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| Let's Communicate |
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USPC Video Contest for your members, please pass on!
USPC is holding a competition to find some great, short video clips to put on the front page of the new USPC web site. Entries are due by Sat. Jan 16, 2010. If you want to enter (and you're a Pony Club member), please follow these steps:
1) The video's theme should be based on one of the following concepts:
• Why we like Pony Club.
• What we do in Pony Club.
• What is Pony Club all about.
• Why my horse likes Pony Club.
2) Now make your video:
• No more than 90 seconds long
• Clear sound for any spoken words, no background noise
• Bright lighting and clear, in-focus video.
• Everyone in the video should wear a USPC pin or USPC logo shirts
• Anyone with a horse should have on safe footwear and if riding, a helmet
• Shoot in a 4:3 aspect ratio
• Don't use commercial music - no music for which someone else owns the copyright. You can create your own or search the web for Royalty Free music.
3) When you have finished, upload your video to YouTube.
4) Then register for this site, http://www.uspcbog.org/video-competition
5) Finally enter your competition entry HERE. You will be asked to enter the URL of your YouTube video.
Winners will be recognized at the USPC Annual Meeting in Houston, and of course online!
Thanks, USPC Tech and Communications Committees
Pony Club Gallops on to Facebook
 The United States Pony Club has recently launched an Official Facebook Page. Facebook is a social networking site that allows its members to connect and communicate freely with friends, and others who work, study, and live around them. Our official page will allow us to inform our members about breaking news, upcoming events, and hot topics in the industry. We will be regularly posting new discussion points, photo albums, and interesting facts about USPC and its members. This new page adds to the USPC social media outreach effort, joining our Ning site, as a center for Pony Club members to share their ideas, photos, videos and friendship.
Facebook is free and open to all our members, former members, prospective members, and those who are just interested in learning more about USPC. This page is a great way to get more involved with Pony Club. You will now have the opportunity to meet new people, get news, and communicate with the national office in an easy and fun way. We encourage you and your members to join today and let us know how we can help you get more involved! And watch for great specials from the USPC Bookstore.
Become a fan of the Official USPC Facebook page!
USPC News ONLINE
 Coming Soon: The first edition of USPC News ONLINE, the active version of USPC's member newsletter. We're excited to offer this online publication to our members--you'll find lots of photos and even a video or two. Planned 'publication' will be mid January, so stay tuned!
The Spring and Fall issues of USPC News will mail to members; the USPC News ONLINE will be available quarterly.
New for 2010: Going Green!
To better serve our members and help global efforts at going green, the 2010 USPC Annual Directory will be available online only to allow corporate and participating members to access the information published in past years in a 200 page document that was expensive to produce, expensive to mail, and not very friendly to the environment.
An added benefit to having the Directory available online is that updates – such as email address and phone number changes – will be published regularly, making the contact information much more up to date. We will announce on the Digests and in E-News when the Directory is available, which should be in early April. Pages needed regularly may be downloaded and printed, if desired.
Corporate Members who require a paper copy may return the postcard included with their proxy. But please consider going green!
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| Activities Updates |
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Championships T-Shirt Contest
 Design the official T-Shirt for Championships 2010 and win a $100 Gift Certificate to the USPC Bookstore!
• Contest deadline: April 1st
• Use one 8-1/2 X 11 sheet of white paper per entry
• Use up to four colors (Fine point sharpies work the best)
• Use the entire sheet of paper
• Sign the artwork (and be sure your name, rating, age and Pony Club is printed on the back)
• Contest will be open to all active Pony Club members
• $100.00 gift certificate from USPC Bookstore awarded to winner
• Send artwork to Activities, USPC, 4041 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511
PLEASE NOTE: The competition is called Championships, NOT Nationals.
Pony Finals Deadline
March 15th deadline for USPC Team Declarations for the 2010 USEF Pony Finals
USEF Pony Finals will again be at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky USPC may take a team of the top three or four pony/rider combinations. Membership on the USPC Pony Jumper team is open to any pony/rider combination that fills out a declaration form indicating that they are interested in being considered for the Pony Jumper National Championships and who is currently competing in USEF competitions in Pony . The more information and the declaration form is available on the USPC Show Jumping Web site, and on the USPC main site under Special Opportunities. No pony/rider combination will be considered for the Championship if a declaration has not been received at the USPC office by March 15, 2010. For the Declaration, CLICK HERE . For more information contact Wayne Quarles or Erin Woodall .
Joys of Foxhunting Writing Contest Deadline is May 1st
 Please remind your members that the 2010 Hildegard Neill Ritchie Foxhunting Writing Contest deadline is May 1, 2010. The annual Hildegard Neill Ritchie Writing contest is open to all D- or C-rated Pony Club members. The winning submission will receive a $200 cash prize to be spent on Foxhunting dues, hunt capping fees, Pony Club camp or anything related to these activities. Second Place: $100; Third Place $50. The winning entries will be published in USPC News and in The Chronicle of the Horse.
For more information visit the USPC Foxhunting Web site. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2010. For more information contact Wayne Quarles or Erin Woodall .
The Live Oak Hounds/USPC Foxhunting Challenge Award
 Fox Hunting Season is coming to a close in many areas. Don’t forget to have your certificates signed for the Live Oak Hounds/USPC Foxhunting Challenge Award. The deadline is April 1st.
For more information visit the USPC Foxhunting Web site. This Award is made possible through the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. C. Martin Wood III, Joint Masters of the Live Oak Hounds in Monticello, Florida, and Past Presidents of the MFHA.
2010 Lendon Gray Youth Dressage Festival
The Annual Youth Dressage Festival will be held July 9-11, 2010. Declarations to be a part of the USPC team are due May 1st, 2010.
Further information available on USPC Dressage web page under opportunities
New Funding Opportunity for Pony Club Members from the Dressage Foundation
The Dressage Foundation announced today that a new fund has been established. The Trip Harting Fund has been created with donations to The Dressage Foundation from Trip’s friends and supporters. This fund will provide grants up to $500 for a current or graduate rider with a Pony Club Rating of B or A to assist in attending the USDF “L” Education Program or USDF Instructor Certification Program.
Read more:
Read about Trip Harting:
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| From the Bookstore |
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How Your Horse Moves – A unique visual guide to improving performance. (Click title to go directly to Bookstore Web site)
By: Gillian Higgins with Stephanie Martin
Item #: 2959
Price: $28.99
 Take a fresh look at equine anatomy and biomechanics with this graphic to how horses move, presented from the inside out. Understand how bones and muscles work together to produce movement by seeing the musculoskeletal system painted on a real equine canvas. Discover how correct riding and training can bring out the best in your horse - increasing fitness, strength and balance - by seeing exactly what happens as he moves. Practical exercises and stretches demonstrate how you can improve suppleness, reduce the risk of injury, gain confidence and develop a deeper rapport with your horse.
Read more:
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| Development News |
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News from Our Sponsors
 Try the new Sensation water repellent tights and breeches. Perfect for year round use. Start your Holiday Shopping at Devon-Aire
 Please Welcome Dover Saddlery as the new Sponsor of the USPC Centers Program. Visit Dover Saddlery for all of your clothing and tack needs for both horse and rider. or call 1 888 271 4524 for a free catalog
 Most dewormers kill adult small stongyles. Some dewormers kill encysted small strongyles in some of their stages. The ingredient in Safe-Guard® Power-Dose® is the ONLY one FDA approved to treat all stages of encysted small strongyles. Click Here for more information and a coupon off your next purchase of Safe-Guard® Power-Dose®. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is proud to sponsor the Horse Management Program.
 Check out Perri’s new line of engraved products! These make great holiday gifts, buy a personalized halter for your pony or an engraved bracelet for a friend. Perri’s, the USPC Games Discipline Sponsor. Go Games!!!
 ENTER THE SHORT STORY WRITING CONTEST! Click here to find out more about the PONY Short Story Writing Contest. PONY - The #1 Book Club for kids who love horses and ponies. A subscription is a great Holiday Gift idea for the young horse-lover in your family. Visit PONY today!
Specialty Program Insurors is proud to Sponsor the USPC Leadership Programs. For questions about your Pony Club insurance needs, be sure to contact us
 Earn money for your club! This program pays money for each Proof-of-Purchase seal from every Southern States and Triple Crown branded horse feed. Southern States is a regional company along the east coast. If you do not live in a region where there are Southern States stores, then Triple Crown has a separate program called the Partners Program. For information on the Southern States SHOW program.
If outside the Southern States area, contact Jessica Dahlheimer at 800-267-7198 or at the “contact us” page. At the website, you can also sign up to win tickets and lodging at the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY in 2010.
Local Clubs Can Now Receive 7% Back In Unrestricted Funds On All Moxie Purchases!!
 Clubs can now set-up their own Partner with Moxie account. When a member of a registered club shops with Moxie, they receive a 10%discount, free shipping AND 7% of the total purchase will go back to the registered club and 3% to the national organization. This new affiliation will create income for local clubs when you shop with Moxie. Any club that is interested in becoming a Partner with Moxie may contact Laney at Moxie Equestrian. Your club will be assigned an individual number to be used at checkout to receive 10% off your order and allow tracking of the rebates to your club and our national organization. You may reach Laney by calling 864.288.7363 or email: Laney@moxieequestrian.com.
If your club does not want to set-up their own account, you can still shop the Moxie web site and receive your 10% discount and free shipping by using the PWM105 number. The 10% rebate will then come back to USPC.
This is a great way for your clubs to receive cash back in unrestricted funds, while purchasing some great products for you and your horse. Don’t forget to promote this to local Horsemaster Groups as well. They can shop and create funds for their affiliated club!
Discounts for USPC Members
Click Here to find out more about the Member Discount Program, which provide great discounts on products and services that you may already be purchasing.
International Exchange Auction
Watch the Web Site for information about the upcoming International Exchange Benefit Auction. There will be some great items to bid on, and all proceeds will support the USPC International Exchange Programs.
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| A Note from the Finance Director |
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Attention Treasurers:
Remember to issue 1099s to anyone to whom you have paid $600 or more in 2009. Now is the time for you to prepare for this by sending out W-9s to anyone who they do not have a social security number on.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via email or call 859-254-7669, ext. 230.
Karen Winn, USPC Finance Director
1099-MISC for 2009
All clubs and regions must prepare a Federal 1099-MISC form for each individual paid $600 or more in a calendar year (this includes instructors, judges, etc.). You may only pay a small amount per lesson, but when you add all of the payments at the end of the year you may find the total is at or over $600. This form should be issued for payments made for services. Do not include payments made for travel or other reimbursed expenses.
The Federal 1099-MISC must be prepared each January. Preparing this form requires having the Social Security Number of the individual you pay. Now is the time to prepare by having anyone to whom you pay a fee sign a W-9 form. A W-9 Form is available HERE, and you may make as many copies as you need. Original forms are also available from the IRS by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). Retain the W-9 for each person (do not send it to the USPC office or the IRS).
In January, complete the 1099-MISC forms. The carbonized forms can be obtained from the IRS at the above telephone number, or online under “Forms and Publications.” You must complete the 1099-MISC form for each person the Club or Region has paid $600 or more during the previous calendar year. Fill in the amount paid in Box 7, “Nonemployee Compensation.” The 1099-MISC form is to be given or sent to each person no later than January 31, 2009.
The Club or Region will then send one copy of all 1099-MISC forms that have been sent out with a Summary Form 1096 to the Internal Revenue Service. Form 1096 is also available online under “Forms and Publications.” The due date for filing these forms with the IRS is February 28, 2010.
2009 Summary of Cash Receipts & Disbursements
Each Club and region must submit to USPC a summary of their financial activities during the 2009 calendar year each spring. This document goes into the club or region file, and needs to be sent in to the USPC office by February 15, 2010. Failure to submit this form could result in your club being found not in good standing. This form can be found on the USPC Web site, under Forms, under C for “Cash Receipts & Disbursements, Club/Region, 2009.”
Treasurers utilizing a computerized accounting system for their recordkeeping may substitute a 2009 Year End Balance Sheet and Income Statement in lieu of the above form. Be sure your club name appears on the form. Any of the forms can be faxed (859-233-4652) or scanned and emailed to USPC.
IRS FORM 990
Any club or region with more than $25,000 in gross income for 2009 is required to file the IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Clubs with gross income of $25,000 to $100,000 are eligible to file the 990-EZ. Clubs with over $100,000 in gross income must file the standard Form 990.
Clubs and regions with gross income of less than $25,000 in 2009 are required to file the 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations not Required to file Form 990 or 990-EZ. Each treasurer must go to the IRS website, and type 990-N in the “search” box.
Select the “file the epostcard” option, enter your club’s federal ID number (EIN) on the “EPostcard” and acknowledge you are not required to file Form 990. This needs to be completed before May 15, 2009 for tax year 2008. The legal name of the US Pony Club is USPC Newco, Inc. and this is what will appear when you input your club’s EIN. You should be sure your club’s name is listed under the “doing business as” (DBA) spot. DC’s (or RS in the case of a region) name and address should be listed as the contact point for your club/region.
Failure to file could result in loss of tax-exempt status, so it is essential that all clubs comply with this new requirement. Your club’s EIN can be found in the index of the 2009 Annual Directory, or by contacting Karen Winn at the USPC Office.
Insurance for 2010 Pony Club Activities
The online Insurance Request function at the USPC website is ready to accept early 2010 locations for your Club and Regional activities. Click on the red “Insurance” tab at the top of the USPC homepage. Remember, the 2008 insurance policy expired on December 31, 2009, so you must re-register all of the locations where your club will have activities in 2010 for there to be insurance coverage for these meetings. The cost per site for 2010 will be $15 annually. You may use each site as many times as you like for one fee. After January 1, when you log in you will have the opportunity to “renew” the 2009 sites for your club without having to enter all of the landowner information again. This renewal opportunity will remain available until March 1, 2010.
The certificate of insurance for the landowner for 2010 will be available online after the first of the year. If you do not know your exact dates for activities in 2010, you may come back to your landowner screen at any time by logging in and “editing” your landowner with specific dates. This is the best way to be sure your meetings are covered. An email to our office as well as to the insurance company is automatically generated when you update your activity dates. It is also acceptable to list your dates of activities as “every Saturday throughout the year” or similar wording. It is NOT acceptable to list your dates as “every day of the year” as the insurance is only in effect on the days and times your club is having an official meeting at that location.
GOOD NEWS for 2010:
The optional accident/ medical coverage which your club must purchase if you will have non-members participating in your Pony Club activity (a fundraising horse show or clinic, for example) will be going down in price for 2010 to $28 per day (down from $31 per day). This must be procured directly from SPI prior to the activity taking place. Also, by popular demand, SPI anticipates this will be available online in 2010! Stay tuned for more updates on this function.
Any questions regarding our insurance coverage may be directed to Karen Winn.
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| Miscellaneous Opportunities |
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Youth Equestrian Trails Expo
February 6 & 7, 2010, Fort Braden Recreation Area, Lake Talquin State Forest, 14188 Blountstown Highway, Tallahassee, Florida 32310
A Youth Equestrian Trails Expo is planned for February 6 & 7, 2010, hosted by the Office of Greenways & Trails - Florida Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with the Division of Forestry - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, the U.S. Forest Service and the Southern Trailriders Association.
Read More:
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