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Inter-Pacific Exchange (IPE)
Meet the 2007 Inter-Pacific Exchange Team!
| Christine Eromenok |
Somerset Hills PC |
New Jersey Region |
| Victoria Long |
Difficult Run PC |
Virginia Region |
| Allison Peck |
Santa Cruz County PC |
Middle California Region |
| Alexandra Wikstrom |
Red Jacket PC |
Western New York Region |
| Alternate-Nikki Piver |
Hilltoppers PC |
South Region |
Applications are currently being accepted for the
2009 IPE Exchange.
The Inter-Pacific Exchange first began in Australia in 1964. Great Britain,
the United States, Canada and New Zealand were originally part of the exchange
followed by Hong Kong and Japan. Great Britain no longer participates unless
invited as a special guest. The exchange was conceived for the older
members of Pony Club to have an educational, cultural, bilingual and competitive
experience. United States stepped away from this exchange in '76 and came back
into the arena once again in '93. The reason for the absence was financial. Now,
USPC is committed to being sure that this exchange continues for its older
members.
Each team consists of four or five members, a coach and a chaperone.
The General Selection Criteria for
Competitors
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Be a B level rating or above.
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Older than seventeen years
of age. |
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The riders
will be expected to have had experience riding and competing on borrowed horses.
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Having competed at the Training Level Eventing.
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Jumped 3'6" in Show
Jumping. |
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Have top Horse Management skills.
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Plus all recommendations
must be excellent for selection.
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The Exchange takes place every two years in one of the
participating
countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the United
States. It is schedule to be in Japan in 2009.
Every Inter-Pacific Exchange combines its tour with teams staying in host
families, experiencing cultural and historical sights in the host country. Plus
there are always two competitions. There is a one-day event requiring that
horses are either loaned or rented for this event. No one brings their own
horse. There are thirty-seven horses needed for that day. This year, the one-day
event was at Waredaca Farm in Maryland. This Event traditionally is
held close to the beginning of the exchange with teams drawing for horses and
each competitor is placed on a team with a member from each country. Thus it is
called a Scramble Team event. The final competition took place in Kentucky is
the Nation's Cup Show Jumping. Again, this is done on borrowed horses that are
once again drawn from a hat. Competitors have a short time to ride them before
the competition. This is a country team event that not only is formal, a FEI
Rule Competition, but, one in which the teams are vying to win the Nation's Cup.
This year the New Zealand team won the Nation's Cup.
New
Zealand IPE team, the winners of the 2007 Nation's Cup!
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