MIDDLE CALIFORNIA REGION

UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS, INC.

Middle California News

updated 11/10/09

Join Us For D Day November 14

D Day returns on November 14 for a session on bandaging.  Join us for hands-on instruction and practice bandaging a horse.  Wear your boots and bring your helmet!  The time is 2:00 - 4:00 at Tassajara Equestrian Center,  5945 Bruce Drive, Pleasanton CA 9458.  Please contact Anu Sambath at anu.sambath@gmail for information and directions.

MidCal Adds Another HA to Roster!

Congratulations to Maya M of Woodside Pony Club for successfully meeting Standard in every section of the HA test.  Hats off to Maya!

Add Three New HBs to the MidCal Roster!

Let's congratulate Jessie E of Bay Hills Pony Club, Devyn H of Redwood Hills Pony Club and Ronnie H of Moon Valley Pony Club for successfully completing each section of the HB test.  Well done!

USPC Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge

Last changes were made to the Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge to encourage smaller clubs to participate, and to allow members who hunt on a regular basis to count in the Challenge for their club. The Challenge runs from June 1 - April 1, so there is still plenty of time to get Pony Club members out hunting.

Award money totaling $10,000 will go to six Pony Clubs who regularly take the greatest percentage (based on total number of club members) of active Pony Club members hunting, based on the required number of hunts needed by each member (see below). In the case of a tie, the money will be combined and split between the tied clubs.

For first time Foxhunters or members who have hunted less than 3 times in the previous season, you must hunt a total of 3 or more times in the current season.

For members who have hunted 3 or more times in the previous season or participated in the Live Oak Challenge last year, you must hunt a total of 6 or more times in the current season.

For Pony Club members who are also regular hunting members, you must hunt 9 or more times in the current season.

The Live Oak Hounds Certificate and additional information is available on the Foxhunting page of the USPC web site, or contact activities@ponyclub.org

USPC has joined facebook!

Follow the link to become a fan. 

Up-to-date news on what is happening Nationally. 

Join discussion groups and have your voice heard!

MidCal to Host 2010 Western Championships!

The Middle California Region will be the host of the 2010 Western Championships to be held at the Horse Park at Woodside.  For complete information, please click here

Briones Valley Pony Club Schooling Show

Briones Valley Pony Club is hosting an open schooling hunter / jumper show on Sunday, November 1 at Poplar Place Stables.  For complete information and entry forms, please follow this link:  www.poplarplace.com

More National Testing Results:

Alessia B-G of Crossroads Pony Club successfully met Standard at the C3 Traditional test hosted by Sierra Pacific Region September 11 and 12.  Congratulations Alessia!

Logan B of Briones Valley Pony Club, Sonya B of Portola Valley Pony Club, Bea  of Briones Valley Pony  Club, Hannah R of Moon Valley Pony Club and Kendal S of Moon Valley Pony Club all met Standard at the HB test hosted by Sierra Pacific Region September 12 and 13.  Well done everyone!

Western Championships Results -- MidCal ROCKS!

MidCal has just returned from Western Championships at Donida Farm in Auburn, Washington.  Fun was had by all, and I can report that the Middle California Region competitors represented the region well!  For Championships photos, click HERE

Here are the results:

Dressage

Training Level

• Melina B of In the Irons Pony Club and Sammy S of Santa Cruz County and their Sierra Pacific Region teammates finished second in Horse Management and placed 4th overall!

Eventing

Beginner Novice

• Logan B of Briones Valley Pony Club and Lindsey W of Bear Creek Pony Club and their SoCal Region teammates finished 1st in Horse Management and 1st overall. 

• Logan received a prize for Beginner Novice Best Dressage Score of 31.0.  Congratulations Logan!

Novice

• Lauren B, Sarah B, Cheyenne C all of Crossroads Pony Club and Ronnie H of Moon Valley Pony Club finished 3rd in Horse Management and 3rd overall. 

• Sarah received a prize for Novice Best Dressage Score of 31.10.  Very well done Sarah!

Show Jumping

Developing Horse and Rider

• Theresa S of Santa Cruz County Pony Club and her SoCal, Camino Real and Northwest Region teammates finished first in Horse Management with 1.5 points! and 2nd overall!!

Horse I

• Sammy S of Santa Cruz County Pony Club and her Sierra Pacific and Northwest Region teammates finished first in Horse Management and first overall. 

• Sammy received Horse I Best Equitation Round with the score of 84.  Well done Sammy!

Quiz

Junior D

• Team 1 -- Julia D of Briones Valley Pony Club, Irma N of Redwood Hills Pony Club, Katie P f In the Irons Pony Club and Julia S of Moon Valley Pony Club placed 3rd!

• Team 2 -- Claire K of Portola Valley Pony Club, Annie R of Santa Cruz County Pony Club, Avery S of Portola Valley Pony Club and Anna W of Portola Valley Pony Club placed 4th overall

Senior D

• Team 1 -- Natalie B of Pacific Ridge Pony Club, Martina E of Pacific Ridge Pony Club, Aislinn F of Valley Sierra Pony Club and Susie S of Moon Valley Pony Club placed 2nd overall!

• Team 2 -- Zoe A of Pacific Ridge Pony Club, Catie J of Portola Valley Pony Club, Kelsey M of Pacific Ridge Pony Club and Maya N of Pacific Ridge Pony Club placed 3rd!!

Senior C

• Jacqueline H of Sugar Pine Pony Club, Shannon M of Pacific Ridge Pony Club, Sarah-Anne N of Pacific Ridge Pony Club and teammate Kathryn F of Camino Real Region placed 3rd overall!! 

• Shannon secured an alternate place on the Quiz International Exchange team!

WELL DONE MIDCAL!! 

For Championships photos, click HERE

Testing News!

MidCal completed its Mega Rating week on July 31st.  A tremendous effort was made by every testing candidate and I would like to congratulate each on their hard work. 

• Congratulations to Lauren B of Bay Hills Pony Club, Christine F of Woodside Pony Club and Vickie H of Santa Cruz County Pony Club who all met Standard at the C3 Traditional test.

• Alexa W of Woodside Pony Club met Standard at the B Traditional -- congratulations Alexa!

• Congratulations to Katie C of Woodside Pony Club and Marissa Y of Moon Valley Pony Club met Standard at the Traditional A -- WELL DONE!

• Kate A of Bay Hills Pony Club and Hannah C of Redwood Hills Pony Club met Standard at the C3 Dressage!

• And, Kate A of Bay Hills Pony Club met Standard at the B Dressage.  Nicely done Kate!

Thank you to everyone that helped make this Mega Rating possible

Welcome our newest HA's!

Congratulations to Mackenzie Cameron, Hayley Deane, Chloe Lalonde and Megan Leonard for meeting Standard on each section of the grueling HA test July 10 - 12.  Well done!

5 New HBs on MidCal's Roster!

Congratulations to Kenzie A, Kate A and Gretchen K of Bay Hills Pony Club, Vickie H of Santa Cruz County Pony Club and Shannon M of Pacific Ridge Pony Club who all met Standard at the HB test hosted by Sierra Pacific Region June 21. WELL DONE!!!

May 30 - 31 at the Horse Park -- Lots of FUN!

If you weren't there, we had a lot going on at the Horse Park!   D Day with nearly 90 Ds, C3, B and A Prep for Traditional, Show Jumping and Dressage testing candidates, an HB test prep and a C1/C2 test.  You can view photos on Middle California's facebook page

MidCal Is Now On facebook and YouTube!

You can now find MidCal Pony Club on facebook and youtube! 

Click on the links to join us -- and find out what's happening in the region, view photos, videos and more...

Games Rally Results -- FUN!

Thank you to Santa Cruz County Pony Club for hosting our Games Rally May 2 at Graham Hill Show Grounds.   The day was a bit rainy and gray, but our gamers had fun putting their ponies through the paces.  Three mug, sword, stepping stone and many more games were played but these enthusiastic competitors.  Katie Graham presented a beautiful trophy to the overall winners, the Rubber Duckies, in honor of her daughter, Fiona Graham.

Junior Division:
1) Black Bumble Bees:        HM total: -13 1/2     Games total: 22     Overall total: 22
Victoria G.
Julie H.
Abbey V.
Anna W.
Claire K.

2) Geckos:      HM total: -8    Games total: 16     Overall total: 16
Annie R.
Tracy B.
Chaska F.
Annie W.

Senior Division:
1) Rubber Duckies:    HM total: -3 3/4     Games total: 23     Overall total: 27 1/4
Logan B.
Julia D.
Anna M.
Devyn H.

2) Butterflies:     HM total: -10 1/2     Games total: 13     Overall total: 13
Amanda D.
McKenna M.
Katie P.
Laura S.
Aubrie P.

EBTH Rally Results are in: Portola Valley Wins the Blue!

16 teams of Ds competed at last weekend's Everything But the Horse Rally, hosted by Crossroads Pony Club -- a record number of competitors!  The competition was fierce (we even had one t-shirt horse!), but Portola Valley Pony Club, Team 2, with Madison, Samara, Lauren, Sophie and Chloe were able to edge out the others and win with an overall score of 4.0.  Well done! 
 

Overall Placing (Total overall score in parentheses)
1st Team 6 - Portola Valley 2 (4.0)
2nd Team 3 - Devil Mountain/In The Irons (7.3)
3rd Team 16 - Pacific Ridge (9.1)
4th Team 9 - Woodside 2 (13.5)
5th Team 4 - Redwood Hills/In The Irons (14.5)
6th Team 15 - Santa Cruz County (15.0)
7th Team 10 - Skye Valley (15.2)
8th Team 13 - Moon Valley/Crossroads (17.0)
9th Team 11 - Moon Valley 1 (19.7)
10th Team 5 - Portola Valley 1 (22.3)
11th Team 14 - Sugar Pine (23.0)
12th Team 2 - Briones Valley/Santa Cruz County (25.6)
13th Team 1 - Briones Valley (27.3)
14th Team 8 - Woodside 1 (29.1)
15th Team 12 - Moon Valley 2 (32.1)
16th Team 7 - Portola Valley 3 (36.0)
 

Horse Management Placing
Four teams had a perfect score of zero penalty points:
Team 1 - Briones Valley
Team 3 - Devil Mountain/In the Irons
Team 4 - Redwood Hills/In The Irons
Team 11 - Moon Valley 1

Team 4, Redwood Hills/In The Irons won the tie breaker to win first place!

Congratulations to everyone on a great competition and a fun day!
 

Quiz Rally Results!

The Region's Quiz Qualifying Rally was held March 14th in San Martin. Thank you to host club Golden Hills -- this was their final year of hosting, with In the Irons and Devil Mountain taking over in 2010. Quiz is always great fun, and this year was no exception!

2009 Quiz Rally Results:

Junior D
1. Pacific Ridge #3 (374.0)
2. Briones Valley/Golden Hills (364.0)
3. Redwood Hills #2 (348.0)

Senior D
1. Canyon Heights (399.0)
2. Pacific Ridge (389.0)
3. Moon Valley (356.0)

Junior C
1. Briones Valley (302.0)

Senior C
1. Pacific Ridge (352.0)
2. Redwood Hills/Crossroads (317.0)

Well done!

Eventing Rally Results!

Congratulations to Crossroads Pony Club on their blue ribbons (and fancy rally saddlepads!!).  Thank you to Nancy Pittman and everyone at Black Oaks Pony Club for organizing and hosting a fantastic Eventing Rally at Twin Rivers Ranch!  Great fun and great weather!  For complete rally results, please click here

And the MidCal Golden Stirrup Award Goes To...

Julia B of Devil Mountain Pony Club, who finished her cross country ride at the Eventing Rally with zero jump penalties after her stirrup leather slipped off the safety bar -- at the second obstacle!  All of that no-stirrup work really paid off!

Well done, Julia!

MidCal has a Winner!

Congratulations to Lauren L, D3 rated members of Woodside Pony Club, on her win at the USPC Annual Meeting's Research Fair.  Lauren's project "Who's Your Daddy?  Equine Genetic Markers in Parentage Analysis" won her the the Blue Ribbon in the 12 and over D Division -- Oral Presentations.  To view Lauren's award-winning project, click here.

MidCal Wins USPC Brookfield Conservation Award

The Middle California Region was chosen to receive the 1st Annual Brookfield Conservation Award for our nomination submitted by Katie Graham and Mary Spangler.  The Brookfield Conservation Award is presented to a Pony Club whose members have helped promote land conservation through their dedication and hard work.  The submitted nomination highlighted the efforts of MidCal members in the stewardship of the Horse Park at Woodside, including the work done to secure the much-needed long-term use permit that was recently granted by San Mateo County.  The Award was presented at the USPC Annual Meeting and was received by Mary Spangler, Katie Graham and Gina Miles.  Thank you all -- WELL DONE!
 

Congratulations to MidCal's U.S. Cavalry Association Award Winners

Congratulation to three of MidCal's finest!  U.S. Cavalry Association Trophies were presented at the USPC Annual Meeting to Middle California members Allegra A of Bay Hills Pony Club, Stephen Steinhoff of Moon Valley Pony Club and Michelle Hanf of Maxfield Equestrian Center.  Since 1989, the US Cavalry Association has sponsored a trophy awarded annually to highest placed individual current Pony Club member in CCI events recognized by the USEF.  Congratulations to each of you on your fine achievment!
 

Calling all Cs!

The Standards of Proficiency have changed for 2009!

The Standards will change, effective January , 2009.  This includes D1 - A (including HB and HA).  PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY.  You can find them on the USPC website on the home page, or by clicking here

The Horse Park at Woodside Granted Long-Term Use Permit!

EXCITING NEWS!
The Horse Park at Woodside has been granted it's long term use permit. San Mateo County Planning Board has granted the Horse Park a Use Permit until December 2017. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters of support, attended the hearing December 10th and spoke on behalf of The Horse Park. It was all impressive, and noted by members of the San Mateo County Board. There were at least 10 USPC members who stood bravely with Gina Miles as she addressed the Planning Commission. Members from Clayton Canyon PC, Bay Hills PC, Portola Valley PC, Pacific Ridge PC, and Briones Valley PC all did their part. We appreciate that they took the time off school to support this important endeavor.  Thank you again for your support, Gayle Strickland, President of the Board The Horse Park at Woodside and Katie Graham, USPC volunteer.
 

Gina Miles Wins Individual Silver in Beijing!

Congratulations to Gina and McKinlaigh on their extraordinary achievement! 

Gina, riding in her first Olympics, brought home the individual silver after completing two perfect jumping rounds, finishing with a score of 56.1. 

Gina is a great supporter of MidCal Pony Club members -- you can often find her at the Horse Park at Woodside teaching a clinic or prepping upper level testing candidates for their next rating.  Part of our success as a region is due to having an amazing resource like Gina so willing to give her time.  When you see her, giver her your congratulations and thank her for working with us!

New MidCal Classified Website!

Margarete Finn of Valley Sierra Pony Club has graciously volunteered to set up and monitor a classifieds website for the region!  Follow this link to view the page and add your sale items:  http://valleysierraponyclub.tripod.com/midcalclassifieds

Thanks Margarete!

Copyright ©2009 Middle California Region of United States Pony Clubs, Inc.