Horse Sports / Pony Club Disciplines in the Northwest

Try something new!  USPC encourages trying the various mounted disciplines sponsored through Pony Club, including polocrosse, dressage, stadium jumping, mounted games, eventing, tetrathlon, and foxhunting.

In the Northwest, you can find pony clubbers engaged in these lesser known sports through various local organizations.  Contact their pony club liaison and join in the fun!

Polocrosse

In 1938, polocrosse developed from a combination of polo, lacrosse and netball.  Sydney horse breeders Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hirst first saw the activity at Britain’s National School of Equitation as a drill designed to make young riders take better charge of their horses.  On their return to Australia, the Hirsts engaged the help of expert polo player, Mr. Alf Pitty, to create the game of polocrosse.   Nearly 60 years later, polocrosse is actively played around the world, guided by the International Polocrosse Council.  Currently, there are nearly 3,700 members registered, playing in nearly 200 clubs world wide. 

Aside from the American Polocrosse Association, polocrosse is actively sponsored here in the Northwest Region by the Washington State Polocrosse Association, with two local clubs - the North Cascade Polocrosse Club (Duvall WA)  and Tahoma Polocrosse Club (Tacoma WA).   If you want to play polocrosse, or have a polocrosse clinic at your club, contact USPC Polocrosse Committee member Rebecca Cooper (253-539-9166 or cooperjwr@comcast.net.)  Ask about the Pony Club Polocrosse Challenge!  For every practice, tournament or polocrosse activity a pony clubber attends in 2008, they will earn a point.  High point winners at the end of the year in 3 divisions will win a new Polocrosse Racket. 

Mounted Games

Mounted Games were first played in India by the British Army soldiers. However, many of their first games were played on camels and mules instead of horses.  The returning military brought back the games to England where they became very popular with The Pony Club members. Prince Philip presented the first trophy cup for mounted games in 1958 to promote the sport among youngsters.  From those beginnings, mounted games gained popularity and spread to the US and other countries.   In 1984, Norman Patrick of Great Britain founded the Mounted Games Association (MGA) to allow riders of all ages to enjoy the sport, and give graduate Pony Clubbers the chance to continue to play and compete with others across the world. 

"The object of the (mounted games) association is to encourage friendship between young people of different nations."  Founder, Norman Patrick

In the Northwest, mounted games has been supported through pony club for the last 30+ years. Currently, it’s gaining strength with strong collaborative support of both USPC and the Mounted Games Across America (MGAA).  In the past decade, several Mounted Games teams have represented the NW Region in Canada, Sacramento at the USPC West Coast Championships, as well as the USPC Festival and the Prince Philip Cup, both held in Lexington, Kentucky. 

For clinics, lessons and more information on Mounted Games, contact MGAA member and local representative Kerri Wilson (360-878-9477).  The following clinicians and coaches are available to help your pony clubbers with mounted games.  Give them a call!

• Ian Smith @ 360-570-0819
• Stacey Binnie @ 360-470-8546  vasmap@yahoo.com
• Kerri Wilson @ 443-465-7323  kwilson9928@yahoo.com

Fox Hunting

The earliest known attempt to hunt a fox with hounds was in Norfolk in 1534, where a farmer used his dogs in an attempt to catch a fox.  Foxhunting has existed in North America since Colonial days and was enjoyed extensively by night hunters, farmers and landed gentry. The earliest record of the importation of hounds to this country was on June 30, 1650, when Robert Brooke arrived in Maryland with his family and hounds. Today, fox hunting is a highly organized sport guided by a strict set of rules and standards established by the Masters of Foxhound Association. 

The Woodbrook Hunt Club in Tacoma, WA, for 96 years has been dedicated to riding to hounds - a pursuit that goes back to well before George Washington hunted his own pack of hounds in colonial Virginia. The sport exists all over the world. This is not an historical theatrical recreation, but a living tradition fill of excitement and avid sportsmanship.  Woodbrook Hunt Club offers a drag hunt only.  Check the list of Woodbrook Hunt Club activities or “fixtures”.  Guests must be invited by a member to Hunt.  Pony Clubs can arrange to visit Woodbrook Hunt Club by contacting the Hunt Club's Pony Club Liaison Linda Hagerman  (253-848-5890 linda_hagerman@hotmail.com)

Tetrathlon

Tetrathlon is the most exciting combination of equestrian and human sports including swimming, running, jumping and shooting.  In the Northwest, unfortunately there are no associations supporting Tetrathlon.  However, local experts in your community with skills in marksmanship, swimming and running can help guide your pony clubbers in these disciplines which can be practiced as a club or individually.  A run around the facility or target shooting an air gun into bales of hay, make a fun diversion from the regular pony club lesson routine!  To get into running shape, read the "Couch to 5K running plan."

For more information on tetrathlon, USPC provides information on the different phases and divisions of the sport as well as a complete Rulebook on how to play and organize Tet activities.