CEO of the United States Eventing Association, Inc.
Iron Bridge Hounds Pony Club, Maryland Region
How long have you been involved with Pony Club?
Since 1982
How did you get involved with the organization?
As a young Pony Club member, I began at Fresno Pony Club as an unrated member.
What is your favorite thing about the organization?
The horsemanship lessons, and the camaraderie with my peers.
As a member of the Board, what change are you working to bring to the organization?
I truly want to reconnect my sport, Eventing, more closely with the USPC. Additionally, as a pony club father and alumni I believe I bring a unique perspective to the arena.
What professional equine industry experience do you have outside of Pony Club?
Much of my career has been in a somewhat unique position with executive level equine industry experience. As the CEO of the USEA and previously as the Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board (a statewide governmental commodity board within the MD Department of Agriculture) I have financial, administrative, management, marketing, media, communications, membership, development, and other relevant experience of use to USPC. Finally, as an Intermediate/CCI2* athlete and former Intercollegiate coach I can couple my business/leadership accomplishments with actual life experiences.
Senior Software Engineer, Couchbase, Inc.
Saratogo Pony Club, Middle California Region
How long have you been involved with Pony Club?
I started as a youth member around 1983 or so, thus 40+ years.
How did you get involved with the organization?
I learned to ride relatively late, age 15, when my family was planning to go on a pack trip. The whole family took lessons, but it really clicked for me, and I wanted to keep on with it after the trip. None of the rest of the family had any horse background, so I looked for horse opportunities in my town and found Jericho Forest Pony Club. They were tremendously helpful in developing my horse knowledge and riding abilities. After aging out at 21, I was inactive for a number of years, but started volunteering again when my daughter was old enough to join, and have been active ever since.
What is your favorite thing about the organization?
The focus on care and respect for horses.
As a member of the Board, what change are you working to bring to the organization?
The issue of greatest concern to me is the long-term decline in membership. I don't know why it's happening, and what can be done to turn it around, but I'd like to work on anything that could identify the causes and address them.
What professional equine industry experience do you have outside of Pony Club?
I hold the British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor certification.
Community Volunteer
Horse & Hound Pony Club and The Midwest Region
How long have you been involved with Pony Club?
31 years
How did you get involved with the organization?
I joined as a participating member when I was 9 years old.
What is your favorite thing about the organization?
I absolutely love that Pony Club builds an amazing community of exceptional equestrians. As a former-youth member, the friendships and experience I gained truly helped shape my life in meaningful, continuing and unwavering ways. As an adult and leader, I've grown increasingly appreciative of how the Horse Management skills gained in USPC makes its members much better providers and stewards for the horses and ponies they love. And as a Pony Club educator and mom, I delight in watching friendships, role models and support systems grow from shared passion and interest.
As a member of the Board, what change are you working to bring to the organization?
As a new member I'm eager to learn about more about the challenges the organization is facing and try my hardest to help solve them. I'm excited to continue the work of putting USPC's strong foundation, beliefs and values into action for its members in meaningful, fun and accessible ways that continue the legacy of exceptional horsemanship and sportsmanship. I'd love to explore additional ways to build strong USPC communities (which I think are really needed in a changing world). In addition, I look forward to continuing the work of the DEIA committee, especially as it comes to highlighting how inclusion efforts can easily be (and in many cases is already) incorporated at the local levels.
What professional equine industry experience do you have outside of Pony Club?
I own a private barn and have a passion for caring for geriatric horses. I've also had experience with adopting and rehabbing neglected horses.
College student at University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken County Pony Club, Carolina Region
How long have you been involved with Pony Club?
I have been a part of Pony Club since the end of 2019, so about 5 years
How did you get involved with the organization?
Pony Club was recommended to me by a local trainer as a way to get more involved in horses and learn how to properly care for them.
What is your favorite thing about the organization?
The teaching of the fundamentals and making sure that no one is allowed to progress without learning the basics of horse care and welfare.
As a member of the Board, what change are you working to bring to the organization?
I would love to work towards a change in the involvement of the upper-level members. Too often I see members 16 years and older leave Pony Club because they feel it is not worth their time. I also see members leaving because they do not feel like there are enough benefits, or they are not getting anything out of it. I would love to examine in depth the reasons for older members leaving, and what we can do to keep them engaged. Older members play a vital role in bringing in new members and I hate to see them leaving.
What professional equine industry experience do you have outside of Pony Club?
I was an assistant barn manager for a 40-horse boarding barn in Arizona. I was a working student for Morgan Batton, 3* eventer in Aiken SC, for a year and a half. I have extensive experience in grooming, braiding, and riding for many professionals in the eventing, dressage, and fox hunting disciplines.
Terry has devoted her professional career to providing investment and insurance solutions to both corporations and individuals. Her current business practice provides innovative solutions to qualified and non-qualified retirement plan needs. In addition to her extensive investment experience, Terry provides her clients cutting edge fiduciary and compliance information on legislative, case law and regulatory changes. Designations held: AIFA, CLU, CEBS, CPFA.
Industry Awards include: Financial Times Top 401Retirement Advisors: 2017, 2018, 2019
NAPA’s Top Women Advisors: 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021
Education: BS from The American University
Hobbies: Foxhunting with Goshen Hounds, supporting local riding events & playing with my grandchildren.
Dr. Sarah Andres is a Pony Club Graduate who received a B.S. degree in Microbiology from Purdue University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of Louisville. She currently works as a Program Manager for an NIH funded-Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program that helps transform basic scientific research into commercial products from all over the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In addition to being the D.C. of Sunny Side Pony Club in Southern Indiana, she has been on the Board of Governors for United States Pony Clubs, as well as several national committees, including serving as Chair of the Safety Committee from 2015-2019. Sarah has competed through the two-star level of eventing and is a USDF Bronze Medalist.
Rae started asking her very suburban family for a horse when she was three. At 12, persistence paid off and she got her own horse in her backyard and has never been horseless since. Jericho Forest Pony Club was active in her hometown in Massachusetts. She joined and graduated as a B with the same horse from age 12. College, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, marriage to Bruce, and three children followed. Her older children were active youth members and Trevor graduated as an H and Marlie continues as a member as an HA. One is an Air Force pilot and the other is an NE, CA, and RIC of the Lake Shore Region and teaches riding and trains horses. Rae's youngest could correctly answer any HM question posed to him, but never joined USPC. She has been a parent, Sponsor, DC, VRS, and, most recently, RS for 18 years. Rally, Testing, and Camp Organizer have been yearly activities.
National level activities include being Secretary for the Board of Governors, chairing the Board of Governor’s Strategic Planning Committee, resource for Marketing and Communications Committee, long term member of the Instruction Council's Visiting Instruction Committee, member of the Activities Council’s Discipline Promotions Committee, as well as other Board and Council volunteer positions. Council’s Discipline Promotions Committee, as well as other Board and Council volunteer positions.
Lorelle Carpenter spent fifteen years at Dover Saddlery building a cohesive marketing team that tripled the sales of the company through digital and analog marketing driving both online and retail store channels. With a solid track record of leading teams through change, she is a master at creating long term value through development of customers who become raving fans. Her experience spans both consumer and business-to-business, both in the USA and internationally. Currently President of Schneider Saddlery, she moved through CFO, CMO and COO roles to lead the Schneiders team to achieve sustained double-digit growth for the past seven years.
Lorelle has been riding since the age of two and her equestrian experience spans multiple disciplines. Through childhood she was involved in 4H, taught riding at camp, and competed in the New England State finals. Her family bred Arabians and Quarter Horses, and at sixteen she won Top Ten at the Arabian National Horse Show. She was a starting player on the National Champion NCAA University of Connecticut Polo Team for four years. For several years, she lived in England where she trained point-to-point steeplechase horses and imported Irish show jumpers. Both of her daughters were members of Monadnock, Groton, and Bath Pony Clubs as they moved across the country. Both girls were competitive in Tetrathlon and competed on Quiz teams at Champs. Lorelle currently shares her farm outside of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, Ken, and her three horses: a Connemara, a Hanoverian, and an American Warmblood.
Lorelle holds a BS in Business Administration with a Major in Marketing from the University of Connecticut.
As an Army brat, Lorelei was a member of several Pony Clubs throughout the country, earning her “A” from the West Point Pony Club of New York. In 1985, she graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as an Aviation lieutenant. In her 30 years of active military service, she held positions spanning diverse areas such as logistics, human resources, outreach, and operations. She was assigned to (then) Fort Bragg, West Point, Europe, the Pentagon, Fort Leavenworth, and Fort Campbell. Her critical professional positions include command of an aviation company during Operation Desert Storm in 1990 to 1991 as well as command of an 800-Soldier aviation support battalion of the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq from 2005 to 2006. She left military service as a Colonel from her assignment in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where she served as the Deputy Director of the United States Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute and then the Chief Operations Officer at the U.S. Army War College. She currently holds teaching and writing contracts with the Defense Department and Elizabethtown College.
Her adult involvement with United States Pony Clubs includes coaching and club instructor positions, as well as District Commissioner; service on committees or as an officer in several Regions; and as a National Examiner for several years. She was inducted into the USPC Academy of Achievement in 2002. She served on the USPC Board of Governors from 2008 until 2011 as the Vice President, Instruction. From 2011 to 2019, she was a Chair or member of several USPC Board Committees and was also Secretary, USPC. From 2020 to 2024, she was the Vice President, Regional Administration. Between 2015 to today, she is part of the Maryland Region leadership team, to include a few years as the Regional Supervisor.
Lydia Eilinger is a C2 EV/HA from Milton Pony Club in the South Region. Lydia has been in Pony Club since 2007. She started as a member of Bristol Hills Pony Club in Western New York Region before moving to the South Region in 2020. Currently, Lydia is the District Commissioner of Milton Pony Club, the South Region Youth Board Advisor, and the advisor of the National Youth Board.
Lydia earned her B.S. in Biology in 2019 from Berry College. Throughout college she stayed connected in USPC by finding a local club (Atlanta Pony Club) and volunteering at rallies, primarily as an Assistant Horse Management Judge. She currently is working at Georgia Aquarium in Nutrition Services. She enjoys spending time with her horse Mookie who she has had since 2008! Mookie competed in many pony club activities with Lydia throughout their teen years and went to USPC Show Jumping Championships three times. While in Pony Club, Lydia has participated in many national level opportunities including the 2022 International Foxhunting Exchange, the Visiting Instructor Program, and National Youth Congress.
Teresa “Terri” Gibbs Foreman is a lifelong USPC member, parent, and volunteer. She is currently a member of the USPC National Education Committee and stewards for the show jumper rings at USPC Nationals annually. Terri is a member of the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Committee and the USHJA Affiliate Council. She is IHSA Zone 7 Region 1 President, IHSA Zone 7 Chair, and IEA Region 11 Zone 5 President. She is co-owner of her family’s Commonwealth Farm in St. Joseph, Illinois where she instructs hunt seat equitation and coaches the University of Illinois Riding Illini IHSA team as well as the IEA Commonwealth Equestrians. She recently completed a 20+ year role as a member and treasurer of the board of directors of the Indiana Hunter Jumper Association and previously served as a board member and president of the Mid-State Illinois Hunter Jumper Association.
Terri grew up in the Casanova Warrenton Old Dominion (CWOD) Pony Club and was the District Commissioner of the Half Halt Pony Club and Regional Supervisor of the Heartland Region for many years. She rode as a professional in Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, and Indiana. Her husband and both daughters Catherine and Sarah are equine veterinarians, and her sons Matthew and Michael are college professor and college student, respectively. Sarah and Catherine were four- and two-time USPC national champions, respectively, in mounted games and show jumping and once won nationals together as a senior pair in mounted games. They both competed on USPC International Mounted Games exchange teams. Sarah was the 2017 winner of the Viva Perrin Award in Show Jumping at USPC Nationals. Her husband Jonathan is a professor at the University of Illinois and an FEI-certified veterinarian who has worked at the Olympics twice, the World Equestrian Games twice, and the Asian Games in China.
Sali Gear grew up in Pony Club in St. Croix U.S.V.I. , which really operated much like today's Riding Centers. After graduating from the University of Florida, she received her Naval commission and went to flight school. After primary she was selected for the jet training in Kingsville, TX, and was one of the first women through the tactical combat pipeline. Sali served for 20 years and retired as a CDR in 2004. She went on to run her own defense contracting company and ran a training and lesson program at her own farm in Virginia Beach. The correlation between riding and flying reminded her of the skies and, in 2015, she went back to her other passion of flying, first for United Airlines and now for Air Transport International where she operates Boeings 757 and 767 aircraft for Amazon and the military. Her job takes her around the country and the world. When she's not flying, she is sailing with her husband or rescuing dogs through her non-profit, Island Dog Rescue.
Jocelyn is an H-B HM/C-2 DR member of Tidewater Pony Club in the Delmarva Region. She has been an active member of the United States Pony Clubs since 2014 participating and volunteering at rallies, teaching members, helping organize events such as clinics, fundraising, and more. She has attended Championships every year since 2016 either competing in Dressage with her horse “Sky’s The Limit”, being an Assistant Horse Management Judge, volunteering, or stable managing. In both years Jocelyn has stable managed for her team, and they have received first place. More recently, she has been taking on bigger roles such as Youth Board President for her club and region, participating in the National Youth Congress, and being a member of the National Youth Board. While in Pony Club Jocelyn has been guided by two Chief Horse Management Judges and a National Examiner and plans on becoming a Chief herself along with passing her “A” certification in Dressage.
Pony Club has had an influential impact on Jocelyn’s life such as becoming more outgoing as a person and finding lifelong friendships. On top of that, also allowed her to expand her knowledge and love for horses. She plans to be involved with Pony Club for a long while and hopes to show others how great of an organization it is. Outside of horses, Jocelyn enjoys volunteering, reading, photography, and going to concerts. She plans to pursue a career in concert photography.
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Deb Kirsch is a graduate B from Norfolk Hunt Pony Club, now part of Central New England Region. While serving in many capacities over the years at the local, regional, and national level, she is currently Treasurer for Clayton Canyon Pony Club and Middle California Region, and has been serving on the USPC Advisory Committee.
Deb earned a B.A. in Psychology from Boston University. After college, she continued her Pony Club involvement as a clinician and coach while she pursued her Eventing career as the owner of Looking Glass Farm in Middleborough, Massachusetts where she taught and trained for 24 years.
While recovering from an injury, Deb decided to ‘temporarily’ spend part of her week using her many accumulated business skills inside, as the Executive Director of her local synagogue. This led to her discovering another passion in her life – nonprofit management. Currently, Deb is the Executive Director of Temple Isaiah, a 900-household synagogue in the East Bay of San Francisco. Temple Isaiah is nationally recognized for its innovative education and engagement programming, and its deep commitment to social action and social justice.
Deb lives in an equestrian community in Clayton, CA with her husband, 3 children, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and 2 of her homebred Looking Glass Farm horses. She enjoys trail riding on Mt. Diablo, cruising around the cross country course at Cardonet Oaks, and teaching for Clayton Canyon Pony Club.
Sedate Kohler is a graduate H-HM from Racine County Pony Club in Lake Shore Region. Growing up, she enjoyed attending rallies, first as a rider and then later as AHMJ, and being a club representative on the LSR Youth Board (LSRYB). As she got older, she found her niche in leadership roles, as Chair of the LSRYB, and teaching around the region. Through the Pony Club program and its multitude of UL opportunities, she participated in the National Youth Congress, served as a representative on the National Youth Board, and then as Chair, and was a Visiting Instructor in Iowa, Alaska, and Maine. In the past few years, she has been an AHMJ at Championships and an instructor at D-Camp at Festival.
Currently, Sedate enjoys teaching locally and has a few of her own students, one of whom rides Sedate's warmblood mare, Bella, who she developed and campaigned through Training level eventing. She is really enjoying watching & guiding Bella as she teaches a young rider the ropes of the sport.
Professionally, Sedate is a science teacher & department head in south-central WI. She teaches Biology, AP Biology, and Science & Society, a unique new course she is designing. She holds B.S. degrees in Biology and Science Communication, and a M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction.
“Tampa Bay Ray” has been a Pony Club dad and volunteer since daughter, Stacey I. Johnson joined Sleeping Giant Pony Club in the New York/Upper Connecticut Region in March of 1990. Three years later, they moved to Suncoast Pony Club in the Sunshine Region. He’s filled all sorts of shoes since then including JtDC, DC and, more famously, the announcer for Championships and Festival since 2001. His wife, Kathy, is the “Lunch Lady” at Festival and Champs.
Ray has always been interested in horses, even though he was from a non-horsey family. When he attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, he discovered there was a riding team that completed in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. He realized he could take Horsemanship classes as well. Unbeknownst to Ray, the instructor and team coach was none other than Capt. Jack Fritz. Ray became captain of the IHSA team and learned well under Fritz.
SueAnn has been involved with USPC for the past 29 years as club Treasurer, DC, Regional Treasurer, Vice RS, and RS and national Treasurer. SueAnn has served on the Board of Governors since 2015 and served on several national committees including Advisory, Safety, NYC/AA, Volunteer Development, D1-C2 Instruction, Policy, Governance, Finance, and Audit Committees. She has watched several generations of youth, as well as adults, grow up in Pony Club.
SueAnn has felt great satisfaction watching members develop sound judgment, leadership skills, and awareness of their community. She has learned that all of this personal growth is accomplished through their love of horses and desire to become better riders and caretakers of their equine partners. She shares this love for horses and is continually impressed with the positive influence this organization has on and through its members. She is the proud parent of Lena, a USPC H member and RS of the Rocky Mountain Region.
Professionally, SueAnn works in the Commercial Real Estate Division of HomeStreet Bank as a Senior Loan Closer. She currently lives in Kingston, Washington with her husband Jeff, two horses, a Corgi, two cats and 4 chickens.
Dr. McLean is a 1983 graduate of Colorado State University Veterinary School. He also holds an MPH from Boston University and is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Dr. McLean retired after 14 years as Epidemiologist, USDA APHIS Veterinary Services in 2016. Prior to his position with USDA, Dr. McLean was the Allegheny District Veterinary Commander at Carlisle Barracks. Dr. McLean was married to Susan C. Gould (deceased) and they have two sons, James, and Trey (Donald III).
Dr. McLean’s interests and hobbies include Eventing, Fox Hunting, woodworking, old cars, and working on their small farm in Wagener, SC. He and Susan worked with children in Pony Club; he is a past member of the HM Committee, past VP of Carrollton Hounds Fox Chasing Club, has been a long time USEF Eventing Technical Delegate, is an FEI steward, and was an assistant scoutmaster with BSA Troop 333.
I met my husband, Mike, when I was a senior in high school. We have two children, Brianna 22 and Michael 20. Brianna and I ride and do Pony Club together. Mike & Michael play and coach hockey and Brianna and I are their biggest fans.
I hold a BS in Biology and a Masters of Science in Applied Biotechnology. After completing my bachelors degree, I worked at an Environmental Chemistry Company as a Project Coordinator until our daughter was born. Then I spent 21 years working for my father in law as the Operations Manager for his Metal Distributorship. Both of our children grew up coming to the office with me everyday until they were old enough to stay home alone after school. I actually started my masters degree while we were at USPC Convention in Seattle in 2020 and completed it in 2 years being one of the first 3 graduates of my program. I now work as a Project Manager in the Commercialization Team for Genus IntelliGen Technologies. We are are cattle genetics company specializing in AI technologies. I work to set up new labs for our company and our customers as well as implement new technologies and improvements within all of the existing labs.
I have also spent many years volunteering in other organizations - Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, hockey, school & church. I find myself working on event planning for many of these organizations, such as dinner auctions & golf outings.
I started riding at the age of 9. I had always wanted a horse and to ride, and when we moved to WI, the father of one of my brother's new friends was a horse trainer. I was jokingly invited to clean stalls on Saturday in exchange for riding. I showed up with a bag lunch and continued to show up every Saturday. Soon enough I was riding training horses and helping give lessons, and eventually was helping as an assistant stable manager. I started competing on the local hunter jumper circuit, and local open shows. We started an all equine 4-H club at the stable and I competed in 4-H shows, County Fair and State from the age of 12 until I aged out of 4-H at 18. I also enjoyed competing in the 4-H Hippology competitions going to State and then onto Nationals.
My dream of horse ownership came true when I was 13 when I purchased a black 12 year old Quarter Horse/Arabian mare. I owned Ebony until she passed at 34 years old. I had the privilege to see my own children ride her. After I was married, we also owned a Thoroughbred mare that was bred by my husband's uncle. I started to look for a horse for our daughter, and equine educational opportunities. Sue Audley, the owner of Horse Emporium, our local tack shop, suggested I check out Pony Club. We ended up purchasing our golden boy, Chance, and joining Pony Club. We fell in love with Pony Club.
I served as the treasurer for Run O' the Mill for 7 years, before taking over as DC for the last 4 years. In 2023 I am transitioning back to treasurer and mentoring our new DC. I am also the show manager for our fundraiser horse shows. I have been VRS for Lake Shore Region for the last 8 years where my focus is organizing our rally's, coordinating championships attendance for our region, and monitoring concussion & training compliance. I have assisted with USPC Championships team for more than four years. I look forward to bringing my professional experience in work, volunteering, and horses to the USPC Board of Governors.
Lori is a lifelong volunteer. She grew up in Lancaster County, Virginia, and as a young girl developed a passion for horses. At the age of 9, she was given her first pony, Sugar. When she went off to college, she had to leave horses behind. It wasn't until after getting married and moving to Chesapeake, Virginia that she reconnected with horses by volunteering with a therapeutic riding program. She soon became the volunteer coordinator and later, the program director. Lori also served on the board of the Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia. Lori began volunteering with Pony Club in 1997, when her daughter, Victoria, joined Crescent Bay Pony Club. Lori served as Jt. DC and DC of Crescent Bay before becoming Vice RS, and later RS, of the Old Dominion Region. In 2018 Lori was honored to receive the USPC Local Legend award from the Old Dominion Region. Lori is currently the Chair of the Development Committee. She has also served on several other USPC committees such as the USPC Leadership & Support Committee, the 2020 USPC Organizational Structure Task Force, and the USPC Strategic Planning Committee. She also served as the local host organizer for the 2022 USPC Convention in Norfolk, Virginia.
Heather Rosenker is a seasoned, accomplished strategic communicator experienced in the federal, state, association, and corporate communications arenas. Ms. Rosenker is known for managing her clients’ reputations and brands in today’s challenging environment. She is respected for her keen ability to offer realistic and meaningful counsel resulting in measurable, positive impact.
Horses were a stable part of Heather’s formative years, having started riding when she was seven years old. Heather joined and participated in the Somerset Hills Pony Club where she rallied, and she earned her ‘A’ rating. She is a Life Member and was recognized by the Alumni Academy of Achievement in 2015. She was a Pony Club volunteer instructor at Somerset Hills and Arapahoe Pony Clubs (while she was attending the University of Denver). She hunted with New Jersey’s Essex Fox Hounds and showed equitation and hunter/jumpers, culminating with qualifications at both the finals for the Medal and ASPCA Maclay.
Over the years, Heather has helped to leg up horses for friends and periodically hunted. The time and learnings from living with horses gave her a leg up in her personal and professional career. It taught her to be confident, resilient, prepared, and respectful to all (horses in particular). Heather also was a member of the Junior League of Northern Virginia and served on the Board of Directors of Bryce Resort in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
Heather is the founder and principal of HBR & Associates, LLC, a public relations consulting firm. Prior to beginning her own business, she enjoyed a successful professional career that includes: an appointment as the chief executive officer of a federal commission which reviewed the Commerce clause application to transactions on the Internet; and senior strategic public affairs and communications positions within the federal government to include the White House Council on Environmental Quality, IRS and Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration. A corporate stint at General Motors and the GM Foundation’s strategic communications operation and many years at public relations firms including Fleishman-Hillard International Communications.
Eric’s family is passionate about the equine community and industry. He is an avid Pony Club dad and horse husband for his wife, Nikki. Eric’s time is spent supporting his daughter’s (Lilli) Pony Club experience through their local Club along with volunteering with his wife to help organize the local Tet Rally for the region. Eric has through his family been a spectator or watched (and groomed & misc help) his wife and daughter through their competitions with too many early mornings to count. Being in Kentucky, they frequent the Kentucky Horse Park but have also had wonderful adventures to places like Tryon, WEC, Maryland’s Fairhill, and horse farms big and small throughout. As an equine family, they have gotten to experience Champs, Convention, Regions, Quiz, and all the many great events throughout USPC. They have a small farm in Kentucky where they spend time taking care of horses, ponies, donkeys, and a few chickens.
Eric has spent his career in building capacity by helping bring vision, strategy, and execution together—always trying to make things better.
Eric's experience ranges from Enterprise Healthcare with 600+ facilities to launching startups. He has direct experience in standing up Equine Surgery Centers and veterinary Pharmacies, and his previous roles includes: Partner at a national services firm with Fortune 100 clients, COO of a mobile software innovation company where he focuses on growth of the company along with a $3 million partnership with the White House as part of an initiative to build a skilled technology workforce, Vice President in a national technology company building a Telehealth platform, a director in a $1.6 billion dollar healthcare system, Executive Director for a regional public/ private partnership, consulted with global clients, and held ownership in multiple ventures.
Some of Seto’s career highlights include: lead the asset divestiture ($30+ million) for a national non-profit to a global sale creating a new endowment; build and launch a surgery center with PE back partners; overseeing operations of a public/ private partnership with $53 million impact; consulted for an United Nations sanctioned NGO; create and funded the first Department of Labor certified Technology Apprenticeship training in Kentucky; developed national partnership with IRS, WalMart, Citi, Intuit, Ford Foundation, and other national brands; co-lead development around Healthcare Innovation and Nursing Facilities; launched a $500,000.00 first time homeownership program for employees; started a rehab/ wheelchair seating initiative for adult and pediatric patients; and raise over $1 million dollars in philanthropy for children in need. He has served as advisor and national speaker on topics ranging from modern workforce, financial stability, innovation, partnerships, scale & sustainability, and volunteerism for groups such as Intuit Foundation, National League of Cities, United Way Worldwide, National Community Tax Coalition, and Points of Light Institute.
Eric holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Business from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH as well as continuing education around Healthcare and Technology related topics. He was named a Business First "Forty Under 40" honoree, civic award by Internal Revenue Service, and earned citations from Mayors and Governors. He is active in American College of Healthcare Executives, Kentucky Hospital Association, Health Enterprise Network, and serves on the Board for Boy Scouts of America Lincoln Heritage Council, a Trustee for Bernheim Trust, Board of Governors for United States Pony Club, Board Member for EEI, Inc an international 5* competition, and Family Scholar House along with committee work with various civic organizations.
Susan first became involved with Pony Club years ago when son Peter joined Anawan Pony Club, Eastern New England Region. As an enthusiastic volunteer, she quickly became DC, later RS, and joined the BOG for two Terms being VPRA for one of those terms. Since then has largely developed the International Exchange Program and is the USPC representative for the Pony Club International Alliance. During the years away from the BOG, she has remained on the International Exchange Committee, Development Committee, and PCIA.
Outside of Pony Club Sue has served on The Nature Conservancy Caribbean Board for the last ten years, four of those years as the Board Chair. Interest in the Caribbean and conservation largely has come from the years of living in this part of the world. In St Croix, she is active with the St Croix Pony Club. Sue and her husband, Austin live in Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and St Croix.
Jennifer is mom to a son, Michael, whose horse experience is limited to wearing cowboy boots while he is three. She also has two Pony Club daughters, Aubrey (H-A) and Spencer (H-B). Jennifer is a grandmother to Brycen, Hunter, Sawyer, Brooklyn Rylee and Noah. She and her husband Kevin reside in Chehalis, Washington where they manage their truss manufacturing company.
Like most young girls, Jennifer had a love for horses and at age 12, she received her first horse for Christmas. It was a wonderful life-altering gift. She rode and competed locally through her high school years and then as a young adult gave up horses for work, marriage, and family. In 1997 she became involved with Pony Club when she signed her daughters up for membership. She quickly became a valued volunteer and leader when she stepped up to the plate to do whatever she could for her local club and its members.
Asia Thayer grew up in the Pacific Northwest; active with horses since the age of 8 and a member of the USPC and 4H. Asia has been involved in the USPC for over 30 years as a member and leadership roles including RIC, national RIC committee, instruction council, co-chair national testing committee, member of the Board of Governors, and national examiner testing through the A level in eventing, dressage, and show jumping. Asia is an active competitor and coach within the USDF and USEA where she competed at the FEI level. Outside of equine industry, she earned her master’s degree in Biology and Graduate Certificate in Public Health Genetics. Asia owns an equine boarding and training facility in Gig Harbor, WA.
Allison has been captivated by horses since early childhood. Show ring hunters and equitation were her primary focus growing up in Central Florida. She earned an AA degree at the University of Florida and a BSBA at the University of Central Florida. She then traveled abroad to Europe after graduation landing jobs as a nanny for an FEI dressage rider and exercising steeplechasers for a racing barn. Upon returning stateside, she entered the business world working for over 20 years in the financial industry holding Series 7 and 63 brokerage licenses with a firm serving high net worth individuals globally.
Her nonprofit involvement began after she traveled with Hostelling International USA serving on the Florida Board of Directors. She also served as Activities Coordinator for Osceola County Council on Aging and as a volunteer for Freedom Ride Therapeutic Riding Center.
Allison sells investment rental real estate properties and is the Organizer for 6 annual recognized USEA Horse Trials held at Rocking Horse Stables in Altoona, Florida. She has been married to Mark for 30 years with identical twin Graduate Pony Club daughters Jean and Jane, age 23, both are H-HM, HM, and H Trads. She has been involved with Pony Club since 2007 as DC, RS, Horsemasters, VPRA, and currently serves as the national Treasurer.
Bo Varnado is a graduate H-A from Centaur Pony Club in the Southern California Region. She is actively involved with United States Pony Club as a member of the Board of Governors, Chair of the Marketing and Communications committee, Co-Chair of the D-1 through C-2 Curriculum committee, and Chair of the Regional Resource committee. As a former DC, VRS, RIC, and RS she strives to continue volunteering at the local and regional level when time allows.
Bo earned her bachelor’s degree in animal physiology (minors in chemistry and psychology) from the University of California, San Diego and later went on to earn a MA in literacy. Studying abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland fueled a lifelong interest in travel. Continuing to travel frequently provides different perspectives which she finds valuable for remaining flexible in life. Bo worked in design, planning, and marketing for a utility company prior to discovering her calling to education. Her teaching certificate encompasses grades kindergarten through twelfth grade, but most of her classroom time was spent in kindergarten through grade three at both Montessori and independent study public schools. She led both programs as the chair at each school. Now retired, Bo enjoys tutoring local students as a specialist in reading and literacy.
Hiking and exploring the outdoors near her home in rural, inland San Diego County is now a daily occurrence. She lives with her husband and numerous animals on a small farm. They have a son (graduate D-2, married to a former USPC member) and a daughter (graduate B eventing) and they enjoy visiting and sharing adventures with their kids. Bo believes in the enduring benefits of being with horses and hopes that the lessons they can teach us become ever more available and accessible to everyone.
Jan has been involved in Pony Club for over twenty-five years. She served as Secretary for three years and ten years as District Commissioner of Keeneland Pony Club in Lexington, Kentucky. Currently, Jan is a Vice Regional Supervisor of the Midsouth Region and is the current VP of Activities. Jan served four years on the Games Committee and four years on the Eventing Committee. She enjoys volunteering at Horse Trials in the Lexington area and is the secretary for two USEA Horse Trials.
Jan and her husband, Mike, have one daughter, Marty, who is a graduate "A" Pony Club member. She has previously served on the Board of Governors for 15 years. Jan owns and operates a 59-acre boarding facility with mostly eventers. Jan considers herself very lucky to live in the heart of Horse Country and to have the USPC National Office in her backyard.
