Members of the Vashon chapter of Olympus Pony Club (OPC) took home big prizes in the Quiz National competitions held in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 16-18.

OPC equestrians Susan McClain, Juliette Kelly, and Guinevere Kelly competed in the competition on behalf of 26 clubs in the Northwest Region.

Juliette and Guinevere, who are soon-to-be McMurray Middle School sixth graders, took home an astounding first-place team ribbon and 2nd and 5th-place individual ribbons in the Novice Modified D division.

Susan McClain, of West Seattle, who competed in the Senior Modified D division, also took home top honors with a third-place team ribbon and 8th-place individual.

“For their first time on a national stage, this is quite an accomplishment and we couldn’t be more proud,” said islander Katie Vaughan, who grew up as a pony clubber in the mid-south region and is now the mother of Juliette and Guinevere.

This year, according to Vaughan, the Nationals contest saw a record 38 regions and 700 members compete. Teams from Australia, England, New Zealand, and Canada were also in attendance for the International Quiz Exchange competition.

Founded in Great Britain in 1929, Pony Club was formed to encourage children to learn to ride by providing opportunities they might not otherwise have. Today, Pony Club is an international organization with branches in more than 30 countries. OPC is Vashon’s local chapter of The United States Pony Club (USPC) — the largest equine educational organization in North America.

The club has a 52-year history on the island. Currently, it has 25 members — both youth and adults — who participate in twice-monthly mounted and once-monthly unmounted meetings.

Owning a horse isn’t required to be an active member of Pony Club — some members share, borrow, or lease horses to participate.

Pony Club, said Vaughan, promotes sportsmanship, stewardship, and leadership through good horsemanship.

Each year, the 41 USPC regions host local regional rallies, or team competitions, where members can compete in a wide range of disciplines.

Last March, OPC sent six members, who were all competing for the first time, to the regional Quiz Rally in Snohomish — an unmounted competition where Pony Club members, as teams, test their knowledge in all aspects of horse care and riding.

“We are so proud of our six first-timers who studied for months to prepare and took home 1st, 3rd, and 8th place team ribbons in their respective divisions,” Vaughan said. OPC members competing in Snohomish were McClain and the Kelly twins, as well as Emmy Archambault, Addie Davidson and Vivian Grace.

For more information on Olympus Pony Club, contact the club’s district commissioner, Betsey Archambault, at bspess@gmail.com.

Olympus Pony Club members at Quiz Nationals included (left to right, front row) Juliette Kelly, Guinevere Kelly, and Susan McClain. (Courtesy photo.)

Olympus Pony Club members at the Northwest Regional Quiz Rally included (front row, left to right) Juliette Kelly, Guinevere Kelly, and Vivian Grace. (Back row, left to right) Katie Vaughan (parent/chaperone), Susan McClain, Emmy Archambault, Addie Davidson, Katherine Grace (parent/chaperone). (Courtesy photo.)