Category Archives: Pony

Championships, Dressage, Pony, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Up-and-Coming Stars Set to Feature in National Classes at Olympia

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In addition to hosting the world’s top riders, Olympia, The London International Horse Show is proud to welcome the country’s leading national competitors as they contend for National Championship titles.

The Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship

The Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship runs under a new format in 2019, with 24 riders selected to compete in the initial qualifying round on Friday 20 December. The top ten from this qualifier will advance to the final on Sunday 22 December.

The new qualification criteria for the class rewards achievements across the year, ensuring a top-class field. The first ten places go to the members of the Great British Junior European and Young Rider European teams, which includes Jack Whitaker, Britain’s top performer at the Junior Europeans, who is also making his mark on the senior international circuit, and William Fletcher, another rising star of the international ranks having already represented Great Britain at Senior FEI Jumping Nations Cup level.

William’s brother, 16-year-old Oliver, will also take his place on the starting line-up having been part of the Junior European Team which finished sixth at this year’s Championships, along with Oli Tuff, Sienna Charles, and Lily Attwood.

Joe Stockdale will be looking to back up his victory in the Under 25 class at Royal Windsor Horse Show in May and will be joined by his Young Rider European teammates Graham Babes, Leonie Aitkenhead, and Jodie Hall McAteer.

Others to automatically gain a coveted spot in the competition are those who have represented Great Britain at Senior FEI Nations Cup level in 2019, including James Wilson and Emily Moffitt, who will also be taking part in the 5* competition at the Show, along with Georgia Tame, Emily Ward, and wildcard Harry Charles, who was second in last year’s Championship.

James Wilson has broken into the top ranks in 2019, representing Great Britain on several occasions, including in the FEI Nations Cups at Hickstead, La Baule, and St Gallen, where he was one of only a few combinations to jump double clear. Another increasingly familiar name on the international scene is Emily Moffitt, who was a pivotal part of the team that won the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Ireland in August.

The final places in the competition go to qualifiers from dedicated classes at selected British Showjumping Shows. Qualifying at the Aintree Equestrian Centre Winter Classic was Charlie Jones, Millie Allen, Chloe Reynolds, and Joe Trickett, whereas Alanna Clutterbuck, Yazmin Davis, Flo Norris, and James Whitaker made it through from the Addington Equestrian Winter Classic.

The Pony Club Mini-Major

The Mini-Major is a popular class which sees Pony Club members pair up with top international riders in a thrilling competition to each complete a fault-free Show Jumping round in the quickest time. Last year’s competition saw leading British female riders Laura Renwick and Holly Smith, as well as crowd favourites William Funnell and Guy Williams, line up alongside young Pony Club riders from across the country.

Travelling across from Northern Ireland to represent the Iveagh Pony Club will be Charlotte McCracken, who along with Millie Lawson from Deeside in Scotland and Tom Hogan from Gwynedd in Wales, will be reigniting the battle with their English counterparts. Essex will have two representatives, Hollie Gerken from the Essex Branch and Liala Ramaci from Essex Hunt North, with Bisley and Sandown Chase, North Warwickshire, and Banwell represented by Tommy Goody, Isabella Beecroft-Luckett, and Emmie Horner, respectively.

The furious competition between the young riders and their 5* counterparts is set to take place during the afternoon of Wednesday 18 December.

BSPS Mountain and Moorland Championship sponsored by LeMieux

The last day of Olympia, Sunday 22 December, will play host to one of the most prestigious Showing finals in the country, The BSPS Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championship sponsored by LeMieux. A place in the Olympia final is the most coveted prize within the native pony ranks and competition to qualify for Olympia has been greater than ever.

The 2019 final will welcome ponies and riders from around the country, including last year’s Reserve Supreme Overall Champion, Cadlanvalley Buzby and 14-year old Libby Grota. Following a hugely successful year, Libby returns to Olympia determined to go one better than 2018 and clinch the top prize aboard her family’s home-bred Welsh Section B stallion.

Libby will face competition from old rival Emma Boardman, owner and producer of last year’s third-placed Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso, a Welsh Section D who scored the highest performance marks at Olympia in 2018.

Competing at Olympia Grand for the first time will be nine-year-old Olivia Brightmore, with her home-produced Shetland Pony Lotuspoint Cassisus. The pair qualified at the BSPS Heritage Championships, where they also won the Restricted Open Ridden Small Breeds and the Open Ridden Small Breeds, an astounding feat given it was the young rider’s first attempt at open level. Following her qualification, Olivia described her debut at Olympia as “beyond exciting.”

Another to make her debut at the Show will be April Gilmartin with her home-produced Gems Malt Whiskey. Blackpool-based April, a beautician, and her mother Kathleen, a former champion ballroom dancer, bought ‘Malty’ as a two-year-old, and form the ultimate amateur team, producing the Welsh Section C at home. Qualifying for Olympia at the BSPS Heritage Championships on their first attempt was extra special for the team as it will provide trainer Pam Prickett, who is battling cancer, the chance to tick off a major event on her bucket list.

Also taking to the Olympia Grand for the first time will be Skellorn Royal Anniversary, the Welsh Section B star of the Netflix series ‘Free Rein’, owned and ridden by Victoria Oakes. Conversely, it will be the last-ever appearance under saddle for Lynda Calcutt’s Dartmoor stallion Shilstone Rocks North Westerly, as the prolific winner will retire at the Show. Ridden by regular partner Chloe Chubb, they recently won their final class at Horse of the Year Show and will hope to bow out in style at Olympia.

The Final of the BSPS Mountain and Moorland Championship sponsored by LeMieux will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 22 December, alongside 5* Show Jumping action and displays from The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and Jean-François Pignon.

Simon Brooks-Ward, Show Director, said: “The quality of the National classes at Olympia is improving year-on-year, and really adds to the Show. It’s a privilege to see the next generation of riders coming up through the ranks and be able to provide a unique opportunity for them to be able to compete amongst their heroes at a 5* Show like Olympia.”

In addition to the National classes, spectators can also expect top international action, as the Show hosts three FEI World Cup™ competitions across the seven-day event, in Dressage, Driving, and Show Jumping, alongside an exciting array of international display acts and competitions. New features, such as the ‘Dressage Unwrapped’ masterclass, will join old favourites such as The Saracen Horse Feeds Shetland Pony Grand National and classes such as The Cayenne Puissance and the prestigious Turkish Airlines Olympia Grand Prix to provide entertainment for the whole family.

To purchase tickets for Olympia, please visit www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

*Featured/Spotlights, Pony, Racing

Young Jockeys Set to Star at Olympia

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Another sensational Shetland Pony Grand National season will reach its climax at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, which takes place from 16-22 December 2019. A steppingstone for young up-and-coming jockeys, The Saracen Horse Feeds Shetland Pony Grand National will feature daily, showcasing the next generation of jockeys coming through the pony racing ranks.

The Saracen Horse Feeds Shetland Pony Grand National at Olympia is the pinnacle of the season for the runners and riders, following months of competing around the country, with the aim of being selected to compete at the prestigious Show. The 11 jockeys and their ponies have been chosen on merit based on their performances throughout the season, which included appearances at Newmarket’s infamous Rowley Mile Racecourse and Burghley Horse Trials.

There will be several familiar names taking centre stage at Olympia Grand this year, with five children of well-known racing families taking the spotlight from their famous fathers. Nine-year-old Lucas Murphy, son of Grand National-winning jockey Timmy Murphy, made a successful start to his Shetland Pony Grand National career in 2018 culminating in victory at Olympia last year, something he will be seeking to repeat in 2019. Wearing the famous colours worn by his father when winning the Grand National aboard Comply or Die in 2008, Lucas will be one to watch as he takes to the track on Mr D Shepherd’s Cranford Fantastic, the winning combination at the Burghley Horse Trials leg in September.

Another former Grand National winner, Leighton Aspell, who was victorious in the prestigious Aintree race in both 2014 and 2015, will be on the sidelines at Olympia as he makes way for daughters Niamh and Lucy, who will both be making a deserved return to the iconic venue and will be using their experience to navigate the miniature Grand National course to the best of their abilities.

Freddie Keighley, son of National Hunt trainer Martin Keighley, will be making his Olympia debut at this year’s Show. The eight-year-old is in his first year on the Shetland Pony Grand National circuit, which is for children between the ages of eight and 14 years old, who are under five feet tall.

Following his selection, Freddie said: “I can’t believe I’ve managed to be selected for Olympia in my first season on Blackie [Brewards Kerwen]. He’s improved so much and I’m so proud of him. My parents have been taking me and my brother Harry to Olympia specially to watch the Shetland Pony Grand National for years and I am so excited to now be riding in it. It’s a dream come true!”

Lily Phelan will also be representing a renowned National Hunt family as she returns to Olympia, this year with new ride Sedgehill Talisman, who has shown remarkable improvement throughout the season and will be coming to the Show in excellent form.

Bringing further illustrious racing links to Olympia Grand this year will be Zak Kent, who will be wearing the famous blue and white silks of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, colours carried to victory in more than 50 international Group One races including 14 European Classics, the Melbourne Cup, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the Dubai World Cup. The 12-year-old was involved in one of the highlights of the season, when beating rival Lucas Murphy by a nose-length in a photo finish at Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting, holding off a late challenge from Murphy at the end of the two-and-a-half-furlong contest.

Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward, said: “The Saracen Horse Feeds Shetland Pony Grand National is always a crowd pleaser at Olympia and it’s great to be able to provide a platform for the country’s next generation of jockeys to demonstrate their talents on the international stage.”

In addition to the competitive element of The Saracen Horse Feeds Shetland Pony Grand National, the young jockeys will be using the Show to raise funds and awareness for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust. The Trust was set up by Grand National-winning jockey, Bob Champion, who won the race aboard Aldaniti in 1981, having been diagnosed with cancer just two years previously. To date the children involved in the Shetland Pony Grand National 2019 series have raised over £70,000 for the charity and will continue with their fundraising efforts at Olympia.

To purchase tickets for Olympia, please visit www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

Championships, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Pony, Show Jumping, Washington Int'l Horse Show

WIHS Regional Horse Show and USHJA Zone 3 Championship Leads the Way to WIHS

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Charleez Simcik and Angelique. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.

Upper Marlboro, MD – The 2019 WIHS Regional Horse Show and USHJA Zone 3 Championship, presented by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, returned to Prince George’s Equestrian Center (PGEC) in Upper Marlboro, MD from Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20. The annual event showcased local and regional riders, giving them a final chance to qualify for the coveted Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN, which kicks off on Tuesday, October 22 at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C.

Charleez Simcik, 18, of Taneytown, MD, won the MHSA Gittings Horsemanship Finals, which was the featured event on Friday at the WIHS Regional Horse Show. Simcik was second in the Gittings Horsemanship Finals in 2018 and returned this year hungry for a win.

Simcik, trained by her mother Stacey and Kim Williams, piloted her own Angelique to the top spot, and has had the ride on the 11-year-old German-bred mare for more than two years. Formerly piloted by Taegan Long in the equitation, Angelique officially joined Charleez’s string by accident.

“We ran into her last rider’s mom at a show and she was hoping to focus more on the jumpers, so we took the horse originally to campaign and sell,” said Charleez, who is a senior at Garrison Forest School in Baltimore, MD. “I obviously fell in love with her right away and convinced my mom to buy her.”

Angelique and Charleez took a chance to catch the judges’ eye in the Gittings Horsemanship Final. She utilized the immense size and stride of the mare she calls a “big princess” to eat up a bending line at the end of the course in six strides where others were doing seven and sometimes eight.

“I think that line is what the judges really liked about our round,” said Charleez. “We were very concise with our round because there weren’t a lot of opportunities to do rollbacks, so I had to something to catch the judges’ eye.”

This year marks Charleez’s third year competing in the Gittings Horsemanship Final before passing the torch and the ride on Angelique to her sister Jianna. Of her experience at the WIHS Regional Horse Show, Charleez noted, “Having the Regionals at [Prince George’s Equestrian Center] makes the show feel really special. For me, it feels like a hometown show because I grew up riding around all those same people, and I know everyone. But what makes it even more special is that the local divisions have the opportunity to then compete at WIHS.”

Behind Charleez, Alexis Seiden took second riding Contasia for owner Wynnwood Farm, LLC, while Clare O’Brien rounded out the top three aboard her own Bronziet. Ryleigh Crisafulli and her Camelot finished in fourth, with Mahalia T. Alascio capping the top five riding Blueberryhill’s Blue Dream, owned by Castlewood Farm, Inc.

Additional equitation champions were also crowned, including Emily Longest, who topped the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) 3’3″ Junior Hunt Seat Medal riding Hoorah for owner Drew Tibbetts. In the pony ranks, Eliza Laviolette won the MHSA Children’s Pony Medal riding her own Romeo.

Highlighting USHJA Zone 3 Championships jumper competition, Hugh Turner and Acadia Park, owned by Samantha Hawrysko, were named champion, and Adison Rice took reserve with Zantura. For adult riders, top honors in the USHJA Zone 3 Adult Amateur Jumper Final were presented to Jessica Leonard aboard Amalee for owner Jessica Matelis. Wendy Libert and Papillion Peanut were reserve champions.

In the USHJA Zone 3 Championships hunter divisions, Grace Walker and her own Zealand collected the championship in the Children’s Hunter Horse 14 & Under Final, while Lauren Satola took reserve on Santinos. For 15-17 riders, Margaret A. Stell and her own Clever topped the list, while Kendall Cashion and Verano earned reserve.

Emily Longest was also named champion in the USHJA Zone 3 3’3″ Junior Hunter Final riding Hoorah for Drew Tibbetts. Jessie Spade took the reserve title with Nightfall.

The USHJA Zone 3 Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Final was topped by Brittani Director riding her own Rococo. Layne Woodward took reserve riding Montblanc. The tricolor in the USHJA Zone 3 Adult Amateur Hunter 35 and Over Final went to Betty Oare and EMO Stables’ Sidenote, while Rachel Howell piloted Flirtation Walk to reserve honors.

Leading the charge for the Small and Medium Ponies were Ashley Garrido and Color Me Happy before a tie shared the reserve between Audrey Quinn on Jems Tucker and Mary Reeves Hopkins riding My Little Golden Girl. The Large Pony tricolor went to Abigale Olmsted on Highland’s Right Royal, owned by Alexandra Panetta. Alicia Wang and Irish Rambler were reserve.

Competition at the WIHS Regional Horse Show concluded on Sunday, just two days before the Washington International Horse Show – featuring top horses and riders from across the U.S. and around the world – kicks off on Tuesday, October 22. Qualified riders from the WIHS Regional Horse Show will compete at WIHS in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, October 27.

WIHS will continue a longstanding tradition as one of the world’s most celebrated indoor horse shows in 2019 and again host the $136,300 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington, presented by Events DC for the President’s Cup, with coveted qualifying points on offer for the 2020 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final taking place in Las Vegas, NV in April. Additionally, WIHS will welcome qualified hunter, jumper, equitation, and pony riders from across the nation and celebrate year-end titles, including the coveted Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals.

For more information on WIHS, please visit www.wihs.org.

For more information on event schedule and special ticket offers and discounts, visit WIHS.org/tickets.

Contact: Jennifer Wood
jwood@jumpmediallc.com

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Pony, Show Jumping, Strzegom

Pony European Championships: Ireland Wins Team Gold in Showjumping

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Sophia Rössel with Camillo We. Photo by: Mariusz Chmieliński.

The Irish team was unbeatable in the fight for team medals at the FEI European Championships for Ponies. Silver went to Great Britain and bronze to France.

It was an emotional day at Strzegom. The team medals were uncertain until the last ride. Two jump-offs had to happen to determine the bronze and gold winning teams.

Germany and France fought for the bronze. The two teams had the same score of 4 points in the jump-off, so it was the time that determined that France stood on the lowest step of the podium.

The Irish competed in the following squad: John McEntee, Niamh McEvoy, Tom Wachman, and his brother Max Wachman. They had a hard nut to crack in the jump-off, as the British were a fast opponent, and they also had their eyes set on the prize.

“Very fast jump off, the course was big, the English were very hard to beat, so it made it difficult for us,” said Tom Wachman.

“The English looked very fast, so I was just cheering for my team, hoping they will gallop fast enough and jump clear,” said Francis Derwin, who did not compete, but had helped his teammates in the first class of the championships.

The time of the Irish team, 1,72 seconds faster than Great Britain’s, decided their win.

Eventing

The eventing dressage trials ended on Friday. The current leaders, with the score of 88,4, are from team Great Britain. Second place for now belongs to France and third to Germany. 7 teams are competing overall.

German athlete Sophia Rössel with Camillo We performed the best individual test with the result of 25,4. The only Polish rider of the class, Julia Witkowska riding Chester, is currently in the 36th position.

Full results: https://zawodykonne.com/zawody/50/tour/84.

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Pony, Show Jumping, Strzegom

FEI Pony European Championships: Team Gold in Dressage for Denmark

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Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

The dressage team from Denmark went for the gold medal at the FEI European Championships for Ponies. Silver medal went to the Netherlands, and bronze to Germany. The Polish team finished at the tenth position.

The Danish team competed in the following squad: Alexander Yde Helgstrand with Adriano B, Liva Addy Guldager Nielsen with D’artagnan 187, Nathalie Thomassen with Lykkehoejs Dream of Dornik, and Thilde Rude Hare with Morgensterns Dakar. 226,829 was their collective score.

“Competing as a team is stressful because you have to rely on other people and some things are out of your hands. It’s the first time Denmark has ever won, so it’s fantastic,” said the member of the winning team, Nathalie Thomassen.

The best individual result belonged to the current FEI rankings number one – Alexander Yde Helgstrand aboard Adriano B – 77,543.

“It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable. It was really close between all the teams, so it was quite stressful, but it ended up great,” said Alexander Yde Helgstrand.

Polish riders ended up on the 10th position, with 14 countries competing overall. The best score for Poland belonged to Tatiana Bierieznow with Gluckspilz – 69,743.

It’s not the end of dressage. From Friday to Sunday riders will present themselves and their ponies in the individual classes.

Showjumping

50 riders competed in the first class of the Pony European Championships in showjumping. 18 of them finished the class with zero penalty points. The best ride belonged to Linnea Ilsoee Madsen with Zee Tech, as they cruised over the course in amazing time of 64,97 seconds.

Three teams are clear: Germany, Great Britain, and France. Anything can happen in the final, as Italy, Ireland, and Denmark currently stand on the score of 4 penalties.

Poland is at the 10th position. The best result belonged to Aleksandra Osuch riding Rosa, as they finished the class with only one knockdown.

Full results: https://zawodykonne.com/zawody/50/tour/84.

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Pony, USEF

Kat Fuqua Outshines the Field in Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Finals

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Kat Fuqua and Prestige.

Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 11, 2019 – The 2019 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, drew to a close Sunday, with Kat Fuqua claiming the top honors in what is hailed as the capstone class of the week, the Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Finals, to conclude her trip to the Kentucky Horse Park on a high note. Fuqua bested a field of nearly 200 riders aboard small, medium, and large ponies over two rounds of competition to emerge victorious with the ride on Prestige. The win marks Fuqua’s second of the week, after she piloted her own Prestige to the championship in the Large Regular Pony Hunters.

Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Contact: Rebecca Walton
phone 561.753.3389
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com

Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Pony, Show Jumping, USEF

Maddie Tosh and Alexa Lignelli Victorious with Hunter Championships at 2019 USEF Pony Finals

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Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 10, 2019 – Action in the Walnut Ring concluded Saturday at the 2019 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, with Maddie Tosh and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Bit of Love adding to their trophy collection as they were honored as the Grand Regular Pony Hunter champions, the most coveted title of the weekly hunter competition. The award marks the second grand championship of the week for both Tosh and Dr. Parker following Friday’s Grand Green Pony Hunter title with Baroness of Locheil. With only one class left to conclude the Medium Regular Pony Hunters, the Kentucky Horse Park welcomed 154 entries for the final and largest division of the week. Maintaining their day one lead, Alexa Lignelli and EMC Entourage continued to rally over fences to clinch the division championship ahead of the massive field.

Hallie Rush Races to 2019 Pony Jumper Championship Honors with Sky Miles

Saturday evening saw the pony jumpers return to the Alltech Arena for the third phase of individual competition during USEF Pony Finals. The top 13 riders returned for the finals, all vying for the championship title. Hallie Rush and Sky Miles proved to be the most consistent over the three days of competition, never incurring any faults to impressively finish on a score of zero to earn the title of the 2019 USEF Pony Jumper Individual Champion.

Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Contact: Rebecca Walton
phone 561.753.3389
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Pony, Show Jumping, Strzegom

FEI European Championships for Ponies to Begin Soon

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Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

Strzegom, August 11: Starting from Wednesday, jumpers, eventers, and dressage riders will fight for medals in Strzegom.

153 riders aged from 12 to 16, representing 18 countries, along with their ponies will compete overall. Ponies are horses measuring up to 149 cm. These Championships will be a special event. Riders from three Olympic equestrian disciplines, dressage, eventing, and showjumping, will compete alongside each other at the same place and time.

The championships start on the 14th of August, at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom, Lower Silesia Voivodeship. They will be preluded by a festive opening ceremony, with a presentation of all national teams.

Dressage riders are the first ones to go. The first part of their individual tests starts on Wednesday. The jumpers will begin their classes on Thursday, and eventers will present themselves during dressage on Thursday and Friday. Saturday is cross-country day for them, and showjumping will determine the winners on Sunday.

www.strzegom2019.pl
press@strzegom2019.pl

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Hunter/Equitation, Pony, Show Jumping, USEF

Tosh and Downey Ride to Championship Rosettes in Green Pony Hunters at USEF Pony Finals

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Maddie Tosh and Baroness of Locheil.

Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 9, 2019 – Hunter ponies and their riders returned to the Walnut Ring for the second-to-last day of hunter competition Friday at the 2019 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Collecting Gaits Farm. Two more champions were crowned following successful over fences performances, as Maddie Tosh and Baroness of Locheil hoisted the title in the Medium Green Pony Hunters and Tessa Downey and Sandcastle led the victory gallop as the best partnership in the Large Green Pony Hunters. Additionally, Tosh and Baroness of Locheil were awarded the Grand Green Pony Hunter title as the highest-scoring Green pair of all of the size groups.

Hat Trick for Zone 10 at USEF Pony Jumper Team Championship

Down the road from the action in the Walnut Ring, the pony jumpers took center stage in the Alltech Arena to compete for the USEF Pony Jumper Team Championship title. Young athletes and their ponies returned for the second and final round of team competition, and in the end Zone 10, comprised of team members Hannah Attar, Devi Ferreira, and Tabitha Okistsu, topped the podium to take home gold medal honors for the third year in a row.

Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Contact: Rebecca Walton
phone 561.753.3389
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Hunter/Equitation, Pony, USEF

Maddie Tosh and Bit of Love Reprise Championship Title at 2019 USEF Pony Finals

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Maddie Tosh and Bit of Love.

Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 8, 2019 – It was déjà vu for Maddie Tosh and Bit of Love at the 2019 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, on Thursday as the talented partnership defended their title in the Small Regular Pony Hunters ahead of a large field of challengers. The 2018 victors once again proved why they belong at the top of the scorecard, riding to the highest score over fences and in the cumulative standings to emerge victorious for the second time. Tosh had double the reasons to celebrate Thursday as she also led teammate Baroness of Locheil to the initial lead in the Medium Green Pony Hunters with two phases of competition completed. In the Large Green Pony Hunters, Tessa Downey and Sandcastle lead the way prior to the final over fences round to determine the division champion.

Returning as the day one leaders and reigning champions, Tosh and Bit of Love had a target on their backs as the pair to beat in the Small Regular Pony Hunters, which featured 127 entries. The 13-year-old Tosh and Dr. Betsee Parker’s 13-year-old Welsh Pony Cross, Bit of Love, concluded the first two phases of the divisional contest ahead of the closest duo by a slim margin of only six points, meaning they still needed to demonstrate a textbook trip over the course to top the pack and secure overall victory. Not giving in to the pressure, the skilled combination performed perfectly as the final contenders to ride, earning scores of 87.50, 89 and 89 for total over fences marks of 265.5, pushing them to the top of the jumping leaderboard and a composite score of 1,063 to clinch the championship for the second year.

Tosh and Bit of Love are no strangers to USEF Pony Finals, both having competed at the event multiple times. With three appearances under her belt, Tosh has already accrued two major divisional victories two years in a row, adding to her growing list of accolades that includes wins in the Children’s Hunters, Junior Hunters, and equitation. Coming from an equestrian family, Tosh is trained by her father, acclaimed rider and trainer Hunt Tosh, out of Alpharetta, Georgia, and has been riding “Chester” for three years.

Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Contact: Rebecca Walton
phone 561.753.3389
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com