MIDDLE CALIFORNIA REGION
UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS, INC.
Middle California Regional Rally Information
USPC competitive rallies provide an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in an atmosphere of cooperation, fun and teamwork.
A competitive rally allows USPC members to test their skills against others.
In addition, rallies are educational experiences that expose participants to
new ideas and ways of doing things.
Competitive rallies can be unmounted, as in Quiz, where teams of four
members compete in a verbal quiz. Other USPC rallies are mounted, involving
teams of three, four or five riders and, in most disciplines, an unmounted
Horse Manager.
Rallies can be small and informal, such as a rally for D-level members
within a single club, or they can be interclub competitions. Or rallies can
be larger and more formal, such as regional rallies.
Rally teams are usually selected by the DC, often with input from the club
instructor. The criteria for team selection should be explained early in the
year.
In a regional rally, teams of USPC members from a particular area test their skills without outside help, but with the advice and support of judges and officials. Teamwork, cooperation and high standards are stressed and outside assistance is limited to coaching in restricted situations.
Some regions hold rallies for each discipline (i.e. a Dressage rally in
addition to a Eventing rally and a Quiz rally) while others hold one large
rally for several disciplines.
USPC competitive rallies teach members about themselves, about support and reliance on others, about sportsmanship, and about personal growth involved in winning and losing.
Dressage
Dressage is the art of improving your horse, making him more supple in his
movements, a joy to ride and beautiful to watch. He must be a willing
partner with a good mental attitude, willing to learn and wanting to please.
Competitions are held at many levels, beginning with Walk-Trot and Training
Level, and continuing through nine levels to Grand Prix. During
Championships, each rider chooses any two USA Equestrian tests at any level
his horse will best be able to perform. Each team must also present
either three Kurs, or two Kurs and a Pas de Deux. A Kur, or
Musical Freestyle, is an original ride, executed from memory and ridden to
music. Artistic impression and technical merit are judged.
A Pas de Deux is an original ride to music that is designed for two riders
together in the dressage arena. Beginning in 2003, Quadrille will be
added as a new division. Quadrille is a test performed by four riders
who execute mirror image movements in a small arena.
For all dressage tests, riders are awarded scores on each required movement.
Riding scores are added to those for Horse Management for overall placement
of dressage teams.
Eventing
Eventing is the three-phase riding competitions that originated in the
cavalries of Europe. These tests were formalized as competitions for
military personnel in France in 1902.
The horses had to be well trained for ceremonial parades. They also
had to be fit enough to carry dispatches for long distances over any sort of
terrain as quickly as possible, as demonstrated in the cross-country phase.
Stadium jumping competition determined the horses' stamina, resilience and
fitness to continue in service after completion of the previous two phases.
Today, Eventing tests a horse's versatility to a greater degree than any
other equestrian sport. USPC Eventing Rallies are competitions, not lessons.
Riders and mounts must come to the rally capable of competition at the level
entered.
Mounted Games
The USPC Games Program is intended to provide reinforcement of riding skills
taught in USPC in a more relaxed environment than the formal lesson.
As the Games players become more confident, competition becomes a part of
the program and adds a new dimension of incentive and excitement. Perhaps
the most interesting part of Games instruction lies in the fact that riders
seldom realize their riding confidence and skills are improving.
Games are an activity that the newest unrated rider can enjoy, as well as
the more capable Ds and Cs.
Quiz
A Quiz competition is an unmounted team "quiz bowl" that tests the USPC
member's knowledge in several rounds of questions. Some questions are
individual questions and some require the input of the whole team.
Regional competitions are held every year, and from these team members
qualify for Championships. Quiz competitors are placed in different
divisions according to age and rating. This provides the maximum opportunity
for each member to compete on an equal basis.
Some of the areas of knowledge that are tested include horse management,
health, veterinary care, equitation, hunting, trailering, bitting, spectator
sports, rally rules, safety, nutrition, and conformation.
While Regional competitions are open to all members in the Region,
competitors must be ten years of age or older to qualify for the national
Championships.
Polocrosse
Polocrosse is a game related to polo but played with a racquet similar to
that used in Lacrosse. The game was developed in Australia in the late
1930s, where it has been played with great enthusiasm ever since.
Polocrosse has been embraced internationally, and through clinics and
rallies is growing across the U.S.
A natural extension of USPC games, Polocrosse offers riders a chance to
develop strong self confidence in their riding ability, especially riding in
the open, and to improve their hand-eye coordination.
Polocrosse also strengthens the rider's ability to do more than one thing at
a time while riding. Basic Dressage training is important in developing good
Polocrosse horses, as they must have good balance and respond well to the
aids. Horses quickly catch on, and seem to enjoy the game as much as their
riders!
Show Jumping
Show Jumping is an exciting sport which originated in the late 18th century
as a part of foxhunting. Show Jumping competitions take place both in indoor
and outdoor arenas.
Show Jumping utilizes physical skills to negotiate a series of obstacles and
mental skills to plan the proper approaches to allow the horse to jump the
obstacles. Riders must have the ability to ride the course according
to plan and, at the national level, the stamina to ride on consecutive days.
USPC members may learn the principles and techniques of designing, building,
walking, assessing and riding Show Jumping courses.
Tetrathlon
Tetrathlon events include swimming, Show Jumping, running, and shooting.
Each activity is performed at different levels of difficulty based on age.
The Tetrathlon program provides a challenging competition requiring sound,
practical horsemanship and general athletic ability of USPC members.
Its objective is to encourage USPC members to broaden their interest in
riding and the horse, and to become multi-sport athletes.
The development of Tetrathlon within the USPC has been sought by organizers
of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon and U.S. Olympic Committees as a means of
developing multi-talented athletes for international competitions.
They offer guidance and training programs for outstanding athletes who meet
their requirements for skill and endurance.
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