The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. will once again hold the Prince Philip Cup Mounted Games competition at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The 2016 Prince Philip Cup Games will mark the competition’s 16th consecutive year it will be hosted during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The event will feature 4 teams from across the country. The tentative competition schedule is:
Friday, April 29
- 12:30 p.m. Celebrity Challenge Round, Walnut Ring (Rolex competitors and, well-known Pony Club graduates will be joining the teams for this special exhibition.)
- 1:00 p.m. Prince Philip Cup Games Round 1, Walnut Ring
Saturday, April 30
- 8:30 a.m. Prince Philip Cup Games Round 2, followed by Awards, Rolex Stadium
Sunday, May 1
- 11:30 a.m. Presentation of Awards, Rolex Stadium
Mounted Games is a series of relay races on horseback, where the riders must perform different skills while riding at speed. These riders perform skills that require them to use hand-eye coordination, strength and speed – all while working as a team to complete each relay. Some games require them to dismount and pick an object off of the ground and then vault back on to the pony. Other games require weaving through poles or running alongside the pony. The goal of mounted games is to provide and teach games that will enhance riding skills, physical coordination, and self-confidence. To qualify for the Prince Philip Cup Games competition, each team must have achieved top honors at the USPC Championships the previous summer. The teams competing this year are:
VIRGINIA REGION WE GOT GAME
Grace Hecker riding Catch Me If You Can
Rachel Bailey riding Kerritts
Ronald Borta riding Jitter
Virginia Carpenter riding Jack in the Box
Scott Carpenter riding Sebastian
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA/OLD DOMINION/NORTH CENTRAL PRAIRIE REGIONS BLOOMABILITY
Audrey Buchanan riding Super Sally
Margaret Buchanan riding Good Fortune
Jesse Bradley-Johnson riding Sunflower Power
Mackenzie Raniowski riding Daddy’s Fury
Sabrina Yashinsky riding Willow
SUNSHINE REGION LEMONHEADS
Megan All riding Parker
Joan Marchand riding Gwen
Lexie Ray riding Mr. Snuggles
Audrey Rosen riding Minnie
Kali Walker riding Holly
CAPITAL REGION RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Mitchell Walker riding Summit
Piper Fabry riding Ladybug
Mallary Graham riding Jose
Abigail Fischer riding Dusty
Sadie McBain riding Prince Harry
The competition was originally sponsored by HRH Prince Philip, due to his interest in supporting equestrian competition for youth that did not necessarily require a fancy or expensive mount. The original competition was an Exhibition held at the National Horse Show, then later moved to the Washington International Horse Show. In 2000, EEI, the organizing group of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, offered to host the Prince Philip Cup competition as a competition/exhibition during the Rolex Three Day Event.
The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (Pony Club) was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit national youth organization to teach riding and horsemanship through a formal educational program. There are approximately 9,000 Pony Club members in over 600 clubs and riding centers throughout the country. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including several of our Olympic team members, business professionals, government leaders and career military officers, have roots in Pony Club. Youth members range in age from as young as 4 through age 25. Pony Club also offers educational opportunities to a growing number of adults through Horsemasters membership. For more information visit ponyclub.org.
