New Member Information
A Parent's Answer Book You will find answers to what will your child learn, costs, time requirement, where you fit in, how we differ from other riding clubs, etc.
Medical Bracelets
Medical Bracelets must visibly list these six items on them:
• Name
• Date of Birth
• Contact Information
• Known allergies (if none put "No Allergies" or "NKA")
• Current Medications (if none put "No Medications")
• Existing Medical Conditions (if none put "No Med Condition")
Rallies. An important part of the TWPC calendar is the series of rallies which take place March thru October -- for Quiz (knowledge), Dressage, Tetrathlon, Games, Show Jumping and Eventing. All levels are welcomed at rallies – for example, you do not have to be dedicated to dressage to have fun at dressage rally. Rallies are normally all-day affairs, and the kids interested in participating are formed into teams. Teams include a stable manager, who is unmounted but fulfills an integral role in a smooth running team. There may be times TWPC members are scrambled into teams with kids from other clubs. It is necessary to participate in a rally in order to qualify for championships. TWPC pays a portion of the cost of rallies for its members. There is no parental assistance during rallies after the initial set up, which encourages independence. All rallies involve an important element of horse management, which is also scored. HM scores can both hurt or raise the overall scores, placing an increased importance on these scores. There are broadly two parts – equipment and turnout. Clean tack and mounts are a must.
Championships. Every summer USPC hosts a championship, covering all disciplines, in various locations on the East Coast, most recently Tryon, North Carolina or Lexington, Kentucky. The event typically goes for three days; families stay at nearby hotels and the kids have lots of fun. It is necessary to qualify at a rally in order to participate in champs difficulty of doing so varies across disciplines and across years. TWPC members form part of the Delmarva Region Team. If there are not enough members to form a full team there will be a scramble team with another Region(s). There are age and rating requirements, but it should be possible for most member to find a way to participate.
Certifications. USPC has developed a system of certifications to recognize achievements and encourage members to gain confidence, independence and safe riding habits. There are riding and knowledge elements at all levels. The first certification is D1, the highest A. Certifications D1, D2, D3 and C1 and C2 are administered by the club and C3 and up is national, administered by National Examiners.
Volunteering. As with many membership based organizations, volunteers are critical to the success of TWPC. All the activities – from study sessions to rallies -- are run by volunteers, and anyone interested should please let one of our officers know!