Bowling Green High School Senior Shines in U.S. Pony Club International Quiz Exchange

Mason Konesky, a senior at Bowling Green High School, recently represented the United States at the U.S. Pony Club (USPC) International Quiz Exchange.

The competition, held July 10-20, took place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and featured teams from Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Konesky was selected as the captain of the U.S. team, which achieved an impressive third place in the competition.

Konesky has been a dedicated member of the USPC since 2017. Her journey to the international stage began in 2018 when she first witnessed the international competition in Tryon, North Carolina. This experience ignited her passion for equestrian quizzes. She was a member of two USPC Champion Quiz Teams in 2018 and 2019, and she placed third individually both years.

Konesky has always been a passionate equestrian, growing up around horses and honing her skills from a young age. However, her journey has not been without challenges. In February 2022, she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a condition that brought her intense pain, limited the use of her left arm, and forced her to temporarily step away from the horse riding she loved.

Her story is one of resilience and determination. Through physical therapy and participation in a physical education class four days a week at Bowling Green High School, she began to regain strength. Remarkably, horseback riding became a prescribed part of her healing process as a therapeutic medium to learn to block out pain.

In July 2023, Konesky was officially declared in remission from CRPS—a milestone that marked the beginning of new opportunities. Last summer, she earned the H-B national certification through the USPC which involved rigorous preparation and three days of testing in Cleveland. Then she set her sights on competing in the USPC International Quiz Exchange competition this summer. As the captain of the U.S. team at the International Quiz Exchange, she organized a silent auction, led weekly Zoom calls, and helped create a study guide, all while balancing her own preparation. It was a complex, five-phase event that tested participants on various aspects of horse knowledge, from written tests and classroom questions to practical demonstrations in the barn and identification tasks.

Konesky served as a host and ambassador for the international competitors while living together for 10 days in the University of Kentucky dorms, giving her the opportunity to interact with students from different countries, broadening her understanding of global customs and cultures and even different Pony Club practices across countries.

As part of the exchange, competitors visited notable locations such as Coolmore Farms, where they met Triple Crown winners American Pharaoh and Justify, and learned about international breeding operations and racing programs. They also toured Spycoast Farm, Rood and Riddle equine hospital, Keeneland Racetrack, and Churchill Downs, where they were given a personalized tour of the Kentucky Derby Museum and met various trainers and staff.

The exchange concluded with a banquet attended by all countries and members of the International Pony Club Alliance.

“It takes a village and cooperation between multiple international organizations to make International Exchanges happen,” Konesky said. Reflecting on the USPC International Quiz Exchange experience, she shared, “I gained self-confidence, independence, leadership skills, and new friends. Academically, I learned how to balance multiple tasks and understand my strengths and weaknesses.”

Konesky’s exemplary sportsmanship and dedication did not go unnoticed. She was asked to become a USA Rider Representative, a role that will see her continue her involvement with the Pony Club on an international level as she joins the Pony Club International Alliance Youth Board in 2025.

Her advice for other students interested in getting involved with the U.S. Pony Club is simple yet profound: “Just ask and want to learn. Pony Club is about loving and wanting to work with horses; if you want to get involved, visit the website and ask about the club in your area. Pony Club is for all disciplines, both Western and English.”

Alongside her USPC International Quiz successes, she also rides and events out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, three to five days a week.

Konesky and her horse, Thalia, have won several awards and trophies through The Eventing Association of Michigan (TEAM) including Grand Champion at Starter (2021), Best New Horse and Rider at Starter (2021) and Beginner Novice (2023).