The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., will hold its 2010 Annual Meeting and Convention from January 27th-31st in Houston, Texas. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Houston’s JW Marriot located in Uptown Houston. The weekend’s events will include a banquet, a trade fair featuring equestrian products, including the USPC Bookstore, and workshops for volunteer leaders and active USPC members. An exciting highlight of the 2010 Annual Meeting takes place Saturday evening during the banquet, when 2008 Silver Medalist and “A” graduate Pony Club member, Gina Miles, makes the keynote address.

“The annual meeting is a great time to re-energize for the year. The kids and I love making more Pony Club friends and re-connecting with old friends,” said Erin Evers, 2007 Annual Meeting Organizer. There will be opportunities for everyone to have a fun weekend and learn from top equine professionals. The workshops will include professionals such as Richard Lamb, top course designer; USPC National Examiners; and Dr. Brad Gordon who will be hosting the popular hands-on anatomy lab again this year. Younger USPC members have a track of their own in the Pony Paddock. There is something for everyone!

Gina Miles, 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, will be attending as the key note speaker at the 2010 Annual Meeting. Gina has a very strong Pony Club background and has showed her support of USPC throughout the years. She began her career as a member of the Hobby Horse Pony Club with her horse Sir D’Artagnan. Later she worked as a regular instructor at the Panche Pony Club. Through all her hard work she earned her “A” rating, the highest and most prestigious Pony Club Rating. USPC is honored to have a world-renowned rider and alumni attending the Annual Meeting as the key note speaker.

Media representatives are encouraged to attend. For information on the Annual Meeting, contact www.ponyclub.org (click on Annual Meeting) or call Wayne Quarles, USPC Activities Director, at 859/254-7669.

The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit national youth organization to teach riding and horsemanship through a formal educational program. There are over 10,000 members of USPC ranging from as young as 4 through the age 25 in over 600 clubs and riding centers throughout the country. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including most of our Olympic Equestrian team members, have Pony Club roots. Activities are English-riding based, and members ride both horses and ponies, depending on the size of the rider and the discipline in which she/he is competing.