While some kids are working at summer jobs, swimming or camping this time of year, two young girls from the Twin Tier area will be tested on their knowledge of horses during a national competition in Lexington, Ky.
The girls, Bethany Bednez, 16, of Bradford, and Grady Flemings, 12, of Angelica, N.Y., are members of the Alley-Cat Pony Club, part of the Western New York Region of the United States Pony Club. The pair are participating this week in the U.S. Pony Club Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Bethany Bednez’ mother, Nicole, said the girls qualified for the Quiz event during a regional rally in Binghamton, N.Y., in April. According to the U.S. Pony Club website, Quiz is a “learning tool” for young equestrians where they can display their knowledge of horsemanship and horse care — while displaying good sportsmanship, leadership, stewardship and teamwork in the competitions. Quiz competitions are held in classroom and barn phases of the events.
Other championship competitions at the Lexington event include dressage, eventing, show jumping, games, polocrosse and tetrathlon.
“There are 324 competitors in the Quiz competition,” Nicole Bednez explained Tuesday during a phone interview. “It’s a five-day competition for their horse knowledge and skills. In their division, there are 24 teams with four people to a team.”
Nicole Bednez said the two local girls will be joined on their team by a girl from Virginia and another from Vermont.
Bethany Bednez, who will be a junior at Bradford Area High School in the fall, said she is enjoying the event because she is able to meet other young people with equestrian interests.
“I like it how there are a whole bunch of crazy horse people here, too,” Bethany Bednez said with a giggle.
Grady Fleming, whose mother, Rachel, accompanied her, will be in seventh grade at Genesee Valley Central School in Belmont, N.Y. Grady Fleming said during a Tuesday phone interview she is “excited to see all of the disciplines” for the young equestrians.
Nicole Bednez said that while the medals and ribbons the girls can win are important, she thinks it is more important that they are learning responsibility and independence at the event.
“They have to do all the competition and parents are not allowed to help them,” she explained. “They are responsible for getting themselves (to the events) on their own and they have to be on time. They’re penalized if they’re late, and they have to be dressed in their uniform with a pin.”
She said Bethany Bednez is also the captain of the team and represents her teammates if they should contest a score or outcome.
Bethany Bednez said she plans to pursue equestrian sportsmanship in college and hopes to receive a scholarship. Grady Fleming said she hasn’t decided on equestrian pursuits at this stage in her life. Both girls board their horses at the Mount Family Farm in Cuba, N.Y.
