USPC Championships West 2010

The End

2010-08-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

USPC Championships West 2010 is now over. Bye Bye folks.

Thanks for reading my blog. Be sure to look at all the photos.

See you next year at Kentucky.

Eventing Awards

2010-08-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

Eventing teams received their awards on Sunday.

There are lot more pictures in the photos page.

Eventing - 2nd Day

2010-08-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

Some teams had their X-Country and others had Show Jumping round. I got to see the Vet box before I had to leave for my best friend's birthday party

Eventing Dressage phase

2010-08-13T21:12:00.000-07:00

Eventings team had their dressage phase today. Dressage tests were being ridden in five different rings. It was very difficult to keep track of.

That is Natasha Jensen on Tango.

Eventing teams move in

2010-08-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

Eventing competitors moved into the Horse Park today.

There was a training session on what to do at the vet box. They also talked about how to cool down the horse.

Bring lots of helpers
Sponge the horse as fast as possible and scrape off the water
Keep the horse moving
Don't be in the vet's way when she is listening to the horse's heartbeat.

CJ

2010-08-11T22:55:00.000-07:00

Cj Kolb is in charge of the Hospitality at the Championships West.

She makes sure all Horse management team, organizers, Judges, and volunteers are fed and hydrated. She always has snacks and cookies and cold drinks available in the hospitality suites. She brings muffins, hard boiled eggs, yogurt and cheese for breakfast, sandwiches, salads and fruits for lunch. There is always ice cold drinks there. She must spend a lot of time at the grocery store.

Awards day

2010-08-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Lots of activity on Tuesday.

The Dressage competitors showed off their Musical Freestyle. The tetrathlon competitors did their shooting phase in Stanford. More games and more show jumping. All of them had their Awards ceremony. Dressage awards were the last one in the row. The competitors were on horse back and did a victory lap (first at a trot and then at a canter , I think the horses were tired.) I have lots of pictures.

Games comeptitors got a Pinata. I don't have photos of that.

Tara Davis rides again

2010-08-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

Even in the middle of all the activity of Champs West there was one competitor that all moms talked about. It was Tara Davis. She is a Dressage competitor from Mid Cal region. Her mom Fiona Davis was walking around the Champs grounds with a news paper that carried an article about Tara. It read "Tara rides again". Here is a link to it in San Mateo Journal.

Tara Davis from Moon Valley Pony Club - Middle California Region

Tara was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago. She has had a treaments since then. She is feeling better now and is able to ride. She did a great job on the Mid Cal team.

I didn't get to talk to her. But I thought you should atleast read the article that was published.

Her mom and dad are very happy she is doing well. She is going to go through with the last part of her treament after the championships. Good luck Tara!

Fiona Davis - Tara's mom

Brian Lee

2010-08-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Brian Lee is a 23 year old Dressage competitor from Inland Empire region. He studies Computer Science in college. He is HA rated member. He took his A rating last week but did not meet standards. He plans on taking it again next year. He save money to come to championships. He is really sweet. I got to trade my Middle California pin with him for his Inland Empire pin.

His hobbies are running cross country, breaking things, and building things.

I got to talk to Brian and his team mates after their rides today.

Mounted Disciplines

2010-08-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

Today, August 9th was the second day of riding for Dressage & Show Jumping. Games started today with a ver fun and colorful parade of the teams. I have some very colorful photos of it here.

The Tetrathlon competitors did their show jumping round today.

Tet competitors also did their running round today (I went on a warmup run with them. So, I didn't get to take any pictures.)

Dressage competitors were treated to Ice cream. But, they ran out of Vanilla before I got there. So, I didn't get any Ice Cream.

Sarah Carmela Ponzini

2010-08-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

Name: Sarah Carmela Ponzini

Favorite foods: I love pasta, vegetables, ice cream, salmon, and polenta

Like or not like about Pony Club: At first I really didn’t like how you had to jump in Pony Club to advance. I was really really afraid to do it. But I ride a wonderful horse, her name is Pure Maple Syrup and she really helped me get over my fear of jumping. Now I love it and want to do it more often.

Looking forward to in the Championships: I am looking forward to meeting new friends

About my horse: Her name is Pure Maple Syrup and she belongs to my good friend Sarah Lochran. Maple is a great friend and horse. She is very patient and cares about the rider she is carrying. She is very smart too and she loves to jump which really makes me feel safe!

Hobbies outside of horses: I like sports, designing wedding dresses, swimming and baking.

Pets: I have 15 land hermit crabs, a german shepard mixed dog I got to name Nala when I was little and a cat named Boo Boo.

Funny story about yourself: When I was about three my neighbor had two chickens named Millie and Lillie and they used to run free in our front yard and I would spend all day chasing them all around the front yard

Erin Woodall

2010-08-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

Erin Woodall is from the Kentucky National Office. She works at the bookstore.

This is Erin's interview.

Creaky Rousten

2010-08-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Creaky is the dressage judge for championships. She is very nice.

This is the interview.

Kirstin Mennella, Kent Mcneil and Heather Rankie - Dressage Horse Mangement Team

2010-08-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

Kirstin Mennella shares a cat with Kent. She likes riding, travel, salsa dancing, and pottery. She loves seeing all the pony clubbers and friends and making new friends. She likes the team work that pony club emphasises. She says it builds strong life skills and that there is a lot of freindly people in pony club.
She spent the last two months in Japan. During that time, she volunteered at a Japaneese Dude ranch. The people on the ranch were not as clean as a pony clubber. "I started cleaning the buckets like a good pony clubber would. Because I was American, they wanted their ranch to seem American, they followed my lead and everyday they cleaned the water buckets. "

Kent Mcneil lives in San Fransisco but is moving to Australia. He is enjoying the weather at Woodside. He plays Polo and Rugby, makes pottery, cooks, and gardens. Kent has a cat named Kunoichi which is Japanese for " female ninja". Once in japan he went to see fire works on the beach with some friends he made. The went into the ocean and got their clothes. He went to his friends house and they insisted that he take a shower and wear their clothes. Kent ended up spending the rest of the week in Japanese pajamas.

Heather Rankie has dog named Lily. She is part of the Horse management team for Dressage. She loves to travel. She also likes knitting and cooking. She likes to meet new people. She was a PonyClubber when she was younger.

Wendy Abbott

2010-08-07T22:30:00.000-07:00

Wendy Abbott lives in Montara and is in Moon Valley Pony Club. She has a yellow Labrador named Maizey who is 9 years old. Wendy has been riding for 3-4 years. She is enjoying volunteering, greeting people, and watching ponies school in X-country. She thinks Pony Club is the best and that it gives the opportunity not just to ride but to learn about safety and dismount to. Wendy says " I'm very forget full. I can remember stories of when I was 9 but if you asked me what I had for dinner last night I couldn't tell you.

Elise True

2010-08-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

Elise true is the stable manager for 2 teams. She lives in Oakland and is in Briones Valley Pony Club. She has 1 dog. Elise doesnt have her own horse and she competes in Eventing. She likes to hang out with her friends and go to the beach. She likes that in Pony Club there is always oppurtunity and that it's very structured and how everyone is held to the same rules

Move In day

2010-08-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

Cathy Stack , Carol Anderson and Elise True

Today is the official move in day for the mounted disciplines (like Dressage, Games, Show Jumping, and Tet). Dressage and Show Jumping had nice nuetral zones set up.

There was a canopy set up near the entrance to direct all the trailers that were coming in. I was helping out there with Wendy Abbott.

The Quiz competions are still going on. They will be dome tomorrow and have their awards ceremony. I met two girls from Oregon region Megan and Rebbeca that I met in the annual meeting at Houston,TX. Megan also came to take th HA rating hosted by MidCal. It is a lot of fun to see folks from other regions and also see them again in the same year.

Megan and Rebecca at USPC 2010 Annual meeting Houston,TX

Beth Young

2010-08-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

Beth Young is in the Eastern Pennsylvania Region but she was in Santa Cruz county. She is the Chief HM Judge and a life time member of Pony Club. She has 2 horses named Che' and Serena, a border collie and hond mix named Angeline, and a cat named Bonnie. Her hobbies are gardening, making hay, scuba diving, reading, and voluntering at a theraputic riding center. Beth likes Pony Club because its so much fun getting to meet people from all over the place. She is proud of the way Pony Clubbers take care of their horses. "Even though Eventing is my favorite sport, now that I have been involved with all of them they are all my favorites." Beth says. A funny story about her is Once when she was in college some friends of hers tricked her into river rafting down the Colorado River. She went camping with them and they hid her car and said "You're coming with us." So they went rafting and their raft flipped over. She broke her hand had to fly in a small plane to the nearest hospital.

Judy Kosanovich

2010-08-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Judy is from the Southwest Region. She had a son in Moon valley Pony Club.
Her hobbies are to ride, eat lunch with her friends, and make jewelry. In fact, she made these little pony club earrings herself.

She has a Labrador named Boca Negra which means black mouth in Spanish. They named Boca that because she has a black tongue. Judy also has a horse named Fozzy.
She likes Pony club because it teaches young people how to cooperate with each other and think and be kind to animals.

Mackenzie Cameron

2010-08-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

Mackenzie Cameron is from Santa Cruz Pony Club. She is a HA traditional B. She is 20 years old. Mackenzie's pets are 4 horses, 4 dogs, 3 cats, 1 bunny, and lots of chickens. Her hobbies are School, soccer, reading, listening to music, coking, and riding of course.
A funny story about her is when she was 7 she went to India with her family. She was at a tiger preserve and she fell asleep while riding on the back of an elephant.
"I like that Pony Club emphasises learin how to care for the horses, not just how to ride them. I like meeting all the people in riding world."

Deb Reuter

2010-08-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

Deb Reuter is the Quiz Organizer from the Pacific Ridge Pony Club. She has one horse and 3 Welsh Corgies. " They are very cute." she says. Deb likes Eventing. She has been to Quiz 4-5 times. She sews for a hobbie.

Nancy Mac Isaac

2010-08-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

Quiz Queen?

Nancy Mac Isaac is from the Southwest Region and lives in New Mexico. She is the Chief HM Judge, Chair person of the Quiz Committee, and the TD for Quiz at the East, Midwest and West Championships. She has a daughter that is a graduate HA. Nancy has an Aquatic frog named Fergus. She is special because she keeps coming back to Pony Club. Her hobbies are golf, sewing, and reading. A funny story is when Nancy was at Championships East and she got a frantic phone call from the judges saying they could not start because someone had eaten a tootsie roll from the candy jump.

Getting set up!

2010-08-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

The first people have arrived in Woodside. They are getting the stalls set up and their horses moved in. Lots of people are walking their horses and getting them used to the place.

Different people are coming in from different places like San Diego, California and Beaverton, Oregon.

Organizers

2010-08-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

Since it is so close to Champs, here are some pictures of the organizers so you know what they look like.

Natalie Dukes

2010-08-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

Name: Natalie Dukes

Favorite foods: Mashed potatoes and Creme Brulee.

Like/Dislike about Pony club: I love the fact that horse management and riding exist
simultaneously in pony club. There are so many people that think
riding is everything, and I'm glad pony club discourages that way of
thought. However, I dislike the little unnecessary rules and how some
rules keep changing back and forth.

Looking forward to at Championships: I am so excited for champs! This will be my first
time riding at champs, and second time in quiz. I am looking forward
to bonding with my new horse even more through Champs, and learning a
lot during quiz!

About my horse: My horse Carmina is a Swiss Warmblood/QH cross. She has such a
unique personality and most of all loves cross country. I took her to
a rating two days after I bought her, and decided not to use her for
cross country because I'd never ridden outside on her. She got so mad
when I took another horse! But when we finally did cross country
together it was the most fun I'd ever had!

Hobbies: I really don't have much of a life outside of horses. However
I love to write, and have almost finished my first novel(It'll be
about 300 pages). Also I enjoy memorizing pi and making balloon animals.

Pets: None currently besides Carmina. I've never had a normal pet,
just horses and a rabbit.

Funny story: When I was 8, I fell off during the jumping round of a horse
show. The medic came over because my glasses had smashed into my eye.
I found out it was the doctor that delivered me! My mom blames her for
putting the "horse curse" on me.

Tayler Maye Ravenscroft

2010-08-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

Name: Tayler Maye Ravenscroft

Favorite foods: What are your favorite foods? Pork Dumplings at the Chinese restaurant

Like/ not like about Pony club: What do you like or not like about Pony Club? Don't like the politics, LIKE the opportunities

Looking forward to in Championships: Having fun in Quiz rally and watching my friends

About my horse: Tell me something about your horse. Ace is a bay QH gelding and I would trust him to jump me off a cliff.

Hobbies out of horses: What? There is a world outside of horses?? :) (really, I love to read)

Pets: Do you have pets? yes, 2 dogs....a Doxie named Lilo and a tiny Poodle that my Mom calls FOO

Funny story: Tell me a funny story about yourself. Onetime we were at a driving show and my Mom let me drive the golf cart. I mistook the gas for the brake and drove us into a ditch that we managed to JUMP! It was a riot!

Maya Mathur

2010-08-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Name: Maya Mathur

Favorite foods: Japanese udon soup, plain yogurt, applesauce, vegetable things, certain cookies

Looking forward to in Championships: For one thing, it will be my first mounted rally as a non-SM. Whoa...

About my horse: My horse, Zero Gravity, is a wonderful 14 y/o Hanoverian gelding and ex-show hunter. I do clicker training with him; he now plays "fetch" better than my dog. When he's not doing dressage, he enjoys herding cows on the trail, being ridden without a bridle, and using his hooves to splash in/break water troughs.

Hobbies: Making Halloween props and costumes, hiking around, jumping over things on foot, attempting to bake

Pets: Yep -- two African Grey parrots, two dogs, a snake, and three chickens.

Funny story: Once, at the beginning of an airplane flight, an attendant offered me water, holding up a large plastic jug to demonstrate. Instead of being normal and waiting for him to pour some into a cup, I for some reason accepted the jug. After some reflection on the incident, I of course realized my antisocial behavior. Unable to bury the enormous bottle of water in the seat back pocket, I then spent the rest of the flight with all the nearby people trying not to stare at the monstrosity rolling around on the floor in front of my feet.

Victoria Garvin

2010-08-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

I am Victoria Garvin.

My favorite foods are watermelon, spaghetti, hot tea and scones.

I like how Pony Club incorporates everything about horses, is inclusive of everyone, and has these fabulous Championships right in Woodside. Ratings give me something to accomplish. I particularly like that I have grown up with Gracie through Pony Club.

I am competing at Championships in both Quiz and Games. I'm most excited about Games.... riding Gracie, playing crazy games, and being on an amazing team. There is not a single thing that I do not like about Games.

My Games horse, Gracie, is my best friend ever. We've spent close to five years just "growing up" together. She is a wild mustang who was adopted off the open range at age two. I began to ride her when she was age 3, and I was age 8. I have many wild tales about my adventures with Gracie before we joined Pony Club. The scariest occurred when I was lounging her in a field, and she broke loose, weaving her way at a crazy gallop through four lanes of honking traffic, passing one car after another, with her lounge line flowing behind her! Hopelessly trying to catch up with her by foot, a policeman picked me up and we finally caught up with my wild child. This gives you a little taste of my unique life with Gracie. It is a miracle that the two of us survived each other! A year later, I started in Pony Club when Gracie had just turned 5, and I was only 10. At first, she could not make it through a 60 minute lesson without bucking; Since then, Gracie has taken me through my C1 and has become a Games SUPER-STAR. I love Gracie so much that at age 11, I adopted my very own mustang gelding, and started the whole training process over again; I hope to bring him to Pony Club in about a year. So, you can see... I am devoted to MUSTANGS. Come watch Gracie at Games Championships. She is the 4th horse on the Pirana team, and that gal can run like the wind!!!!!!

My other hobby pales in comparison, but it is still pretty special. I like to foster wild kittens. (They remind me of miniature mustangs, with smaller poops and less expensive appetites!) My dog and I have taken in about 17 homeless kittens over the past 4 years. So far, everyone has been able to find a good home after we get them used to people and dogs.

You asked me for a funny story about myself. Refer back to the story above about the policeman and I chasing Gracie through traffic. (Funny in RETROSPECT, but pretty horrifying at the time!)

Rachel Eleanor Collier

2010-08-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Name: Rachel Eleanor Collier

Favorite foods: Fettucini Alfredo and brownies
Like about Pony club: I like pony club because it doesn't just teach you how to ride it teaches you about horse management too.
Looking forward to in Championships: I'm looking forwards to going to San Francisco and being on a scratch team
About my horse: My horse purposely gets his leg stuck around the lead rope so he can get more attention drawn to himself
Hobbies: None
Pets: I have one fish, one snake, one cat, three goats,and a horse of course

Elizabeth Shannon Collier

2010-08-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Name: Elizabeth Shannon Collier
Favorite foods: My favorite foods are Cesar salad and macaroni and cheese
Like/not like about Pony Club: I like how Pony Club encourages us to move forward and make progress. I don't like some of the rules and decisions made
Looking forward to at Championships: I am looking forward to meeting new people-I'm on a scratch team
About my horse: Whenever Diva gets her face wet she sticks out her tongue
Hobbies: I like making bracelets and swimming
Pets: Yes, I have a hamster, two fish, one cat and three goats
Funny story: I was riding a green horse and decided to do a scissor kick. After I was turned around she started trotting around and bucking. Everyone was laughing so hard becuse I couldn't figure out how to get off of her! Eventually I slid off the side. The next time I had sombody hold her.

Brianna Mchorse

2010-08-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Name: Brianna McHorse (yes, really, I didn't make it up!)
Favorite foods: Sushi, blueberries, and hazelnut cake from Sweet Life
Like about Pony Club: I get to spend time with people my age who love horses. I also really like the ratings progression because I enjoy having goals to work towards.
Looking forward to at Championships: Meeting people from other clubs and regions and having a blast with my Quiz team.
About my horse: McKinna is a QH/Arab mare who we got at the Woodburn Auction several years ago for $225. We've done everything from team penning and gaming to eventing and she's up for anything, but cross country is her favorite. She is always fun to ride or be with - I just wish she was a little easier to keep clean sometimes!

Hobbies outside of horses: College and horses take up most of my time. Outside those, I love to read and write.
Pets: I have a cat named Rascal and a dog named Kuma, which means 'Bear' in Japanese.
Funny story: I have always read a lot, so when I was a kid I would sometimes use words that I knew the definition of from reading but had never heard pronounced. As a result, sometimes I came up with some interesting pronunciations! My parents enjoy making fun of me for this and I still catch myself sometimes wanting to pronounce "gauge" the way it looks instead of the way it sounds.

Sneak peak on the banner

2010-07-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

Championships start on Friday! It's hard to believe that it's so close.
Since my mom is in charge of decorating the banner you get a sneak peak. (I don't think it's very exciting though!)

Whiskey

2010-07-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

Whiskey is a sweet little pony who lives at the barn that I ride in ( Tassajara Equestrian Center). He used to be in Sierra Pacific so people there might know him. He has skin cancer and has had a lot of Chemo Therapy. They are going to put him down on Monday because of the cancer. He was so confused he couldn't even figure out where his leg were. Whiskey had been to many pony club championships and some events. He could teach riders how to do ground poles and take others over 3 feet fences. Everyone is going to miss him. He is my most favorite pony.

Rebekah Polacek

2010-07-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

Name: Rebekah Polacek

Favorite foods: I love Mexican food (when it's not spicy...I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy foods)

Like about pony club: I love the logical progression of skills, the rallies, the incredible instruction, the camaraderie, and the really unique horse management aspects of Pony Club

Looking forward to in Championships: I am looking forward to watching all of the cute Games ponies :) and also having fun with my teammates

About your horse: My horse will eat anything...you doubt this? It's true- the only thing he's ever refused was the Pacific Cooler flavor of CapriSun, and I've had him for five years now!

Hobbies: Outside of horses I like to stay active. I run hurdles in track and am starting to do XC running too- yes I know, both very similar to eventing on horseback (minus the horse)

Pets: I have three horses (Barlow, Buzz, and Monet), as well as two cats (Bella & Ella), and one dog (Phoebe)

Funny Story: My club has this tradition now of bringing skittles to every rally...and has the ultimate skittle war with them! So funny, the first time it happened was on a really hot day at a SJ rally and we all had skittles down our shirts that partly melted! Luckily the rally polo that year was black...I had so much fun though, it's a great memory :)

Olivia Chandler

2010-07-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Olivia Chandler is a quiz competitor from Oregon who wants to have fun in Champs.

Name: Olivia Chandler

Favorite Foods: I like to eat lots of different types of foods! I love brownies though!!
Like about Pony Club: I like horses and meeting new people, and I don’t like some of the rules.

Looking forward to at the Championships: I am looking forward to meet new people and have fun in California, just not the drive down.
About my horse: My horse is 7 years old and is 17 hands high. He has gone Prelim at 2 USEA events and got 2nd and 1st.

Hobbies: I like to hang out with friends, play basketball, and I like track! I do lots of pole vaulting for track.

Pets: Yes, I have 3 horses, 4 dogs, 1 cat, and 1 guinea pig.

Funny Story: One day I had a basketball game. When we were playing, I was dribbling down the court and was ahead of all the other people! I thought that I was for sure going to make a basket! When I was running, my shoelace came untied and I stepped on it with my other foot. I tripped and fell in front of everybody! I was really embarrassed, but now I look back and laugh!

Katelyn Nienaber

2010-07-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

Name: Katelyn Nienaber

Favorite food: Seafood, Dijorno's pizza, and anything with chocolate. Also strawberries.

Like about Pony club: I like pony club because it improves me as a horseperson in more respects than just riding, but sometimes the rigid rules can rub me the wrong way.

Looking forward to in Championships: Winning! Ha ha, and seeing what some of the other clubs and members are like.

About my horse: Zeus is a seven-year-old warmblood that we bought when he was five and I was thirteen. He's a bit moody and stubborn, but he's got lots of personality and he's really fun to ride and work with.

Hobbies: I like doing art, especially watercolor, and lots of crafty things like sewing and beadwork. I also like to watch the crime series Bones, and sleeping is one of my favorite pastimes.

Pets: A dog, Jeap, and a cat, Oreo. My dad found Oreo clinging to the top of someone's convertible, speeding down the highway at four in the morning! Jeap is a seeing eye flunkie that we got from my grandmom in Kentucky. We also have an ex-racehorse named Devon that my dad bought at Keeneland. He lost every race he ran in!

Funny story: Hmm...well, I remember the first time I cursed. I was at a friend's house, I was six I think, and it was an accident. I remember I was in perpetual fear for about a week afterward; I was terrified that she would tell her dad what I'd said, and that he would tell my parents...every time the phone rang my heart would just start pounding. After a while I figured out it wasn't going to happen, and now I laugh at what a big deal I turned it into.

Elena Daniel

2010-07-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

My name is Elena Daniel

My favorite food is pasta

I think Pony Club is a great place to be with your friends and learn alot

At championships I want to do my best and have a good experience

My horse is a total champion

I play basketball

I have a dog named Capser, a horse named Jet, and a chicken named Steve

One Christmas 9 years ago i was 5 years old. My mom got me this playdough goo as a present. I ended up getting it all in my hair and instead of washing it out I ran in the other room and cut it out. My hair was totally choppy and a big mess. I walked out and tried to act like eveything was normal but my mom noticed immediatley!She just laughed, I was thankful it was Christmas!

Gretchen Koenen

2010-07-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Gretchen is also from my club. She is very nice and anything but shy.

Name: Gretchen Koenen

Favorite Foods: My favorite foods would have to be pizza and ice cream of course!

Like about Pony Club: I love the organization called pony club because of the friends you meet and the responsibility that it teaches you.

Looking forward to in Championships: I am looking forward to having a ton of fun and see some of my friends that I don't get to see very often!

About my horse:I have two horses, Happy was my first pony who taught me everything I know and continues to keep a smile on my face. I lease a horse named Roxy who has taught me the "ropes" of three day eventing. Last month we took home 10th place at the event at Rebecca Farms competing Training level!

Hobbies: I love shopping and since I am a very outgoing person, I love hanging out with my friends outside of the horse world.

Pets: Yes, I have my horses and my cat Tabitha.

Funny story: A funny story about myself would have to be, well there are too many to name!

Kenzie Amack

2010-07-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

Kenzie is from my club - Bay Hills. She is a total superstar. For the eventing rally, she rode both her horses, Robin in Prelim and Lol in Training. She was tied in first place in Prelim. This week she got her C3 Dressage and B traditional rating. She is always giving her horse to anyone who needs in Pony club.
Best of all, I love the chickens in her house.

Name: Kenzie Amack

Favorite foods: Ceaser salad and ice cream

Like about Pony Club: how it allows kids of all age groups get together and have fun with horses

Not like about Pony club: how stressful it can be at times(ex: national ratings)

Looking forward to at the championships: I'm looking forward to competing, having fun with my teammates and meeting new people

About Lol: My horse Lol has an interesting personality. She takes her job seriously and is a blast to ride. She also loves to eat dirt and watermelon rinds.

Hobbies: Some hobbies outside of horses include running x-country, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Pets: I have a lot of pets. We own 4 dogs, 10 chickens, 4 horses, and 2 cats.

Funny Story: A funny story about me is when I was about ten I was running late to ride my horse. So I shoved on my paddock boots without checking to make sure there was nothing inside. At that time they were pretty big on me, so I didn't feel that there was something near the toe of one of my boots until I was halfway done with my ride. Being naive I decided to ignore it and assumed it was my oversized sock. Half an hour later when I went to take off my boots I looked inside. There at the toe of one of them sat a little mouse who was surprisingly still alive. We let him go out into the field far away from my house. I've never forgotten to check my boots since.

Ellie Chandler

2010-07-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

Name: Ellie Chandler

Favorite Foods: Pho (A Vietnamese soup) and Avocados

Like about PonyClub: I love that in Pony Club you can be with your friends and all hang out together while learning new things about what you love. Though I don’t really like the fact that my regular trainer taught me certain things that aren’t the “Pony Club Way”.

Looking forward to at the championships: I’m really looking forward to meeting new friends from different regions and trading pins. I’m also excited to try my best at what I know and studied.

About my horse: My horse is really cocky and tends to be a brat but he is still perfect for me

Hobbies: Outside of horses I love to play basketball and run track

Pets: Yes, I have 3 horses, 4 dogs, 1 cat, and 1 guinea pig

Funny Story: My funny story is from when I was at a local dressage show and I walked into the arena feeling confident. I started my test and realized… my pony would NOT trot. I was kicking him as hard as I could and I look really silly. There were 3 people in my division and 2 were trainers. In my first test I got 3rd. Then for my second test my trainer gave me a dressage whip and spurs and I beat the 2 ladies I was competing against and got first. I was pretty proud.

Hannah Bailey

2010-07-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

Name: Hannah Bailey

Favorite foods: Steak.
Like about Pony Club: I like the rallies best.

Looking forward to in the Championships: I am looking forward to working with my team.

About Rocky: Rocky is my friend and teammates's horse who is letting me use him for Champs because my pony is lame.

Hobbies: I like baking and art.

Pets: I have one guinea pig (Panda), two cats (Moonlight and Hermes) and one pony (Popcorn).

Funny story: Whenever my pony Popcorn gets chiropracted, when the chiropractor is done, Popcorn lets out a really big sigh.

Ella Jensen

2010-07-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

Name: Ella Jensen [11 year old D-3 Pony Clubber]

Favorite foods: I like many foods, my favorite fruit is an avocado or blackberries. I also enjoy Chinese food, and Italian food.

Like about Pony Club: In Pony Club I think it’s really fun having many friends who also love riding. Rallies are also a great time. It’s also really fun being horse manager, and helping with all the horses and all of my teammates.

Looking forward to in the Championships: I think that being part of a team will be great. And watching the people on there horses will be a very good learning experience and also very fun.

About Oslo: “Oslo” is my 10 year old Welsh gelding. He is such a pony: he LOVES to eat grass, and really anything else he sees. We have been jumping ever since I got him: he is good in the 2’6” range. For about a year and a half we have been doing dressage: We do training level and first level. I started Pony club just a couple months after I started dressage. Now we do rallies, hunter-jumper shows, and dressage shows together.

Hobbies: I am at the barn almost every day, so I don’t do many other after school activities. Sometimes in the winter or in the summer, I do a play which can be really fun. In sixth grade I was on my school’s volleyball team. In school, I really like to write.

Pets: Yes! Besides my horse I have two spirited dogs named “Charlie” and “Macduff” who I really love.

Funny Story: This most likely will not seem very funny, but I’m going to tell you anyways: At a pretty recent horse show, I had some trouble with my dressage test. I got a little confused with where I was going and I messed up a little at the walk. I was ready to hear the bell ring to excuse me from the test and walk out of the ring, but before I did anything I waited for the bell, which was a good thing because the judge never rang it and I just went on with my test and did very well!

Sarah Loughran

2010-07-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Name: Sarah Loughran

Favorite foods: BBQ

Like about Pony Club: I love how it promotes responsibility, self sufficiency and as corny as it sounds, I've made a good group of friends thanks to this organization.

Don't like about Ponyclub: I hate the bureaucracy, I'm sorry, but some of the stuff I've had to go through at the national level with ratings, competitions and other things, I wouldn't wish upon my enemy.

Looking forward to in the Championships: I'm looking forward to having the homefield advantage. This will be my third championships, and it's the first time it will be on my "turf"

About my horse: She is the most resilient, patient animal you will ever meet. Trust me, she's been putting up with me for 11 years and hasn't run away yet.

Hobbies: Art, I love painting, sketching, photography, even writing. I can get lost in my sketchbook for hours on end.
Pets: Yup! Dog and a cat

Funny story: This year, my roommate and I got in the habit of going on walks around our university's campus late at night. We were constantly determined to create as many horror story scenarios as possible, until we saw this dark creepy shape, that then made a sound. We both nearly jumped out of our skin. Then we realized it was one of the ducks from the pond, that was literally 50 feet away from us. From that point on, one of us would just have to quack and we would fall into uncontrollable laughter.
Man, I'm going to miss college.

Ashley Alexander

2010-07-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

My name is Ashley Alexander.

My favorite food is BBQ ribs.

I like the fact that Pony Club teaches you more than just how to ride a horse, but also how to properly care for them, learn good sportsmanship, and strong character.

I am definitely looking forward to the whole experience of championships, but mostly having a successful first “major” competition.

My horse is a 14h pony. She is making big steps in her dressage, but she also enjoys doing 3ft stadium courses with the big guys.

When I’m not riding (and unusual occurrence) I enjoy playing the piano, hanging out with friends and family, and keeping up with my busy schedule.

I do have other pets besides my horses. I have two dogs, one is a black lab and the other is a little mixture of everything. We also have a lizard which belongs to my brother.

A funny story of me....hmmm…..One day we were warming up for a jumping round over a cross rail. As my little mare came cantering around the corner she spooked a little and scooted forward. I was riding in a saddle with no knee rolls that day and my quarter pony has a pretty low neck. I felt myself slowly slide forward as we continued to ride towards the fence. By the time we got there I was sitting just in front of my poor pony’s withers. Unfazed but slightly confused she did take the little fence with my heels wrapped tightly around her neck. My friends and I could not stop laughing for a long time; I looked so funny jumping on the neck of my horse.

Natasha Jenson

2010-07-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Natasha is from my PonyClub. She is really sweet and very quiet. She helped pull my pony's mane before the Dressage rally.

My name is Natasha Jensen
My favorite foods are Italian and Japanese.
One of my favorite things about pony club is how the kids learn how to be independent and manage their time. I'm looking forward to getting to know people from other pony clubs and of course to compete.
My horse, Tango is 22 years old but he doesn't know it. Especially when he is running cross country.
Outside of riding, I do photography and I love spending time with my friends.
I have two tortie cats, Mimi and Delilah, and a thoroughbred, Bentley.

Sierra Valencia

2010-07-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

Hello,
My name is Sierra Valencia, and I am a member of the Redwoods Pony club. Some of my Favorite foods are Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and American. What I like about pony club are the friends I have made and share interested of learning about taking care of my pony who name is Sandman. I'm looking forward towards the Championships because of the amazing riders I will met and it will be my first Championships that my pony Sandman and I will attend. My pony Sandman is my best friend. He is 14.2 hands, Morgan and Palomino in color. He talks when he sees you and gives you his best. I have ridden 25 miles in Endurance and finished. Sandman has done all the Disciplines but are favorite is Cross country and riding in the open at my trainer property Nathalie Guion. My outside hobbies are running,movies,listening to music, reading and concerts with my favorite musical artists. I have two dogs,one Bearded Dragon and a cat. When I was going to school on my birthday it was raining and I was wearing my new jeans I jumped onto the sidewalk and slipped in front of all the students on the wet grass and my mother started laughing and so did I. So, embarrassing !.

Getting ready for games - PVPC Painting Party

2010-07-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here's how PVPC gets ready for champs - with a games equipment painting party of course!

1st pic in the foreground is Maxy Phillips painting her fav color, PURPLE on one of the wooden stands for the 'P O N Y C L U B' game. These wooden stands were lovingly made for us by George Allen, fiance of our own A-rated PVPC member, Fiona Graham. They are getting married this Sat, 31 July, and yet he still found time to help out - thank you George!

2nd pic shows Claire Kendall and Sammy Philips adding some red and blue color to equipment. And yes, plenty of paint made it's way onto the girls too :)

Aliina Keers

2010-07-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

This is Aliina Keers from Carbon River Pony Club in the Northwest Region. She is an HB, taking her C3 rating August 1st through 3rd. "It's a lot to pack in right before I head to Championships--I have one day between my rating and departure for California which happens to be my birthday! I'll be turning 22, making me "really old" as some of the younger members in my club like to say. :)" Aliina says.

My name is Aliina Keers
I really like my grandma's macaroni and cheese. She makes it with large macaroni and adds a splash of milk with the cheese to make it extra creamy on the inside and browns the top crust so that it's crispy and delicious.
The best part about Pony Club is the horse management. For the last few years, I've been working at rallies on the HM staff in the Northwest and Oregon regions and really enjoying it. I actually had to turn down my first Chief position for a D rally because I'll be at Championships!
Hanging out with my teammates! I was really excited to learn who my catch team was--they're all people I've met before at various PC functions and I feel like it's going to be a blast in our tackroom. One girl is in my club currently, another used to be, I've catch-rode with our stable manager a few years ago, and I've loaned out my horse to our other rider for a foxhunt last winter. It's cool that I have already formed connections with everyone on my team and will be able to compete together.
Lily is my 11 year old Thoroughbred. She's bossy and more manly than the two geldings that she usually lives with. While she can be cranky enough leave permanent bitemark (battle scar) on my arm, she actually likes her face held and her ears gently pulled. She can cuddle like that for hours, but shhhhhh! If she knew I'd spoiled her fearsome reputation, she'd probably be upset. ;)
I'm actually really geeky. I don't have time for other sports between horseback riding and college, but I like reading, writing, and sewing costumes. I usually make several costumes a year and showcase them at conventions.
Besides Lily, I have another horse named Chester. He's pretty spunky for his twenties and has taken care of a lot of my friends on their first foxhunts. I also share a cat with my sister. His name is Beowulf and he has a catch-and-release method with the field mice.
My first day of college at the University of Washington, I arrived in my first class which was Finnish language. I didn't speak a word of it and the professor decided to just immerse us immediately into it by not speaking English for the first half. Us students learned how to say basic greetings and introduce ourselves by pointing and mimicking what the professor said. It seemed to be going very well, until the teacher switched to English, sat us all down, and asked us to explain why we had decided to take *Danish.* I was really embarrassed and found out that Finnish and Danish classes had switched rooms with each other the day before!

Heather Ercolano

2010-07-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Name: Heather Ercolano

Favorite foods: Pizza

Like about Pony Club: I love that it teaches kids such a strong sense of responsibility and commitment.

Looking forward to in the Championships:

This will be my 5th championships and I'm looking forward to it being so close to home.

About Big Ben:

I ride a belgian draft and his name is Big Ben. But this champs I'm a stable manager so he won't be there :-(

Hobbies:

Any kind of water activity and hanging with friends.

Pets: 2 horses, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 1 hamster.

Funny Story:

Hmmmm, can't really think of a funny story. I just like to think I'm funny in general haha

Emily Ose

2010-07-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Name: Emily Ose

Favorite foods: I love Chinese food and also enchiladas.

Like/not like about Pony Club: I love the sportsmanship and horse management parts of pc, but I don't like how rating obsessed people are. Some C1's can ride as well as a C3, they just don't have the horse, and I think that position should be respected.

Looking forward to in the Championships: I look forward to competing against the entire western region. When I played soccer we had this cheer, "Don't mess, don't mess, don't mess with the best cause the best don't mess, don't fool, don't fool, don't fool with the cool because the cool don't fool, from the east to the west, red rockets are the best." I feel that motto applies in this situation (okay, maybe not the red rockets part, try Sierra Pacific Region in there.) I think the competition is an important factor in the motivation of many riders and pony club allows that competitive streak without losing focus of the goals of pony club as it relates to horse management.

About your horse: He is actually my mom's horse. She bought him at four years old, helping a friend look for a horse. We did all the work ourselves, he has had about three months of professional training in the 7 years we have had him.

Hobbies outside of horses: Ponies :D Between riding my four horses and working at a welsh pony breeders' in Galt, I don't get to have hobbies.

Pets: Yes, we have two cats and two dogs.

Funny story: Hm...a funny story. Each month since I was four years old, we have taken the horses out for a few days and go camping. Each time it varies where we go, places to include Napa (Skyline Park), Stone Cellar, and Jackson Meadows. When I was four years old, I rode a paint named Apache that belonged to my aunt, Sue. I was riding along the trail, turned around on Apache, when we passed a large rock along the trail. Apache didn't like the rock and decided to cut across under a low tree. He bushed me. I had no idea it was going to happen either, because I was too busy talking to my aunt who was riding behind me.

Emma Bowers

2010-07-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Emma Bowers.

Some of my favorite foods are pasta, salad, tri-tip, pizza, and pineapple.

I like pony club because I think it is a fun way to do activities with your horse and your riding friends.

When I go to championships I look forward to seeing other pony clubbers that are there because they are also interested in the activity.

My horse Oskar is 21 years old and very intelligent. He is an appaloosa thoroughbred and is one of the most kind and gentle geldings out there. He is well known throughout our club because he has been passed down from different riders. He’s a legend in the Santa Rosa Valley.

Other hobbies that I have outside of horses would be volunteering at a pet store where I help care for little puppies and kittens. Also I love to ski or snowboard during the winter with my school.

I have 29 pets in total. This includes horses, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, a lizard, and a fish.

When I look back at last years West Coast Championships for quiz I got only 3 hours of sleep before it started. The day before the competition I went to Forks, Washington because I was one of the girls obsessed with the Twilight series. I wanted to see what the actual town looked like. On our way back my mother took a wrong turn and we got lost. We got into our hotel room at 3:30a.m. When I had to get up to get ready for quiz, I was exhausted. In the end, my team and I took first place in the Jr. D division.

Demi De Boer

2010-07-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

Name: Demi De Boer
Favorite Foods: Hawaiian Pizza
Like about Pony Club: I love going to rally, meeting new people and making new friends
Looking forward to in the Championships: definitely the jumping and being in California
About My Horse: My horse looks like she couldn't jump a thing but she is the most athletic horse I have ever owned

Hobbies: I like to run track, Drawl, and hang out with my friends or my bot friend
Pets: Yes, we have for dogs a little parrot, four goats, a cow, and of course horses
Funny Story: Recently i went on a trail ride on a very green young horse and being clueless he decided to take a detour which involved going under a very low tree that was obvious i could not fit under as he started picking up speed to race under this tree in his mind hopefully loosing me i prepared my self to take the blow as i tensed up the tree ended up being very dead and backfiring on him we just started dragging this tree freeking him out he tried to take off by that time I was on my feet trying to keep him from running back to the trailer It was a very good plan that failed very bad on his part. good thing is no one got hurt, and now we can have a laugh about it.

Sarah Lawrence

2010-07-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Name: Sarah Lawrence C1

Favorite Foods: Bagels with strawberry

Like about Pony Club: The riders

Looking forward to in the Championships: Meeting new kids and riding

About My Horse: She doesn't like me to hose down her body but likes her face washed and to drink form the hose

Hobbies: I like to teach dogs tricks

Pets: Yes-two dogs,three cats,eight horses

Brianna Miana

2010-07-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

Name: Brianna Miana, or Brie. I'm a show jumping competitor competing in Horse 1. I'm from the Camino Real Region and am a C-1.

Favorite Foods: Frozen Yogurt and coffee!

Like about Pony Club: I like scratch teams the most. It gives me the opportunity to meet other people and there's always someone new!

Don't like about Pony Club: I don't like all of the little nit-picky rules. For example, I think it's rather pointless that we wear our medical cards. I know why we wear it for cross country, but why 24/7? Personally I find them annoying and uncomfortable and just one more thing for me to forget at inspections!

Looking forward to in the Championships: I'm looking forward to the experience. Period. It's going to be great to be competing against people from all over the west coast, not just my county or region. I'm looking forward to learning new things and to meeting new friends!

About Marcus: My horse's name is Marcus Aurelius, Marcus for short. He's a 13 year old 17'2" hd. Dutch Warmblood gelding and absolutely LOVES to jump. He's quite the character: although he's so big (and by big I mean tall and fat!), he is one of the biggest teddy bears you will find. (*Note from Marcus: Please find me at the rally and bring me carrots! I promise to slobber you and nuzzle you!)

Hobbies: In high school I ran track. Now that I'm in college and we don't have a team, I run in my spare time to stay fit. I also like hiking, camping, and going to the movies. In addition, I'm the fundraising chair for my sorority. It all keeps me very occupied!

Pets: Haha. Yes, about 24 of them! We have about 16 horses (I'm not sure on that total, I lost track!), 3 cats, 2 dogs, 2 guinea pigs, and a bunny.

Funny Story: One time, when I was about 12 years old my friend and I hopped on our horses bareback and went to go play around. We were racing each other at the trot and I was winning. As soon as the finish line came up, I looked back at my friend to tease her about losing and I slipped right off my horse! I had put Show Sheen on her to make her look pretty and it worked against me, to say the least! I wasn't hurt and my friend still won't let me live that one down.

Margaret Keers

2010-07-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

My name is Margaret Keers, though sometimes I go by the nickname "Tobi." I'm a C3 from Carbon River PC in the Northwest Region. At Championships, I'll be competing in Tetrathlon in the Senior Division.

My favorite foods are ice cream, french bread, and peas, though not all at the same time.

What I love about Pony Club is the kids. Every time I go to a rally (often as an AHMJ), I am surprised and delighted by the tricks I learn from the D2 with the pony that likes to run away, or the C1 who knows how to get the elastic on a girth clean. Pony Clubbers are such a talented group of smart riders, and I suspect every team packs a great sense of humor along with their first aid kid. Teaching, rallying, and just hanging out with other Pony Clubbers is why I've spent the past 15 years of my life hanging around the barn. It's truly a Pony Club Family.

At Championships, I am looking forward to meeting the people on my catch team! I'm also excited to exchange region pins, cheer on my teammates, and showing off the love of my life: my horse, Paris. I'm also looking forward to creating (safe) mischief in the barn, which will probably be a dance party or a short skit.

Paris is the most amazing creature I have ever had the good fortune to meet. He has the greatest honesty and heart, and I truly conisder him my partner. My trusty 15.3 hand chestnut QH/TB steed and I roam around just about every Pony Club discipline. He loves Foxhunting, excels at Polocrosse, schools Prelim Eventing, enjoys Musical Freestyles, and now he's heading down for Tet champs. We've known each other for five years, which more often than not feels like the entirety of my life. In our spare time, we hang out and I teach him tricks, like striking on command and bowing. Currently, we working on lying down, flying changes, and passing the B Traditional Rating.

Outside of horses, I'm an absolute nerd. I attend the University of Washington, and will graduate next spring with a BS in Psychology, and minors in Japanese and Linguistics. This means I get really excited about brains. (Though I promise I'm not a zombie.) When I'm not at school or riding Paris, I invite friends over to watch Japanese cartoons and make costumes. Sometimes, however, these interests overlap with Pony Club, as they did at my Pony Club's Halloween party last year, when I was a Pokémon Trainer and Paris was a Ponyta.

I have a cat named Beowulf, who is a very talented cuddler. He's not very good at catching mice, though, and often needs my help. It's kind of like team penning.

My Pony Club is somewhat infamous in our Region for being the crazy club. We're always doing silly things at rallies, like inviting the HM Judges to dance parties in the barn aisle, "kidnapping" our teammates horses when they've left for lunch (and leaving a ransom note in the tackroom), pretending we are pirates by putting bandannas over one eye, making up code words for use in Games and Polocrosse ("MARSHMALLOW!") and generally having too much fun. One theme that has been relatively constant is making up short skits to perform just before awards. It began a long time ago at a Games Rally, where we commandeered a Backstreet Boys song, changed the lyrics to suit Pony Club, horses, and the spirit of team-building... and eventually resulted in "Dressage Idol," in which we had a three of our girls as a panel of judges, one dressed up in formal gear as a rider, and two more with a blanket thrown over us: the horse. Of course, I was the hindquarters. At any rate, we were startled halfway through the test by the appearance of a "crazy fan," and proceeded to buck our rider off. I still think of that experience as one of the true meanings of Pony Club. (Find it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tBH9_IwKk0 .)

Anyway, I think that sums it up!

Kirsten Hutsell

2010-07-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Name: Kirsten Hutsell
Favorite Foods: Trail mix, pizza, and pepperoni sticks.
Like about PonyClub: I like being in Pony Club because of the useful information and the fun of cross-country.
Looking forward to in Championships: I am looking forward to being able to show all my knowledge at Champions.
About my horse: Well my horse has a great personality, but likes to try and get me off over fences and we are working to get him over that.
Hobbies: One of my hobbies outside of horses would be volleyball and swimming.
Pets: I have one cat Cally, three labs Lucy, Suzie Q, and Buddy plus my horses of course!
Funny story about me: My funny story was at D-camp in Deary when i forgot to where thicker socks with my boots and water soaked through a little.

I am really looking forward to meeting you at Champions, so see you there!!!

Sally Phillips - Games Organizer

2010-07-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

Sally Phillips is one of organizers for Games discipline.

Martha Klinger (DC of PVPC) and Sally Phillips are busy sharing out these tasks right now:

making (with help from friends), borrowing, searching, finding the VERY long list of equipment needed for 21 games played on 5 lanes - we get something done everyday to chip away at the list
schedules, programs, team lists, prizes, stabling charts, name tags - all have to be organized and communicated
volunteers - many of them - have to be solicited, we have approx 30 people helping to put on games including 10 lane judges, 2 line judges, starter, and 5 other pairs of eyes watching games to make sure the action is fairly and accurately scored.
equipment crew - our top notch equipment crew is undergoing training to allow them to switch out equipment at the speed of light between games to keep the show rolling
hospitality - we are gearing up to house and keep our judges, TDs, HM judges fed, watered and housed

Sally Phillips Eventing

Here is what she says about herself.

Why do you like pony club?
Because it offers many lesson for life, and teaches its members to be good equestrians (not just good riders), to work as a team, to overcome hurdles, to give back, and to have FUN!

What is your favorite thing to do in a pony club meeting?

Hands down XC

What do you have special planned for your discipline?
It is first champs experience for most of our games players, and often the first mounted champs discipline due to the lower age/rating qualifying criteria - we want them to be safe (games can be hectic with 5 teams of 4/5 competing at once), feel successful, and that all their hard work practicing paid off. We want them to enjoy their champs experience and come back from more in future years including the other disciplines

What are your hobbies outside of horses?
Triathlon - races of all distances short and very long (ironman and longer)

Do you have pets?
Yes 2 huskies and 2 cats - all rescues

What is a funny story about you?
I was a member of the Vine pony club in England growing up - I recently happened to check them out on their web site and noticed a contemporary of mine from that era is now the DC, and living at the same farm as her parents - we used to have lots of pc rallies there. Generations change everything, and yet they change nothing :)

Sally's daughters Sammy and Maxy playing games.

Elizabeth Esdaile

2010-07-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Meet Elizabeth. She's a Quiz competitor ready to have fun in Championships!

Name : Elizabeth Esdaile

Favorite Foods: Wipped Cream, Berries

Like about PonyClub: I love the idea of it, and how you get to ride with other people, take lessons with people you wouldn't get a chance to take lessons with, and to go places I normally wouldn't get to go.

Not Like about PonyClub: I dislike many of the rules, and feel like some of them should just be suggestions, and that some are just plain dangerous. I also wish it was run a lot more by Pony Clubbers, and not parents.

Looking forward to in the Championships: I am really looking forward to Quiz Rally, and working with all of my team members while competing with other PCers in a friendly enviroment.

About Sox: Sox is a Goober, there's not much more to say! But he LOVEs people, and food. He also is very willing to do what you ask of him, and he can be a fast learner. He thinks that everyone is his friend! And he knows he is very, very cute!

Hobbies: I play violin, and play in an ochestra. But horses take up a lot of my time.

Pets: Yes, two dogs (Stig, a 9 month old Lab/Border Collie, and Sunny, a mutt), and three cats (Cali, Eccles, and Smokey Pickles)

Tell me a funny story about yourself : I am not very coordinated with what I wear, and I am a messy person, so by the time I leave the barn, I am a total mess! I have learned never to wear white clothes out to the barn, because Sox loves to swipe his nose up your back, shoulder, or anywhere else he wants to leave a mark for the day!

Emily Freeman

2010-07-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Meet Emily Freeman. A Quiz competitor from the Sierra Pacific region.

Name: Emily Freeman (13 years old, Northern Mines Pony Club, Sierra Pacific Region)

Favorite Food: pasta

What do you like/not like about Pony Club: I like how everyone is so nice and I get to learn so much

What are you looking forward to at Championships: Having a great time.

Tell me something about your horse: He’s a handsome grey Connemara pony named Seamus (Shay-mus) – he’s a real character.

Other Hobbies: Sheep Herding

Do you have pets: Border Collie named Dooley, Cat named Lighting

Funny story about myself: My pony and I used to hate each other when we were younger, and now we are the best of friends.

Emi Hansen

2010-07-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Emi Hansen is a third level dressage competitor from the Sierra Pacific Region.
Here is what she says about herself

First of all, this is my third (and probably last) championships. I competed in Quiz back in 2003 and Dressage in 2006, and back again for Dressage in 2010! This is my horse's 2nd championship...at age 19 not too bad!

Name: Emi Hansen

Favorite Food: Sushi! And just about anything good :)

What I like about Pony Club: It teaches you how to care for your horse and take care of your equipment. I've also learned VERY valuable trailering techniques through Pony Club!

Not Like: I believe that people take Pony Club in very different ways.

What I don't like is when you want to have fun and someone who is WAY into it gets mad at every little detail. But what I've always learned is that there's the right way, the wrong way, and the pony club way :)

What I am looking forward to about champs: I'm excited to be competing at third level in dressage! I never expected my horse to get to this level (and neither did my trainer!). And because my horse has a hard time being an actual rated dressage horse, I'm glad I can compete at pony club and show off my horse in that respect. Also, this is probably going to be my last champs (since I am 21...yikes I'm old!!) and so I'm just glad that I was fortunate to go to three champs, 2 as a Midcal rider and one as a Sierra Pacific rider!!

About Misty Morning: Misty Morning aka Misty or Moo as I call her is a funny little mare. She hates anything that rattles (I've been taken off with when it comes to paper or a reflector vest). Thing about her is that she's an amazing little girl. I've had her 7 years and I've done just about everything with her including, games, polocrosse, western gymkhana, training level eventing, jumpers and now third level dressage. She's a total trooper and totally takes care of me to the point that I wouldn't be the rider today without her. She hangs out with me in college because she doesn't mind when I can't ride her everyday because of school. She loves bananas (her favorite, me and her share one before every ride at a show), sour punch straws, oreos, you name it! But she hates peppermint, strawberries and sugar cubes.

Oh and did I mention she's the horse in the "realizing the vision" picture on the Horsepark at Woodside's website?

Hobbies: Outside of horseback riding I'm a full time student at CSU Chico. Basically my life is horses or engineering, but when I get free time I love to go to Bidwell and hang out at Bear hole or hike :).

Pets: Other than my horse Misty I have two guinea pigs, Gucci and Delilah and a dog, Beau :).

Funny story: Well, that's hard to think of off the top of my head but I have had some funny moments. I've literally done the thing where you get on one side of your horse and fall off the other while bareback (it takes skill yes!). For a costume meeting for Bay Hills Pony Club one year I wanted make Misty a carousel horse and me a little kid so I used a pool noodle to create a pole. Well to get her used to it I would ride around at the barn at home, sitting on the noodle. I definitely got some funny looks....

Katrina Deane - The Ultimate Organizer

2010-07-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here is one person that you should know. I heard Katrina was one of the people who worked on bringing the Champs to MidCal.

Here is what she says about herself.(She's not very chatty though. So, if you know Katrina let everybody know about her in the comments.)

Why do you like pony club?
    I like to see families getting outdoors and enjoying horses together.

What do you not like about pony club?
    What is there not to like?

What is your favorite thing to do in a pony club meeting?
    Organize something!

What do you have special planned for the championships?
    Dinner for everyone on Saturday night, followed by the Opening Ceremony, and prizes for everyone..

What are your hobbies outside of horses?
    I like road trips, camping and hiking.

Do you have pets?
    I have a wonderful black lab named Logan, and a cat named Harley.

What is a funny story about you.
    Like Ronda I have also been hit by a bird (but the bird survived). I had just had my hair highlighted at the hairdressers, my husband said the bird must have thought that the back of my head looked like some small striped creature that it was trying to swoop down on and fly off with! I also lose my sunglasses a lot, but sometimes I just lose one lens and carry on wearing them without noticing, much to the hilarity of my two daughters.

Today's News

2010-07-23T22:46:00.000-07:00

All the parents and organizers are working hard to put the Champs together. The Dressage Organizer, Carol Anderson, is having fun shopping for neck ribbons and horse cookies.
Last night I discovered a box of Champs pins at my house.
I overheard something about ice cream or popsicles at the Dressage office.
The organizers are also looking for HM volunteers.
I'll keep you updated on what is going on .

Meet the HM organizer

2010-07-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

The HM organizer for Championships is Nicole Fisher.

She is really nice and lounged my pony when she was acting up at the Dressage rally. She also went on the International Tet Exchange a few years ago.

Here is what she says about herself.

My name is Nichole Fisher
I am the Tetrathlon Championships Organizer, Mid Cal Horse Management Organizer, and Santa Cruz County PC Jt-DC

What I like about Pony Club is that it teaches independence, teamwork, leadership, and other life skills to be applied to horse care and "real-life"

My favorite thing to do in Pony Club is to play with/mentor/teach the kids

My hobbies outside of Pony Club are travelling, going to the beach, pretending I'm a little kid, frolicking in the forrest

My pets are 4 horses: Silver- my retired Paint eventer/broodmare, Tricky- TB off the track "project" horse, Dublin - 4 yo out of Silver, Paint x ISH, Kona - 3 yo out of Silver, Paint x Rhinelander

A funny story about me: Hmmm.... I think there are too many to narrow it down to one. Crazy people are drawn to me and will chat with me for hours, I've been accused of being an "alone dancer", I love dressing up for any occasion (not in dresses, I'm talking costume type dress up), I startle really easily...

HM in Championships is hopefully going to be a really fun experience. All of the discipline organizers are on the same page about making the whole experience fun and rewarding. Even though this is going to be fun the HM expectations are a little higher and Champs than at regular regional rallies. So hopefully everyone is working on getting rid of that dandruff NOW!

Get to know the MidCal RS

2010-07-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

For my first spotlight we are going to meet Ronda the RS of MidCal. Drum roll please!

The parents in my club call her the fearless leader! I think that she is very funny and cool.

With out any more delay, meet Ronda and read her interesting story!

My name is Ronda Davenport

I am the Regional Supervisor of the middle California Region – home to 24 Pony Clubs and 4 Pony Club Riding Centers!
My favorite thing to do in Pony Club is goof off with my MidCal members — water fights are great fun!
My hobbies outside of Pony Club are eating chocolate and hiking, traveling and reading, baking sweets, camping and having fun.
The people in my family are my husband Tom, daughters Kate and Emily
My pets are new puppy Annie and cats Henry and George
One funny and very tragic story of me (I have many) happened when I was five or six and was traveling in the backseat of the family station wagon. I am one of seven kids, so we were piled in the back. The windows were down as it was a hot summer day. My Mom was driving along a country road. Apparently a pheasant was flying perpendicular to the car. The pheasant flew in the car window, conked me in the head and died in my lap. It was total chaos with feathers everywhere and me screaming — imagine getting hit in the head by a pheasant?! My mom though had no idea what had happened so she swerved off to the side of the road to assess the situation. With seven kids, there is always a situation. It took us a moment to sort out that the pheasant had intersected the window at the exact perfect moment and hit me in the head. Strange. But strange things happen to me.

Didn't I say she is funny...

Welcome to Western Championships!

2010-07-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Hi this is Nila, your reporter for the Western Champs!

The 2010 USPC Western Champs are hosted by the MidCal Region.
They take place in Woodside Horse Park.
We have six fun disciplines, Quiz, Dressage, Eventing, Games, Tettrathalon, and Show Jumping. All of these happen in a period of ten days. This is the schedule.

You can find out about the funny, sad, and crazy events going on in the Champs by visiting my blog. Check in every day to learn about the competitors, organizers, and the Horsepark itself.

Have fun reading!