58 SIDELINES JULY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
“My Story” is a frst person account of life in the equestrian
world. Would you like to write your story for Sidelines
Magazine? To be considered, send a brief description of
your story to editor@sidelinesnews.com.
taking care of our own horses and the occasional shaving cream
fght to test the boundaries, were some great memories missed
today. A Pony Club rider learned to come to a show more than
prepared. We made tack rooms for a team of four out of the back
of our two horse trailers and didn’t care if it was pouring rain or
freezing cold. We had each other. Besides, there was no such
A Pony Club Education
Take a look at top American riders and you will fnd that
many started their riding careers in Pony Club on the backs
of much-loved horses and ponies. Pony Club has statistics to
back this up, as 51 American Olympians are Pony Club alumni.
The United States Pony Clubs continues to educate today’s
young riders and a new Equine Educational Exhibit is making
its way across the country. The educational display offers 17
educational stations made of authentic equine components
such as bones from a real horse and actual grooming and
tack items. Factual information is presented with mobile
convenience displaying interactive equine activities focused
on safety for both horse and rider.
The Equine Educational Exhibit, funded through grants from
The International Horse Show and USA Equestrian Trust,
shares the love of horses with youth and adults across the
country. The educational display is designed to share the
passion of horses through interactive fun, and to provide
participants with an experience leading to future interaction
with horses and ponies.
For more information about the exhibit, or to fnd out about
hosting the exhibit at an upcoming event, contact marketing@
ponyclub.org. Find additional educational information on riding
and horse care, or help support equestrian education by
visiting www.ponyclub.org.
A visitor learns bandaging and
proper leg support to protect
her horse’s legs.
Photo courtesy of the
United States Pony Club
Eric on the cross-country course at The Fork Horse Trials in
Norwood, North Carolina, 2013.
Photo by Beth Grant - bethgrantphotography.com
Hmmmm…What part of the
horse did I dig out of the bone
box?
Photo courtesy of the
United States Pony Club
thing as bad weather, just bad preparation.
There were many lessons learned on and off the standard. I
failed my share of ratings, but I always came back to try again,
acknowledging the fact that I was not competent with just
memorizing correct responses. Taking accountability for actions
that happen around you is an important lesson in life.
Pony Club had a big infuence on me of how I deal with
pressures and opportunities in life today. From the age of 12 to
21, I was exposed to every emotion a teenager can encounter.
Not only did I have my friends to lean on, but I had my horse.
There is something about the horse that makes you know he’s
always listening.
Today, I can say I’m a graduate “A” from Fox River Valley
Pony Club. My wife Trayce, also a graduate “A” from Greenville
Foothills, own and manage Renovatio Farms in Tryon, North
Carolina. Teaching is not a job for me but a love of mission. There
are so many life lessons learned through horses that sometimes
get blinded by expectations from them in the show ring. I like to
learn the lesson from the horse and do the competition as a team
partnership rather than a vehicle. When taking the time to care
for the horses inside and out of the show ring, and learning more
about the responsibilities we owe them while in our care, one can’t
help to notice how much he wants to please us in return. It’s not
just about being competitive, but about being moral and sensitive
to your horse’s needs. Besides, your horse is the friend you told
all those secrets to you wouldn’t tell anybody else. What if he were
to speak?
About the writer: Eric Dierks is a graduate “A” from Fox River Valley Pony Club
and he was Long Listed on the eventing team for both the 2002 World Equestrian
Games and the 2004 Olympic Games. He and his wife, Trayce, own and train out of
Renovatio Farms in Tryon, North Carolina, where the pursuit of excellence, safety
and fun are not just priorities but a way of life.