The River Valley Pony Club (RVPC) and the Western North Carolina Hunter Pace Series will hold a Memorial Day Weekend Hunter Pace on Sunday, May 29 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (rain date will be June 5).

The course starts on Collinsville Road in Columbus and traverses the CETA and NPA trails, as well as numerous private properties.

Both field hunter and trail rider divisions will be offered with the field hunter division having an additional, longer loop. Riders must select their division at registration to earn a competitive rating. Awards will be given for first through sixth places in both divisions with Western Carolina Hunter Pace Series points awarded. Lunch is provided to paying riders and for a small fee for all others.

The RVPC sponsors this annual fundraising event each year. Proceeds from the event will benefit the members of River Valley Pony Club in support of the club’s educational and instructional programs for progressing through the United States Pony Club’s Standards and Rating System.

For questions, more information or to check updates about the Hunter Pace, visit www.rvpc.org or contact Dana Kind at 828‐863‐1359 or Kristen Billiu at

714‐235‐8326.

The course’s start and registration are located in Columbus, near the intersection of Collinsville Road and John Weaver Road. From I‐26 at Exit 1, turn east (away from Landrum), travel on Rt. 128 (Landrum Road) for 1.9 miles to Collinsville Road. Take a right on to Collinsville and go 3.3 miles to the event.

Children 12 and under must ride with an adult. Checks and cash only to be paid at registration on day of event. Checks should be made out to River Valley Pony Club.

Visit www.rvpc.org or www.WCHPace.org and click on the “Hunter Pace” link to access more information and entry forms / waivers. Print and fill out the entry form and bring it to the event. A parent or guardian must sign releases for youth under 18 or they will not be able to participate. Waivers must be signed for CETA, NPA and the U.S. Pony Club. Riders must wear helmets and must bring evidence of a recent negative Coggins test.

Lunch will be held from 11 a.m. ‐ 2 p.m. and will be catered by the Fabulous Doo-Daddies Cuisine Team.

The District Commissioner (DC) of The River Valley Pony Club is Robert Williams of Tryon. The Joint DC is Helen Firby of Tryon. Board members include Tracy Daniels of Tryon; Dawn Dingwell of Campobello; Ken Just of Pickens, S.C.; Kristen Billiu of Landrum; Vicki DePalma of Landrum and Dana Kind of Columbus.

There are approximately 12,000 members of USPC in 625 clubs throughout the country. Along with an emphasis on helping its members learn to ride and care for horses, Pony Club promotes teamwork, a sense of responsibility, safety, good moral judgment and self-confidence.

The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit national youth organization to teach riding and horsemanship through a formal educational program. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including most of our Olympic Equestrian team members, have Pony Club roots. Members range in age from as young as 4 through age 25. Activities are English-riding based, and members ride both horses and ponies, depending on the size of the rider and the discipline in which s/he is competing. All Pony Club competition is team competition, much like the Olympic games, where members learn the importance of cooperation and teamwork.

To learn more about River Valley Pony Club or to visit an upcoming Pony Club meeting, visit River Valley Pony Club’s website at www.RiverValleyPC.org or contact Robert Williams at robert@hayloftfarm.com.

– article submitted by Tracey Daniels