|
Dear Parents, Thank you for your interest in the Adirondack Lakes Pony Club (ALPC). ALPC is part of the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) which was founded in 1954 as a non profit national youth organization to teach riding and horsemanship through a formal educational program. Many of the nation's top equestrians, including most of our Olympic team members have Pony Club roots. Members range in age from 10 through age 25. Activities are English-riding based, and members ride both horses and ponies, depending on the size of the rider and the discipline in which s/he is competing. Membership in USPC has many benefits. Along with an emphasis on helping its members learn to ride and care for horses, Pony Club promotes teamwork, a sense of responsibility, safety, good moral judgment, and self-confidence. In the winter months, we have unmounted meetings and clinics to learn horse management skills. We start our unmounted meetings in January and continue them through April. We usually meet once or twice a month. In the spring and summer months, we have mounted meetings (lessons) involving flat work, dressage, jumping, and cross country riding. Lessons begin in May and run through the end of August. Pony Club competitions, called rallies, are team competitions. They are organized much like the Olympic Games. During a rally, Pony Clubbers have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they acquired at mounted and unmounted meetings. Members learn the importance of cooperation and teamwork. ALPC participates in regionally rallies for quiz, dressage, show jumping, and combined training. To become a member you must complete a membership form for your child and submit a fee. Fees are used to defray the operating costs of meetings, lessons and clinics. Membership fees are due November 1. The mounted meeting (lesson) fee is due March 15. Members will be responsible for dressing appropriately and safely for mounted meetings (lessons), having the required reading completed for meetings and building kits needed in caring for their mounts. ALPC has an executive board comprised of adults who are club officers. In addition, there are club sponsors (adults) who develop, maintain and vote on policy. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor please indicate that when paying your membership fees. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 518-563-5908, or e-mail me at alpc@alpc.ponyclub.org .
Holly Sims , |