The U.S. Polo Association will work with U.S. Pony Club local chapters to capture interest of young horsemen and women nationwide
April 12, 2010 (Wellington, FL) – The United States Polo Association (USPA) is working with the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) in a cross-promotional effort to attract young riders to both organizations. The USPA plans to offer a free introductory membership to Pony Club members across the country and is working with its member clubs and other polo entities to offer polo to the USPC Regions in the form of educational clinics.
The U.S. Pony Club has experienced resounding success in teaching riding, safety, and horsemanship skills – all important building blocks for learning to play polo. “This joint venture between the USPA and USPC is the next natural step towards growing the popularity of polo in the US,” said USPA Executive Director Peter Rizzo. “By working together with the USPC we are able to reach experienced young riders who want to develop their horsemanship skills and be a part of the thrilling sport of polo.”
The U.S. Pony Club is optimistic that by offering polo as an activity, the organization will draw interest from young horsemen as well. USPC Executive Director, Peggy Entrekin, is pleased that this effort will expose USPC members to the exciting sport of polo. According to Entrekin, “We have a number of members who already compete in mounted games and polocrosse, so polo is a natural progression for them because of the necessary skills, precision and importance of sound horsemanship.”
Pony Club members will learn the proper way to prepare and protect their horses for the game and how to introduce their horses to polo equipment including the mallet and the polo ball. The polo clinics’ curriculum will include 20-24 hours of instruction with a review and comprehension of the basic rules along with playing drills. They will learn skills while mounted, progressing to coached scrimmages.
The first polo clinic for Pony Club members will take place in June at the Hillside Polo Club in Richfield, Wisconsin. The USPA is also working with its Regional Polo Centers and member clubs to coordinate a series of clinics this summer for Pony Club chapters located in Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle and Wichita.
About United States Polo Association (www.uspolo.org)
The USPA was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.
About the United States Pony Club (www.ponyclub.org)
The mission of Pony Club is “to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence.” The USPC educational programs promote the health and safety of both horse and rider with equal emphasis on the teaching of riding skills, horse-care fundamentals, and team participation with sportsmanship. USPC is dedicated to developing knowledgeable, competent, responsible, and caring horsemen.