Hill Top Pony Club adventures at USPC 2021 Championships

 I am planning on more posts about the 2021 USPC Championships and Festival, but this first post is a brief overview our club participation in the 2021 Quiz division.

Three members of Hill Top Pony Club qualified for the modified division of USPC Championship Quiz in 2020. We all hoped to participate in the big Championship and Festival extravaganza that only happens every three years in 2020 but to due to COVID outbreaks, the event was pushed back until 2021. This was both good and bad for our members. While it gave us time to study, it was also hard to imagine the event. Our members held on to hope and I am proud of what they accomplished!

The only Rio Grande Region Club to compete in Quiz

Hill Top Pony Club fielded the only Rio Grande Region team to compete in the Quiz championship. Our members competed in the modified D division for Juniors. This meant that their competition started at the D2 level but they were asked questions in more than one category up to the C1 level. There were five categories of testing overall. Classroom, where the members stood up and answered questions posed by a moderator. Written Test, where the members completed questions in writing. Barn Phase, where they were presented with challenges found in the barn (I was told one challenge was a badly tacked up horse that they had to critique.)  Mega Room, where they competed as individuals to identify objects associated with Pony Club events or horse management. And the last phase for them, Stations, where they competed as a team to identify objects, terms or situations common to good horse management and Pony Club in general. The Juniors were 12-17. Seniors were 18 and over. For award purposes, the Junior and Senior divisions were considered together.

Scramble Teams are the best!

Since HTPC only had three members qualify there was an opening on our team for another member and it was filled by Alexis O. from Celtic Cross Riding Center in the Red River Region.

RGR/RRR scramble team at the Rolex Stadium by the Bruce Davidson monument

It was wonderful to have another member on our scramble team from a nearby region. The team had a great time getting to know each other. Good bonding ensued and we hope to hear from Alexis and her mother in the future.


Studying before Classroom testing




Bonding on the Golf Carts

Sweet Success!

The RGR/RRR scramble team performed admirably. As I mentioned early, both the Juniors and Seniors in the Modified division were considered together in the awards. Our Junior team placed 8th overall and one member, Zoe, placed 6th individually out of 38 competitors.  Since I volunteered to help with some of the Stations testing, I saw many of the competitors come through the testing and I can say the competition was fierce!
RGR/RRR Scramble Team in Modified D Championships

Congratulations to all of the members of our team!

Kim
DC, Hill Top Pony Club


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