Five local girls, ages 11 to 13, will compete in the Prince Philip Cup — a National United States Pony Club competition — in Lexington, Kentucky, from April 26 to 28.
To get to the Prince Philip Cup, or PPC, Thunder Hooves team members Kate Benjamin of Westminster; Mackenzie Hicks of New Windsor; sisters Brooke and Kate Keiser of New Windsor; and Ella Jensen of New Market won the USPC Maryland Region Games Rally in May 2017 and then placed fourth in the USPC Championships in North Carolina in July 2018. The top four teams were invited to the Prince Phillip Cup.
“All of the girls started from scratch about two years ago and have worked very hard to get where they are now,” team coach Matt Brown said. “Just making it to the PPC is a huge accomplishment in itself.”
Thunder Hooves is a combined team, with members from two Carroll County clubs — the Talbot Run Equestrian Center and Burntwoods Pony Club.
On a windy Monday afternoon, three team members met for an impromptu practice at Talbot Run Equestrian Center in Mount Airy. While mounted teammates Mackenzie and Brooke passed a baton, Kate trotted down a line to place a ball on top of a cone from atop her moving horse.
“I’ve been in pony club since I was 6 years old, and Hershey is the same age as me,” Brooke said of her horse. “When I first got her she was scared of everything, but now she is much better.”
Like Brooke, Mackenzie was eager to talk about her pony.
“Gracie is really an all-around pony,” she said of the gray mare. “She can’t jump very high, but she does well at dressage. She’s not fancy, but she’s really good!”
Kate Keiser wrapped her arms around her palomino, Honey, as she spoke, rubbing the golden neck gently.
“I like how much you are able to learn in pony club,” she said. “A team is always better. You can ask each other questions and make sure you are doing the right thing.”
According to Ann Petrasek, owner of the Talbot Run Equestrian Center, the ponies are not trained for games alone. Petrasek is joint team leader with Suzie Riccio, Sabrina Benjamin and Liane West of Burntwoods Pony Club.
“Our ponies are multiuse ponies, which is why the team is so cool,” Petrasek said. “They use their ponies for jumping and dressage and everything. The ponies have to be willing to go close to other ponies and be fairly quick and obedient. It’s not always the fastest pony that wins. Sometimes it’s about accuracy.”
Thirteen-year-old team member Ella Jensen echoed those thoughts.
“The trick to being a good games team is being accurate,” she said. “Our team is a good mix of accuracy and speed. This makes the Thunder Hooves a winning combination!”
At any USPC event, riders are separated from competitors — so no coaching comes from the sideline. Riders are fined for that. Competitors must have a rally kit with all their supplies and extra equipment. They must pass a safety check and inspection of horse and trailer. Their dedication is evident.
“To go to any show or event, the kids are in an active lesson plan with two to four lessons a week,” said Tiffany Hicks, Mackenzie’s mother. Then, pony club lessons are twice a month. In order to get their pony ready, they are bathing it two to three times a week, doing proper grooming and keeping the horse — and themselves as riders — physically fit. They work their tails off to prepare for a rally or event, and it’s all year long, not just the day before a rally. Their horsemanship is some of the best I’ve seen. It’s how they take care of their horses.”
Nancy Keiser, mother of Brooke and Kate, nodded in agreement.
“I love watching them ride and seeing how they’ve learned,” she said. “And I love seeing the bonds they have with their ponies.”
Life for these kids revolves around horses. An added reward for the team will be seeing top world competitors at the USPC competition at Kentucky Horse Park. They’ll also be there for a huge eventing competition.
“I’m excited about taking Jellybean to such a big event,” Ella said of her pony. “He will be excited to be around famous eventers!”
Coach Brown said there are unexpected rewards, too.
“Pony club really is about using horse riding to mold responsible citizens and future leaders, and there are numerous programs to do just that,” Brown said. “From the inherent work in keeping a horse safe and healthy, and the learning required to do that, to the passing along of that knowledge to younger riders in teaching programs, to joining youth boards and volunteer opportunities — pony club is all about raising leaders. Mounted games is one part of that mission and I’m proud to volunteer in this great organization.”