07/23/2026
Ok from what I understand this is a much anticipated post- it’s later than usual but this was the most intense challenge of a show we have ever participated in. I needed to reflect, ruminate, and find my words. Usually it is only on our lesson/boarder private page, but with the outpouring of support I am moved to share publicly…
From 1:15 am on Monday July 13th until 5 am on Tuesday July 21st our team of equine athletes, equestrian athletes, horsemanship experts, equestrian parents, Barn-Dads, friends and family were on a voyage. This voyage was one of pure excellence no matter the ribbon, round, or challenge question because this voyage took months and quite frankly years to prepare for. Some could say for Kara LaBrie and I it was decades in the making, because Pony Club was a large part of our childhood. 🦄…. So here I pause and thank every leader, volunteer, and parent involved in my childhood pony club experience- I am forever indebted because I now truly know what it takes….🦄
This voyage was nothing less than an Odyssey and we were the collective Odysseus. We faced Poseidon’s anger through multiple thunderstorms soaking our souls and delaying our hearts. Our quiz team navigated a myriad or sirens trying to throw their knowledge base off course. Our SJ team faced Circe and the Lotus-Eaters having moments of forgetting why they were there and the amazing team they made. The parents and children traveled through the underworld of sleep deprivation- SJ kids were up at 4:30am and not to bed until 11:30pm- we all turned into cyclopses at times I am sure.
Ok enough of my nerdy side quest…
Jr Quiz Team- Romy and Addyson: these girls spent months studying, prepping, meeting virtually with their team! These kid rocked it at Quiz with their team! They were 5th overall in their knowledge. Addyson is soon joining our pony club and we are so excited to have her. Romy has been an amazing ambassador of kindness and teamwork for Addy! These fast friends most cherished accomplishment, is their blossoming friendship.
Sr. Quiz team- Aurora: you never fail to amaze us with your deep passion for horsemanship. Aurora’s team was 1st place in the nation- yes, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in quiz. Aurora had the 2nd highest score in the entire competition- she is the 2nd most knowledgeable person in the nation… arguably the most in my book. Aurora is a cornerstone of our club. She is never discouraged by the lack of adult participation- she preserves. She models why in adulthood it is important to continue to follow our dreams. She is kind and thoughtful to every child at our farm.
SJ Team: Harper, Koralyn, Riley, Lyla, Sophia
This team worked HARD! They had setbacks, upsets, moments of breakdown (overtired, overheated, over-challenged, over-it). They ALWAYS found their way out of it, put their ponies and friendships 1st.
Being a stable manager can be a thankless job, Harper did it with grace. She made sure her team stayed on task to care for the ponies. She was an unwavering support for equines and equestrians. Koralyn was the captain of the team and led the team to inquiry to regain points that were wrongfully subtracted. She inquired to multiple adult officials with poise and confidence. Koralyn rode through storms with success and partnered with Theo and her teammates for excellence. Riley had amazing rounds and found her rhythm with Ozzy throughout every ride. She completed each round open to suggestions to perfect her riding, and appreciating her team and pony. Her deep knowledge base helped her team succeed in every task. Sophia had no easy task taming her red-headed mare. She stayed positive and engaged through every moment of disappointment. She was clutch on her tack cleaning and pony cleaning skills. Lyla found her bravery through every ride, Flash was not very enthusiastic about being in Kentucky and posed a lot of challenges. Lyla was always complimented on her horsemanship by the judges despite Flash being extra sassy. Lyla worked her butt off in the ring and at the barn supporting her team success.
All of this work paid off- this team is officially NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in Show Jumping Horse Management and honored with the Margot Leithead Cornerstone Award for Excellence in United States Pony Club Horsemanship. This is the most prestigious award given at Nationals- and your support of our girls helped them achieve this dream.
We can’t thank enough our amazing sponsors who made the dream of all our athletes and the little girl inside us all come true-
Middleboro Recycling our biggest supporter through housing and transportation with the MEGATRON. Sure Shine Auto Detailing and Pro Tint, Outsider Endurance, and Rock Village Candle Company for sponsoring fundraising opportunities. Thank you to Valinor Farm and Erin Risso Eventing for their unwavering support of our Pony Club. Ernie Gaouette and Hunter Major the best farriers in the business for their dedication to our ponies and young equestrians. Ez Dayz Training for assistance with groundwork and sponsorship. Andrea and Sue for helping our team have the best foundation in horse management. Donna Lapierre for volleying all our coaching at champs questions and the CNER leadership for helping us make this all a reality. We are forever grateful for sponsorship in the form of tack donations, funding for equipment, and entry fees from our friends and families. To our barn family for holding down the fort while we lived the dream. To our amazing parents for raising an amazing village of Good Citizens, who make us proud as coaches and hopeful for the future.
We ended the voyage with a rescue mission to assist to ponies and their family in need. Their truck broke down and we became their life raft, their community, their safe haven. The girls sprung into action to assist and it was so special to demonstrate how having a kind heart and helpful hands is so important!
"That day they made the grainlands of Laikedaimon, where, as the horses held to a fast clip, they kept on to their journey's end. Behind them the sun went down and al the roads grew dark."- Homer, The Odyssey
