EVENTING GRAND PRIX
AWARD 2011
Announcement to all Regions and Clubs and Members
WIN A TRIP TO IRELAND 2011!
General
The USPC Eventing Committee is
proud to present the Eventing Grand Prix Award. A trial period has been
approved by the Board of Governors. This award also depends on securing
sponsorship. USPC Preliminary Eventing riders from around the USA can win an
all-expense paid trip to Ireland.
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 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.
Now is the time to start planning for this exciting once-in-a-lifetime
International USPC team experience. The tentative itinerary 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.
If your club or region has members that would like to
try for this award next year, please consider donating to the award. Our
fundraising goal is $15,000. Funds can be sent to the National Office with a
note that they be directed toward this fund which currently stands at
$2,000. Our next deadline will be January 2011 for the trip to proceed. If
every club donated $10 and every region $100 that would provide half of the
funding needed; if every club donated $20 and every region $200 that would
provide all of the funding needed. We need your support!
Katie Graham
USPC Eventing Activities Chair
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.
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. (Please note the form will become available closer
to Festival 2011).
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.
Based on the above, and a personal interview, the USPC Eventing Committee
will make its selection.
