Mark Your Calendars – The National Dressage Pony Cup Is Coming Back to Kentucky in July 2016
Coming off a banner year which saw the astonishing growth of the National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC) to include more than 100 partner shows across the country as well as welcoming almost 100 entries to its flagship competition in September, founder Jenny Carol has announced that the NDPC will return to the Kentucky Horse Park from July 8–10, 2016 as part of a new partnership with the Kentucky Dressage Association (KDA) Summer Classic I & II.
“Our hope is that the new July dates will make it even easier for people to attend the NDPC during summer vacations and before the school year starts,” explained Carol. “And I’m delighted that we’ll be working with the Kentucky Dressage Association, which will allow the Pony Cup opportunities for growth we never had before. The KDA board and volunteers have a proven track record in producing outstanding shows as they have hosted CDI’s, USDF Regional Championships, and even the USEF Festival of Champions, and their knowledge and experience in creating superbly-organized shows with a fabulous atmosphere will make the NDPC even more special for our exhibitors.”
This year, enthusiastic competitors and their talented mounts from New England and South Florida and west to Colorado and Texas came to Lexington to pursue $15,000 in prize money and championship honors in Open, Adult Amateur, and Junior/Young Rider divisions as well as special high-point, musical freestyle, and Breed Awards. In a continuing effort to promote ponies in dressage, the NDPC will expand to offer two exciting new opportunities in 2016.
“First, our competitors will have the chance to show off their ponies at the NDPC Breed Shows as part of the KDA Breed Shows I and II which will be held on Saturday July 9th and Sunday, July 10th at the Kentucky Horse Park, with a full range of classes for ponies from current-year foals to materiale along with Individual Breed Classes (IBC),” explained Carol. “Secondly, I’m thrilled to announce that we will offer a special NDPC Young Pony Futurity for four, five, and six-year-old ponies competing at Training, First, and Second Level (respectively) as well as U.S.-bred pony awards. Across the country, young horse classes and programs have been one of the most exciting opportunities for breeders and competitors over the last decade, and now we want to offer the same opportunity for pony breeders, owners and riders to make their mark on the sport and further encourage the breeding and development of outstanding pony athletes in this country.”
“KDA is very excited to have the NDPC partner with us for our first July recognized dressage show,” said KDA President Michelle Morehead. “We also will be holding our breed shows the same weekend, which I feel will make this new KDA show a popular event for our members and all dressage competitors and breeders.”
To learn more about how to participate in National Dressage Pony Cup programs and the championship show including the Pony Breeders’ Showcase and Young Pony divisions, visit www.dressageponycup.com.
October 8, 2015 press release by Yellow Horse Marketing for the National Dressage Pony Cup
