Pony Club members have new ratings

    United States Pony Clubs has a system of 10 ratings, beginning at the D level, where members learn basic riding and horse care, and progressing in difficulty to the A level, which is very advanced. Many graduate A pony clubbers have gone on to compete the upper levels of equestrian sports or even ride in the Olympic games.
    Ratings test a member’s knowledge of horse care, shoeing, stable management, and veterinary information, as well as their riding skills. Pony Club ratings provide specific goals for members to work toward, and upper-level ratings are recognized worldwide as standards of excellence in horsemanship.
    Emily Bartlett, a sophomore at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and Marina DiMarco, a junior at Houlton High School, both traveled to Starks to test for the H-B rating. The H-B is considered an upper level rating, awarded by certified national examiners. The rating tested their horsemanship skills, veterinary knowledge and teaching skills. Both pony clubbers were successful at the rating, where they tested alongside 10 other candidates. Bartlett and DiMarco had previously passed ratings to the C2 level.
Contributed photograph
JUMPS – Alyssa Kilcollins riding Clipper at her D2 rating.
    At local Upland Acres farm, Alyssa Kilcollins, a senior at Fort Fairfield High School, passed both her D1 and D2 ratings. Kilcollins was also tested on horsemanship and knowledge, as well as riding on the flat and over fences with her horse, Clipper.
    Meduxnekeag River Pony Club has several members preparing for ratings that will take place in the future, as well. In addition to ratings, members of Pony Club, who may range from age 5 to 25, participate in mounted meetings with their horses and ponies and attend unmounted activities to learn about horse care. Members also ride on teams at rallies, which are pony club competitions in knowledge, dressage, show jumping, eventing and other horse sports.
    Pony Club, a not-for-profit organization, is excellent for any young person who wishes to learn more about horse care and riding and who wants to have fun.
    For more information about Meduxnekeag River Pony Club, please contact the District Commissioner, Mary Beth DiMarco, at 532-3768, or check out ponyclub.org.