Old Peoples Riding Club

I'm a chapter treasurer, where do I send our National Membership Dues?
If you live in IL, ME, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WA please send your checks to OPRC Region 1 Membership Coordinator:

Stephani Kame
9945 Middelbranch Ave., NE
North Canton, OH 4472

If you live in CA, FL, MD, NC, OR, TX, VA please send your checks to OPRC Region 2 Membership Coordinator:

Kelly Smith
44492 Clarkslanding Road
Hollywood, MD 20636

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What is the OPRC?
The Old People's Riding Club (OPRC) welcomes riders from all disciplines over the age of 21. We have English riders, Western riders, dressage riders, jumper riders, pleasure-trail riders, endurance riders, combined training riders, the full spectrum. We also have members who love horses but do not ride. The purpose of the OPRC is to have safe, enjoyable riding activities, meet other riders with fresh new outlooks on the sport, and encourage knowledge of horses all around.

Check out the June 2001, October 2003 and July 2006 issues of Practical Horseman Magazine where you will find feature articles about us. Horsenews Online, the Chronicle of the Horse, Equestrian Network Magazine, and others have also published articles about our club.
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How and why did the OPRC begin?
In 1998, Hope Jacob, our founder, began this club with four visionary members. Together, they outlined our goals and priorities with this club: To create a Club for the over 21 equestrian based on the high standards of the USPC, without excluding riders of disciplines outside the English hunter-jumper world. Today, there are in excess of 600 members in numerous chapters across the U.S. The number of chapters is rapidly growing, as we get numerous inquiries every day.
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Is OPRC affiliated with USPC?
The OPRC is not affiliated with the United States Pony Club, but we respect and incorporate their high standards in all of our activities. Some OPRC members are also active with their local USPC and some OPRC members are former USPC members. USPC instituted the Horsemasters Liaison program for those adults that wish to work with children and USPC.
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How is the OPRC organized?
The OPRC has a National Office located in La Plata, Maryland, and OPRC Chapters throughout the United States. The National OPRC has officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), members that serve as web master, membership coordinators, rally committee, insurance coordinators, year end award committee, and a Board of Directors to review issues, create policies, and update the Bylaws. Each chapter has a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Coordinator, as well as other officers determined by the chapter.
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Is the National OPRC a non-profit organization?

Yes. The National OPRC is a non-profit corporation, as described in Section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, and has been recognized as such by a letter dated June 18, 2003, from the Internal Revenue Service.
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Does the non-profit status apply to individual chapters?
No. Extension of the non-profit status of the National OPRC to the individual chapters was not approved. However, individual chapters are encouraged to attain a non-profits status.
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What are the requirements for membership in OPRC?
Anyone aged 21 or older who agrees to abide by the OPRC Bylaws may be a member of OPRC. Members are not required to be expert riders or horse owners; in fact, non-riders and non-owners are welcomed as members. Additionally, members of all horse disciplines (English, Western, driving, etc.) at all skill levels are welcomed as members.
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Does the OPRC have safety standards?
Of course! We have incorporated the rating system of the United States Pony Club (USPC) into our club; however, we have modified the ratings to suit the older rider, the Western rider, and the English rider who does not jump. We have also incorporated more safety topics into the rating tests. To participate in mounted OPRC activities, all riders must get rated as at least a D1 (ratings are not required for non-riders). A member may remain a D1 forever, or ambitious members can climb the ratings as high as they wish to be challenged.
OPRC also requires ALL riders in OPRC activities (members and guests) to wear an ASTM/SEI approved safety helmet, heeled boots designed for equestrian activities, and a medical armband. If a guest does not own a medical armband, the OPRC has a medical form to be completed before the ride.
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What is required for members to participate in OPRC mounted activities?

To participate in OPRC mounted activities, a member must:

1) have passed the OPRC D1 test,

2) wear an ASTM-approved helmet,

3) wear heeled boots designed for equestrian activities, and

4) wear a visible medical armband.

Medical armbands are available for purchase at many tack stores. They are also available for purchase on the internet at many sites, including:

US Eventing Association:

Dover Saddlery:

Individual chapters may decide to place a bulk order for all current and future chapter members. The armbands may also be sold, usually at cost, at OPRC activities open to the public.

You can download the medical form for inside the plastic holder here.

The OPRC membership year is January to December of each calendar year. Individual chapters determine the amount of their annual chapter dues; the lowest possible dues are recommended. A total of $35 annually is a recommended amount, but some chapters charge higher fees to cover the cost of their chapter-sponsored functions, and others charge less if they have profitable fund-raising activities. For each member, from the chapter dues, the chapter sends $17 annually to cover the National OPRC dues, which pays the National OPRC costs (web hosting, office supplies, postage, lawyer fees, Board of Directors insurance, reimbursement of BOD members' costs, rally ribbons, year end award prizes, insurance, etc.). There is a $5 fee for late renewing members (mailed after February 28, see below).

The $17 annual dues for each new chapter member is payable by the chapter to the National OPRC within a month of the member's joining the chapter. /The $17 annual National OPRC dues for renewing members are due by February 28 of each calendar year. Dues mailings postmarked after February 28 sustain a $5 late fee per member, resulting in a $22 fee per member for late renewals.

Yes. Chapters may develop family memberships (husband and wife, mother and daughter, etc.) with reduced chapter dues. For example, a chapter may charge $35 annual dues for one person and $50 for two members of a family. However, the National OPRC dues rate is $17 for ALL members, regardless of the manner in which they joined a chapter. All members must be 21 years of age or older.

OPRC is insured through Allen Financial riding club liability insurance. Each year every member must sign an OPRC Liability Release Form . Guests at open activities also must sign the OPRC Liability Release Form and the chapter president must have purchased sanctioned event insurance. The chapter keeps the liability release forms on file. OPRC is also a member of Association Resource Group (ARG) which affords our members the opportunity to purchase excess personal liability insurance for an individual or a family and our members are entitled to any member benefit ARG offers.

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What activities does OPRC sponsor?
Most OPRC activities are organized by the individual chapters - the ideas and activities are endless! For example, chapters have sponsored horse shows (English and Western); polocrosse; English clinics in jumping, combined training, and dressage (also enjoyed by Western riders); Western clinics in flat work, barrel racing, reining (all of these also enjoyed by English riders); and clinics in driving, trailer loading, vaulting, swimming with your horse, etc. Chapters also have sponsored trail rides and horse camps, as well as family days and open horse shows. Since a goal of OPRC is education, most chapter meetings include a speaker on horse topics such as nutrition, shoeing, veterinary care, emergencies, trail safety, etc. Chapters have also sponsored "field trips" to veterinary hospitals, horse races, etc. In many of these chapter activities, members of other OPRC chapters may be invited to participate. The bottom line - OPRC activities are endless and are determined by the needs, requests, and ingenuity of the membership and the thrust of local horse activities.

The National OPRC also sponsors activities for all OPRC members such year end award program and the national rally and an annual luncheon.

Yes. Although OPRC is primarily designed for members and member activities, chapters may sponsor a few mounted activities per year during which non-members are invited. Such public activities may include a family and friends day during which non-member family members, including children, may participate in mounted activities such as a fun show, a trail ride, a mounted treasure hunt, etc. Chapters may also hold a mounted fund raising and/or membership recruitment activity. During these non-member activities, all OPRC requirements must be followed: all riders must wear an ASTM approved helmet, wear heeled boots designed for equestrian activities, and wear a medical armband or, for non-members without medical armbands, have an OPRC Medical Release Form worn conspicuously on the person (preferable) or inside the helmet. Additionally, guests must sign the OPRC Liability Release Form and the chapter President must apply for sanctioned event insurance through the National office.

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How can I get started?
You can join an existing OPRC chapter or form a new chapter in your area. To locate a chapter in your area, go to the "Chapters" link on the OPRC Home Page. If there is no chapter in you area, go to the "How to Form a Chapter" link on the OPRC Home Page to find out how to form a new chapter.

Provides guidelines and structure of chapters
• President's start-up handbook available by request from President
• Helps get new chapters up and running
• Provides ideas for advertising, flyers, etc.
• Provides guidance and mentoring to the chapter leaders who request it.
• Answers questions about any issues relating to conduct & procedures of running a chapter
• Provides an opportunity to purchase excess personal equine liability insurance for an individual or family.
• Provides a $3,000,000 general aggregate riding club insurance.
• Provides an Association Resource Group membership which offers our members the benefits ARG offers.

Provides a website:
- articles and exchange of ideas for clinics, meetings, etc.
- post photographs of chapter OPRC events
- all important specific standards for furthering members equine education.
- 1.5 MB of free web space that your webmaster can develop as they see fit.
- a sub-domain name http://<your chapter’s name>.oldpeoplesridingchapter.org
- a password protected secure online database where each chapter’s President can view and
correct their members information

Provides an opportunity for each chapter to submit an application to win the $500 award for their
chapter’s use.

Provides a nationally known name brand "OPRC" logo that comes with positive PR in national
publications such as Practical Horseman.

Provides rating certificates and the opportunity for you to print your own membership card for all riding members.

Provides a national support network of members located all over North America.

Provides Year End Award for points earned at shows sponsored outside of OPRC.

Provides a chance to participate in a very low key National Rally competition.

Provides a chance to attend annual OPRC luncheon.

Provides a Board of Directors
• Works and communicates daily regarding improvements and issues that arise.
• Board meets annually to vote on new programs and services of the OPRC
• Board acts as a sounding board to OPRC members via email and phone

How to contact us.

Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Welcome to OPRC and have fun safely!