Genevieve Munson and Dawn Mazzaccaro Take Top Honors in USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals and Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals

Painesville, Ohio—Nov. 17, 2021—Genevieve Munson proved herself again at USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, earning the title of champion for the second year in a row. However, this year the victory was much different than last year, according to the Rogers, Arkansas, equestrian.

“This year for me has been really special being back in person,” she said. “This group this year was so cohesive. Everybody really got along and connected. It was a great support system to be around. So this year in general, outside of the cumulative results, has been one of my favorite experiences I’ve ever had, and I’ve done a lot of USHJA’s programs.”

HQC Nationals was held at Lake Erie College Equestrian Center November 12-14 and featured multiple days of testing as well as educational demonstrations and presentations for participants.

Munson said her strategy for this year was similar to past years. She reads the material and turns the material into questions on flash cards so that she is learning by reading, writing and quizzing herself.

“I have found that is a really good way to learn, and then when I don’t have the material in front of me I can carry 50-100 flash cards in my backpack and flip through it,” Munson said.

New this year for HQC Nationals in person was the interview portion, which the committee started last year as a way to get to know participants when they were meeting them for the first time virtually.

“It was a happy outcome from being virtual last year," Terri Young, the HQC Committee Chair, said. "We added that as a manner of getting to know last year’s participants. We decided we liked that piece so much we decided we want to bring it back to the in person. It helps us with how comfortable the candidates are with putting their knowledge into words.”

Munson earned the high score on the written exam, horsemanship identification exam and the practicum. As the winner of HQC Nationals, she received a SmartPak halter, a handwoven belt from Boy O Boy Bridleworks, a pair of Parlanti paddock boots, an internship with Spy Coast Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and a $2,000 training and education grant from USHJA.

Emma Friedman of Chiloquin, Oregon, earned silver at HQC Nationals after scoring second place in the written exam and in the practicum. She received a SmartPak halter, an Essex Classics show shirt, a handwoven belt from Boy O Boy Bridleworks and a $1,500 training and education grant from USHJA.

Alpine Griffin, of Fort Collins, Colorado, earned bronze taking home a SmartPak halter, handwoven belt from Boy O Boy Bridleworks and a $500 training grant from USHJA.

Lainie Rubin, of Columbia, South Carolina, was the fourth place finisher and was awarded a SmartPak halter.

Angelina Franzese earned the Sportsmanship Award this year, which was decided by HQC participants. She received a gift from Straight Arrow Family of Brands.

Participants were able to learn from clinicians Dr. Sasha Hill, Dr. Vincent Loparco and Laura Stockhaus as well as audit the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session featuring clinicians Peter Wylde and Colleen Reed.

Dawn Mazzaccaro, Peggy Kline and Katie Van Horne, made up the podium for this year’s Adult HQC Nationals, earning gold, silver and bronze, respectively. Adult HQC Nationals was held virtually October 18-30.

For Mazzaccaro, of Montville, New Jersey, her performance in last year’s inaugural Adult HQC Nationals set the stage for her to take home the win this year.

“Looking back, I don’t think I put my best forward,” Mazzaccaro said of last year. “I didn’t know what to expect; I was eleventh out of 12 in the written test, and I made it to the interview and that was fun. I went into the practicum wide-eyed, and I was very disappointed with myself.”

Mazzaccaro, who grew up doing 4-H and loves learning new things, said she couldn’t wait to participate in HQC when she heard the program was open to adults in 2020. After her performance that year, she was even more determined to improve and participate again.

“I made sure I was really prepared,” she said. “I wanted to make sure I bettered my written score, so I did a lot. I have a box of about 1,000 flashcards; I practiced using an online program called Quizlet and that helped me get a lot faster.”

Mazzaccaro’s hard work paid off and she was fourth place after the written test and second place after the interview portion, which she said built her confidence going into the practicum.

“I knew it was going to be really important,” she said. “I started off nervous but got more confident. I wanted to feel better about myself after the practicum this year, so when I hung up with them I felt really good.”

Mazzaccaro received a SmartPak halter, Boy O Boy Bridleworks belt, gift from Straight Arrow Family of Brands, CWD gift certificate and $2,000 USHJA training grant.

Peggy Kline, of Torrance, California, earned second in the written test, first in the interview and third place in the practicum. She also participated in the 2020 Adult HQC Challenge. Kline will receive a SmartPak halter, Boy O Boy Bridleworks belt, gift from Straight Arrow Family of Brands and a $1,500 gift certificate.

Katie Van Horne, of Woodland, California, won bronze this year, she will receive a SmartPak halter, Boy O Boy Bridleworks belt, gift from Straight Arrow Family of Brands and a $500 training grant from USHJA. Lauren Obermeyer, of Hamilton, Ohio, was fourth place. She placed first in the written exam, and fourth in the practicum. She will receive a SmartPak halter and gift from Straight Arrow Family of Brands.

“The whole Horsemanship Quiz Challenge has been wonderful,” Mazzaccaro said. “It’s made me more aware. I keep my horse at home, so I have to be a little more up on things. It’s made me look deeper at what I am doing and what I can improve on. I like to learn. I like to see progress in myself and in the horses and even with people.”

The USHJA thanks Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena, Parlanti and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital; Educational Partners Spy Coast Farm and SmartPak; award sponsors Essex Classics, Straight Arrow Family of Brands and Boy O Boy Bridleworks.

The HQC is supported in part by grants from US Equestrian and the USHJA. For more information about HQC visit ushja.org/HQC