The United States Eventing Association (USEA) will be adding a special award at the Bit of Britian/USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC). The Mark Phillips Pony Rider Awards will be presented to the highest-placed pony rider in the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training divisions at the American Eventing Championships. If you meet the criteria for Pony Riders (listed below) and have qualified your pony for the 2009 Bit of Britain/USEA AEC then you will be eligible for this new award. Capt. Mark Phillips, Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. eventing team, has long been a proponent of pony rider competitions and the value they bring to younger riders and has willingly lent his support to this program.

Eventing Pony Rider competitions are offered in many countries around the world and are recognized as an important step in the development of the sport through the education and encouragement they provide to our youth. The FEI European Pony Championships are held annually with teams and individuals competing for honors. The USEA would like to recognize our eventing ponies and introduce the concept of pony rider competitions by offering these awards in conjunction with the AEC.

Please read the following information to make sure you are eligible for these awards. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Eligibility Criteria for Eventing Pony Rider Awards at the AEC

Definition of Pony Rider and Pony

(i) Age of Pony Rider
A rider may compete as a Pony competitor until the end of the year in which he/she reaches the age of 16.

(ii) Participation
A Pony Rider meeting the age requirement may compete in competitions for Juniors and/or Young Riders if appropriately qualified without losing eligibility for USEA Pony Rider Awards.

(iii) Definition of Pony
A pony is a small horse whose height at the withers, having been measured on a smooth level surface, does not exceed 14.2 hands without shoes or 14.2½ with shoes. For 2009, the USEA will accept the height as submitted on the pony’s registration form and listed on our database.

(iv) Age of Pony
The age of the pony must comply with USEF requirements for horses, as set forth in Appendix 3 of the 2009 USEF Rules for Eventing and paraphrased for your convenience below:

Beginner Novice Pony Award

Novice Pony Award

Training Pony Award

(Ponies must be four years of age or older)