The Meduxnekeag River Pony Club will hold its annual banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of its members at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Watson Hall (Church of the Good Shepherd) on Main Street in Houlton. Anyone interested in learning more about the Pony Club or becoming a member is welcome.
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COMPETING – Competing in the D Rally for the Meduxnekeag River Pony Club were, left to right, Melissa Moody, Tessa Lilley, Kim Levesque and Emily Dee.
Pony Club is a misnomer; it is not a club for ponies. It is a nonprofit organization that teaches horsemanship and the care of the horse to young people through the age of 25. The Mission of the United States Pony Club is to provide a program for youth, which teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence. This mission is carried out in local clubs through both mounted and unmounted activities.
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UP AND OVER – Abby Moody takes her horse up and over the fence. Moody is a member of the Meduxnekeag River Pony Club.The club will hold its annual banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of its members at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Watson Hall (Church of the Good Shepherd) on Main Street in Houlton.
Pony Club members also take “ratings,” which are examinations that test their knowledge as well as riding abilities. The members work their way up from the D level to the A, which is the highest rating a Pony Clubber can attain and is considered a very advanced level. Although USPC emphasizes instruction over competition, members do compete with one another at club, regional and national rallies. Most USPC competition is team competition, so members learn the importance of cooperation and friendship. At rallies, there is no help from parents. Youngsters help each other (with qualified adults nearby). An important part of rallies is horse care, which is judged and is highly competitive.
The Meduxnekeag River Pony Club has accomplished many things this year. The club hosted the Northeast Regional Quiz Rally. Pony club teams from around the sate came to Houlton to test their knowledge of horse care, breeds and equipment. Tessa Lilley qualified and traveled to Kentucky to represent the region at Pony Club national quiz competition.
Members competed as a team at the regional dressage rally in Dover-Foxcroft and at the D Rally in Pittston. Several members also competed successfully as individual at a variety of riding events around the state.
The club is currently seeking new members. If you would like to attend the banquet or would like more information, call Vicki Moody at 532-2405.
TOGETHER – Meduxnekeag Pony Club members line up their horses for a photograph.
