This clinic is designed for those new to pony racing and the “old” pros to have the opportunity to learn new skills and improve their existing skills. The clinic will be divided into small groups based on ability and experience. ALL skill levels are welcome and encouraged to participate. No participant (mount or rider) will be asked to do more than they can handle. There will be NO RACING in this clinic. The purpose of this clinic is to gain a good foundation and understanding of the basics and to improve on existing skills of those who are more accomplished.

Register by February 24th at the US Pony Racing website. Auditors welcome, see website for details. Registration fee is $35.

USPR will host a clinic in Ocala the evening prior to The Florida Steeplechase pony races if there is enough interest. Please see the USPR website for more details, and reach out to USPR if you are interested in the clinic.

Chris Ryan is the Master and was the Huntsman of the Scarteen Black and Tans from Ireland and bought and produced Olympian Gina Miles’ famous McKinlaigh from ages 3 to 5. The Ryan family has hunted the Scarteen Black and Tans for over 300 years. You’ll enjoy Chris and his Irish humor and benefit from his many years of experience. Kids of all ages and abilities welcome.

Details and Registration on the Midlands Foxhounds website

This steeplechase racing clinic is a mounted clinic open to all levels of junior and young riders. We will introduce the sport to new participants and teach juniors with an interest in pony racing the skills and tactics necessary to succeed. We will also help more seasoned riders fine-tune their skills and expand their knowledge about steeplechase racing.

All levels will benefit from our experienced clinicians and this fantastic venue.

We will work with riders and show them how to use their knowledge and skills from the show ring or hunt field and translate it to the race course. Riders must have their own mounts and will be grouped by ability and experience. Riders must be proficient at the walk, trot, and canter but are not required to jump.

Successfully completing this clinic may qualify participants for the MSA Junior Field Master Chase series.

For more details on the clinic day, click here for the 2022 Young Rider Clinic Syllabus.

Advanced Registration Required

$40 per rider if paid in advance via credit card online.

$45 per rider if paid on site; advanced registration still required.

Clinicians: Alicia Murphy, Billy Santoro, more TBA

Details and Registration on the MSA website.

On the eve of the Aiken Pony Derby (Saturday, March 19th) there will be a FREE CLINIC sponsored by the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation in the evening (5:30pm Friday) to ensure all rider and mount combinations are suitable, understand the rules, and can maneuver in a group safely. You do not need to participate in the races to attend the clinic. Unmounted auditors are welcome to attend, free of charge.

Register by March 14th at the US Pony Racing website. FREE

Saturday March 5, Ocala, FL. Pony flat races, leadline trot race.

Enter at the US Pony Racing website.

Saturday March 19, Aiken, SC. Pony flat races, Young Rider flat race. Leadline trot race.

Enter at the US Pony Racing website.

Sunday March 27, Unionville, PA. Pony flat races, Leadline trot race.

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Sunday April 3, Cockeysville, MD. Pony flat races, Jr. Field Masters Chase.

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Sunday, April 3, Northbrook, PA. Pony flat races, Leadline trot races, Jr. Field Masters Chase.

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Saturday, April 9, Monkton, MD. Pony flat races, Jr. Field Masters Chase.

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Saturday, April 9, Washington, VA. Young Rider Flat Race

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Sunday, April 10, Earleville, MD. Pony flat races, Leadline trot races

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Saturday, April 16, Monkton, MD. Leadline Trot Races.

Conditions and entries with US Pony Racing.

Sunday, April 17, Berryville, VA. Young Rider Flat Race

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Sunday, April 24, Leesburg, VA. Pony flat races, Young Rider Flat Race.

Conditions and entries with US Pony Racing for pony racing and with the Central Entry Office for the Young Rider Flat

Saturday, May 7. Brookeville, MD. Shetland flat races, Jr. Field Masters Chase, Leadline trot race.

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Sunday, May 8, Winterthur, DE. Small pony and large pony flat races.

Conditions and entries with the Winterthur website, beginning March 1st.

Saturday, May 14. Kennett Square, PA. Pony flat races, Young Rider Flat Race.

Conditions and entries with US Pony Racing.

Sunday, May 15. Seneca, MD. Pony flat races, Junior Rider Flat Race.

Conditions and entries with the Central Entry Office.

Sunday and Monday, May 29 and 30. The Devon Horse Show, Devon, PA. Shetland pony steeplechase.

Conditions and entries with US Pony Racing.

Date in June TBD, Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD. Pony flat races.

Conditions and entries with US Pony Racing.

There are also opportunities almost weekly for Novice (a rider, who has not won ten sanctioned or point to point races over fences prior to January 1 of the current year under any racing jurisdiction), Amateur and Apprentice riders, as well as year-end awards in these categories. Virginia also boasts a Good Hands and Heels award for an outstanding rider who shows excellence in riding skills. Please see the point to point condition books at Central Entry Office for more details.

The Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation Developing Rider Program presents a series of five flat races for young riders for the spring of 2022, with additional races possibly added after publication.

Each participating race meet may have slightly different conditions or rules, but conditions for to be eligible for the series prize are as follows:

This is the third year for the series, which was developed to encourage participation of young riders and give them a safe and educational platform on which to compete. The rider, meeting series qualifications, who competes in the most races in the TGSF Developing Rider Series will receive a prize. Ties will be broken based on points earned in the series.

Saturday March 19, Aiken, SC

Conditions and entries with US Pony Racing.

Saturday, April 9, Ben Venue, VA

Conditions and entries with Central Entry Office.

Sunday, April 17, Berryville, VA

Conditions and entries with Central Entry Office.

Sunday, April 24, Leesburg, VA

Conditions and entries with Central Entry Office.

Saturday, May 14. Kennett Square, PA

Conditions and entries with US Pony Racing.

Sunday, March 6, Aiken Training Track, SC.

Have you ever wanted to ride on the Training Track where racing immortals like Kelso, Swale, Pleasant Colony, Tom Fool, Gallorette, Shuvee, and others trained?

More details at the Aiken Training Track website

Date TBD. Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD.

The Maryland Jockey Club is offering the opportunity of a lifetime to gallop over the ground where legends like Seattle Slew, Seabiscuit, and War Admiral made history. Entries will get the opportunity to experience “Sunrise at Old Hilltop” from the back of their horse!

Details will be posted soon on US Pony Racing.

Launched in 2017, the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program is an educational program presented by the Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) that aims to:

Over the course of a week, participants are encouraged to fully engage in the Maryland Thoroughbred industry and explore a multitude of career options. Graduates of the MTCP are eligible to apply for Career Development Funds, one-time funding that can be used to further career pursuits within two years after the program ends.

Apply at the MHBA website.

Questions? Email [email protected]

For over 40 years the Green Spring Valley Hounds Pony Camp has been developing young riders in to life long horsemen capable of riding both in and out of the ring. Camp is geared to boys and girls, ages 7 and older who ride now. The goal of Pony Camp is to further an interest in all equine sports with an emphasis on fox hunting, pony racing, and riding cross country. The program's focus is horsemanship, sportsmanship, land conservation, and the traditions associated with fox hunting. The camp runs for two weeks in mid-June. For more information see the GSVH website.

Held in August, Cubbing Camp is a relaxed way to introduce horses and kids to hunting. Meet the hounds, tour the kennels, and go cubbing with the GSVH. Contact Anne Litz if you are interested in more details. [email protected]

"The camp you wish was around when you were a child!" Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds' 2022 Kids Hunt Camp will run from Monday June 27 - Friday July 1, daily from 9am - 1pm. Kids will enjoy riding sessions with local equestrian stars. Past teachers have included Boyd Martin, Buck Davidson, jockey Michael Mitchell, and jockey / trainer Mark Beecher. Swimming and other fun activities are included too. For more information see the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy's website or email MFH Sanna Neilson.

Join Virginia's most professional, most thorough summer horse camp program and learn how to ride, how to really ride. Classic forward-seat schooling (taken directly from the U.S. Pony Club tradition) with a view to taking it *out* of the arena and into the countryside. Learn cross-country riding position, safety in groups, how to handle terrain, jumping and more. Horsemanship and stable management play a huge part in Hunter's Rest summer camp, too, with visits by all sorts of professionals -- veterinarian, farrier, saddle maker, horse dentist, equine chiropractor and acupuncturist. Field trips in the past have included going "backstretch" at the racetrack, helping out at horse shows, backstage at the circus, a camel farm visit, stallion station and breeding farm visit, swimming, fly-fishing, canoeing, water sports (skiing, wakeboarding, paddleboarding), picnics, moonlight rides, carriage driving, the county fair, kennel visits, hound training and more. For more information visit the Hunter's Rest website or email Betsy Burke Parker.

INTRODUCTION TO THE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY

Watch the following videos for an overview of what it is like to work in the Thoroughbred industry. Learn more on the Amplify Horse Racing website.

The Work Experience Program provides qualified applicants with the opportunity to gain work experience in the field of their choice. Hours worked by the participants in their internship are funded by the MHF, so that host sites can provide an engaging and educational experience with no financial burden. The MHF helps connect qualified applicants internship opportunities, based on their future career goals and what aspects of the Maryland Thoroughbred industry interest them most. Previous internship locations include:

Interested? Contact Jordyn at [email protected]

To be considered for the experience the jockeys must first be nominated by a licensed NSA trainer via letter of recommendation. Nominated riders, typically between 17 and 23 years of age, must have race riding experience and provide a written essay stating why they would like to attend the trip.

The trip will be led by NSA licensed trainer Regina Welsh, the founder and director of U.S. Pony Racing, who has also led the four previous TGSF trips to Ireland. Welsh will see to it that the riders meet, ride, and work for top Irish trainers like Gordon Elliot, Edward O’Grady, Enda Bolger, and Fozzy Stack. The group will also tour top racing businesses and venues like The Curragh, Coolmore Stud, and Ballydoyle, as well as take in the first day of the Galway Festival.

Dates are TBD (tentatively planned for July) - please stay tuned!

The TGSF’s domestic trip, beginning in The Plains, VA, introduces juniors to steeplechase owners and jockeys and some of the top jump racing and flat racing trainers in the US. With stops in Maryland and Pennsylvania, it culminates with two days at the Saratoga races.

Dates are TDB (tentatively planned late July, early August) - please stay tuned!

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