When Vernon sisters Shelby and Jordan Krywonos joined the Vernon and District Pony Club nine years ago, it was the beginning of their ascent through the nine different levels of book knowledge and riding ability in hopes of reaching the highest level available in Canadian Pony Club.
Mission accomplished.
The Canadian Pony Club offers many different avenues of competition for its members through English riding of horses.
This organization has everything from Prince Philip Games, dressage, stadium jumping and cross country jumping, to an extreme test of horse book knowledge called Quiz.
“All of this is done with the goal of learning how to give excellent care to their equine friends that they love so dearly,” said Nadine Danyluk, the Krywonos’ mom.
The first Canadian Pony Club started in 1934, and is part of an internationally recognized organization.
Every March, all 180 clubs across Canada compete in 13 regionally organized Quizzes.
The top-two winners of the top-four levels qualify to compete nationally every Thanksgiving weekend.
This National Quiz is held in different locations each year across Canada.
Within each competition, members compete on an individual level for certain components, as well as they are competing in a team made up of four competitors.
Shelby, 18, a first-year Okanagan College sciences student, and Jordan, 17, a Grade 17 High Performance Program student at Vernon Secondary, competed regionally and qualified to go to this year’s national competition held in Charlottetown.
photo submitted/Vernon sisters Shelby (left) and Jordan Krywonos
The sisters were at the A/B level, and their team consisted of four competitors representing the B.C. Interior North Region and region that includes all of BC except Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
Their two fellow team members came from Prince George and Terrace.
The girls were fortunate enough to have a strong team placing of fourth.
Jordan surprised herself with a first place individual placing, which is the first time in 21 years a member of the Vernon and District Pony Club has won.
“Jordan will benefit from such a strong finish by being invited to attend the International Pacific Exchange, set for Kelowna in 2017,” said Danyluk.
Five different countries will be invited to attend this exciting competition to be held in Kelowna in 2017 on Thanksgiving weekend.
“Both girls are thrilled to be showcasing all our region has to offer in this equine discipline,” said Danyluk.
When not competing at Quiz, Shelby and Jordan enjoy showing their variety of horses in the Hunter Jumper divisions locally and provincially under the watchful eye of riding coach Erica Van Meenan at Vernon’s Abigail Equestrian on L&A Road.
Coaches Ruth Moore and Corine Smith were instrumental in guiding the girls’ book knowledge through their years of involvement in the Vernon and District Pony Club.
The club has the good fortune of having the Vernon and District Riding Club’s support, which allows the group to have weekly group riding lessons throughout the riding season.
The Vernon and District Riding Club provides the pony club with a fundraising opportunity, through stall cleaning after horse shows hosted at this a lovely venue.
Because of this partnership, the Vernon and District Pony Club was able to provide some financial support for the airfare to P.E.I. for both girls.
“Shelby and Jordan could not be more grateful for such an exciting opportunity,” said Danyluk.
They also look forward to mentoring the next generation of English horse riders in pony club, as well as meeting new equine -interested friends from around the world in October 2017.