AVHPC Horse Trials

Welcome to the Amwell Valley Hounds Pony Club (AVHPC) web site. Information about our club and pictures will be posted here. Just click on the category below you are interested in.

Our pony clubbers range in age from 6 to 21, are both boys and girls, own , borrow or lease ponies or horses to ride in pony club activities, and all love horses and want to learn more about them and their care.

The Amwell Valley Hounds Pony Club is one of eight clubs in the New Jersey Region Pony Clubs and is part of a national non-profit organization called the United States Pony Clubs. Pony Club is dedicated to teaching riding skills and horse management to youths under the age of 25. It provides an opportunity for members to become skilled and confident riders and teaches them responsibility, leadership, and team participation.

History

Pony Club began in England in 1928 and is now one of the leading junior equestrian organizations of the world, with clubs in 31 countries.

The United States Pony Clubs began in 1954 and has over 600 individual clubs reaching over 12,000 members.

Amwell Valley Hounds Pony Club was founded in 1964 by Mrs. Joan Toigo, who was our first District Commissioner (leader). Within the first year, over 25 children joined. The club was located in Kingwood Twp., NJ, and was attached to the Kingwood Hounds, a recognized hunt. Within the next few years, both the pony club and the hunt became centered in East Amwell Twp., NJ, and Meadowberry Farm, owned by Chuck and Mary Weeden, and became the club's home grounds.

In 1974, the AVHPC and the hunt joined together to start a USEA- recognized horse trials to raise funds for the pony club. Facilities for a horse trials were developed at Meadowberry Farm, with many pony club fathers and mothers building jumps and making improvements. The date chosen was the second weekend of July, late enough so that children would be out of school and could help with the horse trials and ride in it as well. Over the years, courses were developed to accommodate four levels of competition -Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Preliminary. Many children in the club were introduced to the sport of evening at their own horse trials, and many Olympic riders rode there as well. The hunt and pony club gradually became separate, but have remained friendly. In 1994, Meadowberry Farm saw its last horse trials and its last year as our home grounds as the Weeden family retired from pony club.

From 1995 to 1999, our club hosted a Combined Test as our annual fund raiser. Then in 2000, AVHPC adopted a new home grounds at Lockatong Creek Farm, in Kingwood Twp., NJ, and renewed our horse trials and our presence in Kingwood. After many hours of pony club fathers and mothers building jumps and making improvements, courses for Beginner Novice and Novice were ready for the return of our USCTA recognized horse trials on the second weekend of July. Once again children in our club learn about and participate in this sport at their own horse trials. In 2001 we added a Training level course.

Over the years AVHPC has fielded many winning teams to regional and national rallies and produced nationally rated graduates including four A-rated equestrians. More importantly, we have helped so many children learn and practice skills important in life. This has come about because of dedicated people volunteering their time, money and expertise to support our children. The AVHPC spirit is strong.