USPC Champs

[PonyPeep]

It has been a really long time since I have posted here lol!

For anyone who is a USPC alumni:

I joined my club in early September (I’m in MidCal region) and am currently a D2 (did the D1 and D2 certifications at the same time). My riding level reflects me as more of a D3 flat/C1 flat but I just started leasing my horse in December so I don’t have a 3 month/6 month record book yet for my horse. I’m hoping to take my D3 flat in April-ish.

A presentation was given by our new Regional Supervisor about the 2015 USPC Championships yesterday, and now the wheels are starting to turn in my head. It’s being held at Woodside Horse Park, as opposed to the KHP where it is usually held every year; this is a once in a lifetime experience, or at the very least, a once in my pony club lifetime experience (I’m a junior in HS).

I do dressage, so would likely go for dressage and possibly quiz. The qualifying rally is in late May-ish. I believe you just ride a training test, but you have to design your own musical freestyle for Champs! I am also the only dressage rider member of my club so would likely be on a scramble team.

To those of you who have attended Champs, or possibly qualified to go but didn’t/decided not to - can you share your experiences with me? My club is pretty small and doesn’t usually go to rallies so I would definitely be the odd one out and it’s kind of intimidating, but at the same time, an amazing goal and I can’t get it out of my mind now.

[jenm]

@PonyPeep;7939423

A presentation was given by our new Regional Supervisor about the 2015 USPC Championships yesterday, and now the wheels are starting to turn in my head. It’s being held at Woodside Horse Park, as opposed to the KHP where it is usually held every year; this is a once in a lifetime experience, or at the very least, a once in my pony club lifetime experience (I’m a junior in HS).

I don’t have PC experience, but I board at the Woodside Horse Park, so I’m happy to come cheer you on and take photos.

[PonyPeep]

[QUOTE=jenm;7939434]
I don’t have PC experience, but I board at the Woodside Horse Park, so I’m happy to come cheer you on and take photos. :)[/QUOTE]

You are totally awesome!! The qualifying rally is gonna be at Woodside as well so I will definitely let you know if it all pans out how I want it to

[jenm]

[QUOTE=PonyPeep;7939438]
You are totally awesome!! The qualifying rally is gonna be at Woodside as well so I will definitely let you know if it all pans out how I want it to :D[/QUOTE]

Sounds good. I know some other PC members as well, so I’m looking forward to watching you all have this fabulous experience!

[Janet]

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that the PC Champs are held in Kentucky ONCE every THREE years, when they are called “festival”.

The other two years in the cycle, there is are separate “East” and “West” championships.

You should definitely “go for it”, but, if my understanding is correct, this is not the ONLY time it is not in Kentucky.

[PonyPeep]

[QUOTE=Janet;7939470]
I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that the PC Champs are held in Kentucky ONCE every THREE years, when they are called “festival”.

The other two years in the cycle, there is are separate “East” and “West” championships.

You should definitely “go for it”, but, if my understanding is correct, this is not the ONLY time it is not in Kentucky.[/QUOTE]

That could very well be true. The person that was talking to us was definitely trying to sell the experience to us, but I had trouble following some of what she was saying and probably should have asked more questions. I did see once I did some digging online that they have Champs in Virginia, too. The website is really outdated lol!

[Desert_Topaz]

What Janet said is correct: every three years is Festival in Kentucky, where there is one Championship for everyone. The other two years in the three year cycle there’s East and Somewhere West. In 2015 the Somewhere West is Woodside. 2014 was a Festival year.

Since your location is listed as SF, Woodside is really close to you, so yes, you should try to go this year as it probably won’t be that close to you again for awhile. However, that said, don’t put too much pressure on yourself because it is so close

[AKB]

You are wise to start planning now. My daughters went to Championships several times. Older daughter went in Show jumping. Younger daughter went a couple of times in Dressage, once in Quiz and once in Polocrosse.

Talk with your DC or the DC of another club that always sends kids to Championships. The year my younger daughter went in Polocrosse, she joined a second region as the Virginia Region was not sending a Polocrosse team and Maryland was sending 3 Polocrosse teams. A DC should be able to help you figure out what you need to do to qualify. In some regions, there is huge competition to qualify. In other regions, everyone who wants to go can go if they meet the qualifications.

Start volunteering at local dressage shows. You will soon understand what makes a good musical kur. Try to put your music together months ahead of time so you can practice it many, many times. Look at youtube videos of Training level kurs. Then, get some dressage lessons with a good local dressage instructor who likes working with pony clubbers.

You will have fun getting ready for Championships. It also looks good on your college applications and makes for good college application essays.

[AKB]

Read the dressage rule book and the Championships book “gold book” carefully. You should be able to find everything online. Try to go to at least one rally before dressage rally. You need to see rally rules in action before it matters to you. PC rules can be very confusing, but you need to follow them meticulously to have a chance of qualifying for championships.

One year, the girl who was the stable manager wrote the time for my daughter’s kur down incorrectly. She missed the ride time and would have disqualified herself from qualifying for Championships, except that she had two scheduled kirs, a pas de deluxe and individual musical kur.

[PonyPeep]

[QUOTE=AKB;7939722]
Read the dressage rule book and the Championships book “gold book” carefully. You should be able to find everything online. Try to go to at least one rally before dressage rally. You need to see rally rules in action before it matters to you. PC rules can be very confusing, but you need to follow them meticulously to have a chance of qualifying for championships.

One year, the girl who was the stable manager wrote the time for my daughter’s kur down incorrectly. She missed the ride time and would have disqualified herself from qualifying for Championships, except that she had two scheduled kirs, a pas de deluxe and individual musical kur.[/QUOTE]

AKB, thank you SO much, that is exactly the kind of stuff I need to know. I’m extremely fortunate to have access to CDS dressage shows (in fact, there’s one this month) and while I can’t afford to ride in them, that is a really good idea to go watch the kurs!

[AKB]

If you volunteer to be a gatekeeper or a scribe for a judge who is judging the Training rides, you will learn a lot. Make sure the show manager show you what to do, so you are not overwhelmed, but then you will feel a part of the show.

[Peaches]

I did a scramble team at Festival years back. I was going to be on one for Eventing, but my horse blew abscesses in both fronts in the months preceding. I ended up as a stable manager for a scramble dressage team.

Advice to make things more fun (I think):
-Bring cupcakes or cookies around to the other teams stabled near you. I wouldn’t do it during set up, but go early on during a down time. That’s usually after set-up but before the official meeting.
-Try to get on a scramble team with people around your age if possible (it can make it easier to relate).
-I don’t know if this is done outside of Festival, but get a bunch of regional pins so you can trade with people from other regions!

I’m a current PC member (albeit older) around your area, so feel free to ask me any questions about championships, rallies, or PC in general!

[pheasantknoll]

Generally, to ride at Champs you have to be a D3 hm/riding in order to qualify. you can sometimes get an exception, but not always. For quiz, you will need to be at least D2. You will also have to go to a qualifying rally, not just any rally. Dressage is an easy discipline to qualify in. Easier than quiz, usually. If you have other questions, you can ask. I recommend you talk to your DC and RS.

PKN
Pony club mom and DC

[roseymare]

HAVE FUN! I was a pony clubber for 1 month and then our pony club disbanded so I have nothing to add there LOL

But as a 4-H mentor and Breed Association youth club mentor my advice is TAKE ADVANTAGE of all that Pony Club has to offer. Step out of your comfort zone at times to try something new. There are some opportunities there that will serve you well in all of your future endeavors. Ask questions just like you are doing on this board! You already have the right idea. Sometimes it is just a matter of contacting the right people for the opportunities to present themselves.
Have Fun!

[mgoblue]

I am a current PC-er and have been to champs many times Welcome!! Most years have a championships east, west, and midwest. Festival years (2014 was one, 2017 will be the next) hold a few days of educational activities and clinics in addition to the championships.

Champs are fun! A great way to meet new people. They are less stressful than rallies, in my opinion, because you have lots and lots of time since it is spread out over more days!

[RedmondDressage]

I don’t know if my experience will be super relevant since it was 20 years ago… Omg how did 20 years go by that fast??? But I went to show jumping champs when they held it in Ogden, UT. I had a BLAST! You should definitely try to qualify, it’s such a fun experience. Our team members came from all over my region so I got to meet some great new kids on my team, as well as the other teams we were competing with. So glad my parents carted me all the way down there

[Sticky_Situation]

[QUOTE=Janet;7939470]
I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that the PC Champs are held in Kentucky ONCE every THREE years, when they are called “festival”.

The other two years in the cycle, there is are separate “East” and “West” championships.

You should definitely “go for it”, but, if my understanding is correct, this is not the ONLY time it is not in Kentucky.[/QUOTE]

This is how it was when I was in pony club 10+ years ago … I suppose it’s possible things have changed, but that’s definitely how it was back then. I went to Championships a few times and it was a great experience. Not just the riding, but everything you learn, all the friends you make … I’m very glad I was able to do it. Definitely make sure to be familiar with the rules and horse management stuff and how to do everything the “Pony Club way”, because you will be expected to know it inside and out … But most of all have fun!

[joiedevie99]

Awesome! You should definitely try to go. I went to Festival in KY twice, and once to Virginia.

Check the Gold Book for qualification requirements. Last I checked, you had to have your D-3 Flat or D-3 DR, and your D-3 HM in order to go in dressage. D-2’s are allowed to go for Quiz, so you’re good there.

If your DC hasn’t done champs before, use your RS as a resource.

[Mango20]

Going to championships is lots of fun, and definitely a special memory. I went for games for 4 years and Show Jumping once back in the late '80’s, and now my son has been for games the last two years- once at the VA horse center and once in KY. Both times he was on scramble teams from our region and had fun with his teammates who he didn’t know very well before champs. This year he wants to try for tetrathlon, show jumping or eventing. You still have lots of opportunities to go, since you can stay in the club until you’re 25 now.

I’d second what someone else said: get all you can out of Pony Club. Try different disciplines even if you see yourself as a dressage rider. If your region does games (I know it’s not as common out west), borrow a pony and play! Participate in the Quiz rally. Prepping for the rally also preps you for your ratings. In our area, tetrathlon is a really fun, laid-back rally, despite having to ride, run, swim and shoot.

I’ll also second what someone said about horse management. HM scores can make or break your final placing, so read the rulebook, and make sure you pay attention to the details with your horse, tack, and stable area while at the rally.

Make sure you talk to your DC about your goals, and to get help with everything. You’ll also need to schedule your D3 HM and Flat rating before your qualifying rally so you meet the requirements. If you get your D3 after the rally, you can still potentially go to championships, but you will have to have your regional supervisor file an exception for you. Better to just get it done first and avoid the hassle.