By Special to the Town Crier

Young equestrians from Pacific Ridge Pony Club, based at Westwind Barn in Los Altos Hills, triumphed in the annual “Know Down” competition of horse management skills March 17 in Half Moon Bay.

Winning first place in the Junior Division, prevailing over 17 other teams from the middle California region of the U.S. Pony Club, were Laura Krieger (team captain), Katie Daw, Elizabeth Evans and Katherine Lynch.

A second Pacific Ridge junior team placed sixth in this highly competitive Junior Division. Members of this team were Lauren Burnell (captain), Nicole Bahlman, Krista Robertson and Meredith Malnick.

In the senior division, Pacific Ridge claimed second place over eight other regional teams. This team was led by captain Alice Adriaenssens, with Shannon Koerner and Brittany Hill.

The club studied for three months in preparation for the competition, learning about feeding, shoeing, veterinary care and other areas of horse management.

In addition to practicing horse management skills, Pacific Ridge members meet twice a month at Westwind Barn for instruction in English riding and horse sports.

The U.S. Pony Club is one of the leading junior equestrian organizations in the world, represented throughout 30 countries. The United States has over 600 individual clubs spread through 48 states and the Virgin Islands, with more than 12,000 members. Several members of the U.S. Equestrian Olympic team are U.S. Pony Club graduates.

The club, based in Lexington, KY., provides opportunities for instruction and competition for children and young adults up to 21 years of age. Pony Clubbers are encouraged to work their way through nine stages of the progressive standards of proficiency, which test knowledge and riding ability and are recognized throughout the horse world.

For more information, call Lisa M. Krieger at 559-9510.