A few weeks ago I was afforded a unique opportunity to interact with delegates in the 2014 United States Pony Clubs (USPC or, simply, Pony Club) National Youth Congress. These elected 18- to 21-year-olds represented their USPC region and came to Portland, Ore., from all over the country to meet for several days, learn about leadership, and work on a proposal that they would present to the USPC Board of GovernorsÑa change that they wanted to effect in how Pony Club operates.

For those of you who have been horsemen and horsewomen since childhood, what is it that’s kept you in the industry? Photo: Stephanie L. Church/TheHorse.com

Seeing these committed kids got me thinking back to my teenage years and wondering about why some of us stay in the horse industry and others don’t. During those years, there were several reasons why my friends would leave 4-H, Pony Club, the show circuits, or the horse industry altogether

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