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General

The USPC Eventing Committee has just announced approval of the Eventing Grand Prix Award. USPC Preliminary Eventing riders from around the USA can win an all-expense paid trip to Ireland leaving Tuesday August 4, and returning Friday August 14, 2009 by being the first placed team at the USPC Eastern Championships 2009 to be held in Lexington, Virginia, Thursday July 23 - Saturday July 25.

In the true competitive spirit of Pony Club, this is a team award. One five-member team, consisting of 4 riders and one stable manager, are welcome to enter. The 5 winning team members will be announced at the awards ceremony at Championships. If a rider is unable to participate, the next highest scoring competitor on the second place team will be eligible, and so on. If the stable manager is unable to participate, the stable manager from the second placed team will be the alternate and so on.  It should be noted that although the Preliminary Division at Eastern Championships is a recognized USEA "closed" event, the scores may be used to qualify for moving-up, competing in a One Star event and/or the American Eventing Championships. No leader board or Horse of the Year points can be earned.

The future plan for this prize would be to present it at the awards ceremony at Eastern Championships each year, including Festival Years, to the team of competitors that achieve the winning score. A two year trial period has been approved by the Board of Governors. This award also depends on securing sponsorship, which is already in place for 2009.

Any current USPC C-3 and up member who is in good standing, recommended by their RS and meets the requirements, is eligible to compete at Championships at the Preliminary Level. C-2s who are USEA qualified to compete at Preliminary level may apply for an exception through their RS but need to attend a qualifying rally. It is not necessary for Bs and above to attend a qualifying rally if they have two USEA qualifying affidavits from the last 11 months. These must be completed without elimination, and one must have no XC penalties and the other no more than 20 XC penalties.

Now is the time to start planning for this exciting once-in-a-lifetime International USPC team experience. The tentative itinerary for 2009 will likely include a visit to historic Dublin, as well as other cultural activities with an emphasis on horse sports, and meeting pony club members in Ireland who also event. Additionally there could well be opportunities to ride, to visit an Irish riding academy, breeding farm, and possibly the famous Dublin Horse Show.

Purpose

1. The purpose of an award of this nature is to reward the hard work, dedication and skill it has taken to achieve such a high level of accomplishment in the sport of Eventing. USPC National Championships is the perfect venue to showcase the value of team work, horse management and veterinary knowledge that USPC teaches and encourages its membership to practice. The level of training, conditioning and mutual trust and respect between horse and rider at the Preliminary level is the culmination of all that USPC teaches, producing worthy representatives and leaders.

2. A second purpose is to present an incentive for older, more experienced pony club members to continue to enter and compete in USPC Championship competitions to enhance the mentoring concept supported by this organization.

3. A third purpose is to provide an exciting goal for the lower-level pony club members to which to aspire, encouraging them to continue their efforts to advance in the sport of Eventing.

4. This type of prize is offered in the spirit of USPC mission statement "to develop in young riders strength of character, alert minds and sound bodies" by contributing to the development of young adults' awareness, sympathy and understanding of cultures different from their own around the world, and to furthering the pony club experience outside of the United States. By providing a horse-related fun and educational experience for Pony Club members, the recipients will benefit by making friends and learning about the people, customs and culture of the host country.

5. Finally, these young riders will be international ambassadors of USPC.

Itinerary

Vicki Brush, as a seated Member of the USPC Eventing Activities Committee, will spear-head the planning of the itinerary and activities of each annual award. The final plan will be reviewed and approved by the Eventing Chair, the Director of Activities as well as the International Exchange Committee due to its extensive history of international USPC exchanges, thereby greatly increasing the scope and success of the trip. This tentative itinerary will be finalized as soon as possible:

Tuesday Aug 4 Depart Washington Dulles International Airport

Tuesday Aug 5 Arrive Dublin Airport

Wednesday Aug 6 Tour Dublin

Thursday Aug 7 Dublin Horse Show (August 5 - 9)

Friday Aug 8 TBD

Saturday Aug 9 TBD

Sunday Aug 10 TBD

Monday Aug 11 TBD

Tuesday Aug 12 TBD

Wednesday Aug 13 TBD

Thursday Aug 14 TBD

Friday Aug 14 Depart Shannon

Note: Watch for updates as the schedule is firmed up.

How to Apply

Competitor Actions:

1. Preliminary riders and stable managers who would like to qualify for the Grand Prix prize are required to fill out all application paperwork PRIOR to Championships. Form will be posted on this site as soon as they are available.

2. Traveling team members are required to sign a USPC Code of Conduct.

3. All riders and stable managers would be required to update their passport PRIOR to Championships and send copy to the USPC National Office.

4. Each person is responsible for their travel arrangements to the departing airport.

5. Each person traveling will be asked to obtain Travelers Insurance to cover medical, ticket cancellation etc.

6. Each person traveling will bring their own spending money.

7. There will be a USPC tour jacket for the 5 members of the team.

Chaperones

The USPC Eventing Committee will select the two chaperones to travel with, and be responsible for, the International Exchange team. A chaperone may not be a current Eventing Committee Member nor a parent of a current International Team member, unless there are no other qualified candidates. The minimum requirements for both are:

1. The chaperones must be 30 years of age as of January 1 of the year of the exchange.

2. They must have good character, stability, and maturity, and be supportive of all USPC policies, including the policy on drugs/alcohol.

3. They must have the personal qualities that would make them good ambassadors of USPC and the ability to get along well with children and adults.

4. They must be knowledgeable about Pony Club.

5. They should be, or become familiar with, the customs of the host country.

6. They must be a Corporate or Life Member of USPC, Inc.

7. At least one chaperone should have a sound knowledge of safe riding expectations, given that there may be riding opportunities for the traveling team.

To apply for either position, interested persons should submit the following to the USPC Eventing Committee Chairperson:

1. Resume containing name, address, and telephone number, date of birth, dates and duration of Pony Club activities.

2. Two letters of recommendation attesting to the seven requirements listed above.

3. A list of five references (name, address and telephone number) who can be called by the committee. These are in addition to the two letters of recommendation, and three should be references from individuals outside of Pony Club.