The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) is pleased to announce a new partnership agreement with the Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA).
“Western Dressage is a great fit with Pony Club’s education and activities,” said Erin Woodall, USPC Activities and Events Director. “We see a real opportunity for growth in Western Dressage, and through this partnership with WDAA, we will be better able to promote and grow the sport within Pony Club.”
“I am thrilled about the new partnership between WDAA and Pony Club,” said Cindy Butler, WDAA president “Our missions, visions, and values flow together to encourage better horsemanship through education. Not only do our organizations make declarations of our values, but we also implement programs to make our visions come to life and that benefit horses and riders everywhere. I look forward to exploring more ways WDAA can work with Pony Club in the future.”
The partnership will launch in conjunction with the 2022 USPC Championships, including Championships West taking place July 1–8 at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, Calif., and Championships East to be held July 27–31 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C.
“Pony Club is especially excited to offer the USPC Western Dressage Championships as a WDAA-recognized event for the first time in 2022, and to host open WDAA classes in conjunction with Championships West,” said Woodall.
Pony Club has been incorporating Western disciplines for more than 10 years and offers opportunities to compete and earn certifications in Western riding. Western Dressage was the first Western discipline to be offered at regional rallies and National Championships beginning in 2017, and is increasingly popular with Pony Club members.
About The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. – The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC or Pony Club) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that builds the foundation of teamwork and sportsmanship through riding, mounted sports, care of horses and ponies, while developing and enhancing leadership, confidence, responsibility, and a sense of community in its youth and adult members. USPC is proud to offer instruction and competitive opportunities in 11 competitive disciplines through hundreds of clubs and centers across the United States. USPC’s educational standards continue to be instrumental in curriculum development for schools, universities, equestrian professionals, and organizations across the United States. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including Olympic team members, as well as successful business professionals and leaders in a variety of fields, have roots in Pony Club. For more information, visit www.ponyclub.org.
About the Western Dressage Association of America – The Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) is an educational non-profit 501(c)(3) with a primary focus on education about and the promotion of Western Dressage. The United States Equestrian Federation has recognized WDAA as the sole affiliate representing the discipline of Western Dressage. WDAA’s mission is to build an equine community that combines the western traditions of horse and rider with classical dressage by honoring the horse, valuing the partnership between horse and rider, and celebrating the legacy of the American West.
For more information, visit www.westerndressageassociation.org
Press Contact: Sarah Evers Conrad, communications@ponyclub.org
Pony Club: ponyclub.org | (859) 254-7669
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