think it speaks to the heart of what we/IHSA do best: allow student athletes to flourish in the ring and classroom.  The experience they get showing, riding, and leading contribute to the trajectory of their lives, regardless of their background or unique challenges. 

“There are so many parallels between what the IHSA teaches,” Coach Bartsch

summed up. “‘Catch riding,’ or learning how to bring the best out of any horse, class, job or situation, is a skill that stays for life.”

Rhodes Scholars are chosen for outstanding scholarly achievements, character, commitment to others and the common good, and potential for leadership. The Rhodes Scholarship is a prestigious post-graduate award established in 1902 after the death of diamond magnate, Cecil Rhodes and is intended, according to Rhodes Trust website, www.rhodesscholar.org, to bring outstanding students from around the world to Oxford.

To learn more about IHSA, collegiate equestrian teams, and scholarships, visit www.ihsainc.com.

The Cloning of a Barrel Racing Legend

Science is working in the horse industry to continue bloodlines that might otherwise die off.  Smart Little Lena, Scamper and a few other horses have been cloned in order to continue the legacy and keep the money for stud fees coming in.  Many ranches have based their entire breeding programs primarily on the aging stallions.  Now, as of September 2012, the barrel racing legend, Frenchmans Guy, has been cloned three times.  The clones are owned by the same people who own and stand the 25 year old stallion, Bill and Deb Myers. 

The Myers decided to clone Frenchmans Guy because of his remarkable statistics both as a barrel racing horse and a sire of legendary proportions.  He has been listed as a leading sire in the performance horse industry for the last ten years.  His foals, that have gone on to compete, have earned over 4 million dollars.

 Cloning creates an identical genetic replica, which allows superior animals to continue their bloodlines into the future.  Viagen, a Texas based company that is known as the world leader in animal cloning, was chosen to produce the foals.  Many people view cloning as the next step in breeding programs now that vitro fertilization and embryo transfers are an everyday occurrence.  As genetic replicas, the clones will permit Frenchmans Guy’s superior genes to continue well into the future.  Bill and Deb Myers considered that it would be good not only for their breeding program but for the horse industry as a whole.  The cloned foals will produce offspring exactly as if Frenchmans Guy himself was the stallion used for the breedings.  So, if breeding to this stallion seemed a far off dream, rest assured that the chance to do so will continue far into the future.