Los Alamos Pony Club Youth Team Borrows Horses, Wins In Tri-State Competition

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 1, 2024
- 6:55 am

Los Alamos Pony Club team members with Coach Shannon Subasi and Adult member Lisa Reader show off their awards and prizes. Courtesy/LAPC

Sloane Smith preparing Cody before her ride. Courtesy/LAPC

LAPC News:

Junior members of Los Alamos Pony Club traveled with borrowed horses to Phoenix, Ariz. Jan. 13-14 to compete in a regional show jumping competition, bringing home blue ribbons despite it being the first competition for most of the riders.

Calling themselves the “Atomic Koalas” (don’t ask why), the five riders competed over several jump courses of varying sizes and were also judged on their horse care and presentation. In Pony Club competitions, called “rallies,” both riding and care of horses in the stable area are judged, with separate awards for each, and then a cumulative award combines the horse’s performance, the rider’s equitation and the horse management. This rally, for the USPC Southwest Region, included competitors from New Mexico, Arizona and southwestern Colorado.

The LAPC riders were Herta Subasi (age 5), her sister Zena (age 6), Alina Barsic (age 7), Sloane Smith (age 12) and Sabrina Wilcox (age 16). They were assisted by a “stable manager” from the Arizona Desert Hooves Pony Club, Sadie Ward, age 10. Parent Shannon Subasi coordinated the trip and coached the riders. Adult member Lisa Reader transported horses and assisted in the barns. Parents of Sabrina, Alina and Sloane volunteered at the competition.

The horses were Taps, owned by Shannon Subasi, Dakota Night, owned by Laura Kober, and Lola, owned by Lisa Reader. Los Alamos Pony Club was established nearly 20 years ago, and over the years the club has sent members of varied levels to regional, national and international competitions in dressage, show jumping, eventing, tetrathlon and quiz.

Junior Team Overall, first place, Atomic Koalas of LAPC Lead line division, 1st place Aline Barsic on Taps, 2nd place Herta Subasi on Lola Cross rail jumping, 3rd place overall Zena Subasi on Lola Cross rail equitation, 1st place Zena Subasi on Lola 2’- 2’3” jumping division, 2nd place overall Sloane Smith on Dakota Night, 3rd place overall Sabrina Wilcox on Taps High Point Junior Rider, Sloane Smith.

For more information about LAPC, visit the LAPC website. LAPC is a member club of the national United States Pony Clubs, Inc., a 501 (c)3 organization.