Introduction

So, after several requests, we have decided to start a blog where we can share our upcoming adventures with friends, family and supporters back in the States.

For those of you who don’t know, we are the United States Pony Clubs’ team representing the U.S. in the Inter-Pacific exchange this summer in Hong Kong and China.

The team is as follows:

August Torsilieri (H-A), New Jersey Region

Sara DePape (B), Carolina Region

Derek Alvey (B), Capital Region

Elizabeth Fite (H-A), South Region

Coach: Janna Bankston Ritacco

Chaperone: Alicia Henderson

Below is a bit of information on the exchange taken from the USPC (http://www.ponyclub.org) website:

The Inter-Pacific Exchange first began in Australia in 1964. Great Britain, the United States, Canada and New Zealand were originally part of the exchange, followed by Hong Kong and Japan. The exchange was conceived for the older members of Pony Club to have an educational, cultural, bilingual and competitive experience. Each team consists of four members, a coach and a chaperone.

Team members are selected according to the following criteria:

- Be a B level rating or above

- Older than seventeen years of age.

- The riders will be expected to have had experience riding and competing on borrowed horses.

- Having competed at the Training Level of Eventing.

- Jumped 3'6" in Show Jumping.

- Have top Horse Management skills.

- Plus all recommendations must be excellent for selection.

Hopefully this information will help everyone back home to better understand what we are doing. We will try to post every day of our trip so stay tuned for updates.

We hope you enjoy our blog and thank you for your support!

Our itinerary for the trip is as follows:

- Leave for Hong Kong from Newark, N.J. (3:30 p.m., July 21)

- Welcome Dinner in Hong Kong (7:30 p.m., July 23)

- Sightseeing in Hong Kong (July 24)

- Travel to China (July 25)

- Dressage Competition (July 28)

- Kangaroo Cup (July 30)

- Nations Cup Show Jumping Competition (Aug. 3)

- Return to Hong Kong (Aug. 4)

- Sightseeing in Hong Kong (Aug. 5)

- Farewell Dinner (Aug. 5)