Held Center Hosts U.S. Pony Club Mega-Rally

The Nancy Held Equestrian Center played host to nearly 100 members of the United States Pony Club - and their human partners - for four days at the end of June as the pairs competed in stadium jumping and dressage in all three of the Held Center's arenas.

Yet while the competition was tough, Pony Club leaders, parents, and volunteers alike stressed the importance of learning, safety, and teamwork throughout all four days of events.

The Held Center became an official U.S. Pony Club (USPC) training center in 2007 and has previously hosted riding clinics for members.  It is the only USPC training center in the Great Lakes Region.

 The USPC is one of the leading junior equestrian organizations in the world, represented throughout 30 countries, with over 600 individual Clubs in the United States alone.  These Clubs are spread throughout 48 states and the Virgin Islands, with more than 12,000 members enrolled.
 

Left:  Club members walk the jumping course in preparation for their rides. 

Right:  USPC members are seen in the open viewing gallery of the Randi Heathman Arena.  Sportsmanship and education are common themes at every USPC event and all riders are supportive of one another.

Left:  Safety and good horsemanship whether in or out of the saddle were stressed throughout the competition, as four-year Albion College camp participant Katherine Kendall and her horse Dylan demonstrate.

Below:  Parent volunteers are essential to any USPC event and helped the mega-rally run smoothly.
 

Left:  At the end of the day, it was the friendships that mattered.

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