Tag Archives: Pony Finals

Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, USEF

Daisy Farish Awarded Overall Small Pony Hunter Grand Championship at 2011 USEF Pony Finals

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Daisy Farish and Ballou (Photo: Shawn McMillen).

Lexington, KY – Another cool summer day greeted exhibitors for the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pony Finals at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park. The Large Pony Hunters took center stage in the Walnut Ring this morning as they completed their Model and Under Saddle phases, where Meredith Darst and For the Laughter took home both blue ribbons. The Small Pony Hunter Over Fences were next, and at the end of the day Daisy Farish and Ballou earned the Overall Small Pony Hunter Grand Championship with their consistency throughout the division. Finally, in the Covered Arena, riders participated in the USEF National Pony Jumper Team Championship.

“Third time is the charm” proved to be the lucky phrase for today’s winning combination in the Small Pony Hunters. This is Daisy Farish’s third year competing at Pony Finals and it proved to be the best. Farish and Ballou, owned by Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, took home the Overall Small Pony Hunter Championship, presented by Sallee Horse Vans, and the Professional Horseman’s Association of America Perpetual Trophy. The duo was ranked eighth going into today’s Over Fences phase, and with scores of 84.7, 83.25, and 87 they scored the third-place award, jumping to the top of the leaderboard and earning the coveted title.

“I have been riding Ballou for about three years,” explained 10-year-old Farish, who trains with Scott Stewart. “He jumps really well and he is very easy to find the distance on, he’s very smooth. I rode him at Pony Finals before, but we weren’t as good as this year. We have been coming to Pony Finals for about three years and I felt ready this year. I chose to show Ballou because I have ridden him for a long time and have a good relationship with him. Ballou has shown a lot, so it helps me to stay confident. He also has a really sweet barn personality; he is very sweet and he loves apples.”

The winner of today’s Small Pony Hunter Over Fences phase was also the division’s reserve champion. Bergen Sanderford and First Edition, owned by Katie Dinan LLC of New York, NY, received scores of 87, 85.25, and 85.25 to take home the blue ribbon prize as well as the Overall Small Pony Hunter Reserve Grand Champion title. The second-place finisher during the Over Fences was last year’s champion mount, Elation, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, who was ridden by McKayla Langmeier. The pair earned scores of 86, 83, and 86 for their beautiful round.

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Meredith Darst Scores Overall Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship at 2011 USEF Pony Finals

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Meredith Darst and Enchanted Forrest. Photo by Shawn McMillen

Lexington, KY – It was a sunny and warm at the Kentucky Horse Park for the third day of the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals. The day began in the Walnut Ring with the Small Pony Hunter Model and Under Saddle phases. The Medium Pony Hunter Over Fences were up next, and after three days of competition the Overall Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship was awarded to Meredith Darst for her ride aboard Enchanted Forrest. The final event of the day was the Pony Jumper Welcome Class and first qualifier for the Individual medals, which was held in the Covered Arena this evening.

Meredith Darst and Enchanted Forrest, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, have had a fantastic week in the Medium Pony Hunter division. They held the lead going into the final phase, and with scores of 86.9, 87 and 87, the duo garnered the top call over fences. Darst and Enchanted Forrest’s efforts eventually earned them the Overall Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship and the Beagle Brook Farm Perpetual Trophy, donated by Jennifer Miller and Beagle Brook Farm in honor of “Special Effects.” All of this week’s USEF National Hunter Pony Championships are presented by Sallee Horse Vans.

“I began riding Enchanted Forrest at the beginning of WEF, and I really like the under saddle and over fences phases with him,” noted Darst. “He is really quiet and has a really big stride, so you can go pretty slow, but you need to have impulsion and keep him in front of your leg. He moves really well and jumps over fences smoothly.”

Darst added, “It’s great to do well at Pony Finals because it validates all of our hard work during the year. It is one of my favorite competitions, and I like that it is on different days, so I do not have to run around as much; I like the separation of the classes.”

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Kirklen Peterson Garners Overall Green Grand Hunter Pony Championship at 2011 USEF Pony Finals

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Kirklen Peterson and Magical Diamond. Photo by Shawn McMillen

Lexington, KY – The 2011 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals continued today at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park with the conclusion of the Green Pony Hunter divisions. Ponies and riders from each division completed their over fences phases, competing for the top honors, as well as the championship and reserve championship titles. At the end of the day, Kirklen Petersen and Magical Diamond claimed the Green Pony Hunter Grand Championship title after winning the Medium Green Pony Hunter Over Fences and the Medium Green Pony Hunter Championship.

The first class of the day for the USEF National Hunter Pony Championships, presented by Sallee Horse Vans, was the Small Green Pony Over Fences. Emma Lemke and Chatterbox, owned by Frank Hernandez of Cordova, TN, jumped to the top of the leaderboard with scores of 85, 82, and 85, taking home the blue ribbon prize. Lindsay Levine and Bit of Laughter, owned by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL, followed in the second-place position after earning an 83, an 83, and an 81. The third-place ribbon went to Emma Kurtz and Quicksilver Butterfly, owned by Kate Taylor of Pittsford, NY, who received scores of 84, 79, and 80. At the end of the class, the overall points were tabulated and Levine was named with Overall Small Green Pony Hunter Champion aboard Bit of Laughter. The reserve championship honors were presented to Kurtz and Quicksilver Butterfly.

“This is Bit of Laughter’s first time at Pony Finals,” commented Levine. “He is still very young and very green, so you have to stay in the middle and keep him going because if you fall out he falls off his lead. The course today was good. I thought he was going to spook on the out of the diagonal line because he isn’t as experienced as my other ponies, but he was really good.”

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2011 USEF Pony Finals Get Underway at Kentucky Horse Park

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Opening Day Features Green Pony Hunter Model & Under Saddle

Find the Love and Alex Crown. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Lexington, KY – It was beautiful and sunny for the first day of the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championship at the Kentucky Horse Park. Today, the top ponies and riders from across the nation gathered at the Walnut Ring for the Green Pony Hunters Model and Under Saddle, as well as the Regular Medium Pony Hunter Model. Throughout the year, riders have worked diligently to qualify for this prestigious event and compete for the winning honors.

The USEF Pony Finals offers three phases of competition, and the ponies are scored on conformation, way of moving under saddle and jumping ability. The young riders are subject to scoring based on equitation and skill at piloting their pony over fences. Winners are declared in all six divisions: small, small green, medium, medium green, large, and large green pony, and each year the points are tabulated to declare a USEF Green Hunter Pony Champion and USEF Regular Pony Hunter Champion, presented by Sallee Horse Vans.

The first event of the day was Small Green Pony Model, where Isabel Ryan of Locust Valley, NY, claimed the blue ribbon prize with Roll Call. The second place honors went to Parker Wright and Shenandoah Sirocco, owned by Sarah Berkowitz of Nottingham, PA. Lindsay Levine and Bit of Laughter, owned by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL, rounded out today’s top three.

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Isabelle Caccamise Garners 2010 EquiSport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Finals Gold Medal

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Isabelle Caccamise and Better Than Good won Gold Medal at the 2010 EquiSport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Finals. Photo By: Rebecca Walton.

Lexington, KY – August 15, 2010 – The last day of the 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships was marked by a mix of sun and rain, but that did not slow down the exciting competition in the Covered Arena. The EquiSport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Finals was the last phase of the week, and after a two-horse hack-off it was Isabelle Caccamise and Better Than Good earning the Gold Medal and a $500 gift certificate from Oakcroft.

Over 180 ponies jumped the first course and the top 21 total ponies returned for the second round. The technical courses both consisted of short lines, bending lines, a hedge jump and an optional fence. Caccamise was at the top of the order for today’s second round and rode the tight turn to the stone line with ease and but chose the easier option to showcase her riding abilities. Victoria Colvin was ranked second and took the more difficult option. Both riders impressed the judges with their incredible skill and were invited back for the final test on the flat.

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Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship Awarded to Meredith Darst and Highlands Make Believe at 2010 USEF Pony Finals

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Meredith Darst and Highlands Make Believe earned the Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship at the 2010 USEF Pony Finals. Photo By: Alyson Sanderford/PMG.

Lexington, KY – August 13, 2010 – It was another hot day at the Kentucky Horse Park but that did not slow down the exciting competition at the 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships. The top ponies and riders gathered at the Walnut Ring to showcase their talent. The pony action began with the Large Pony Hunter model and under saddle phases, and was followed soon after by Medium Pony Hunter over fences phase to determine the grand championship and reserve grand championship titles. The day rounded out with the second phase of the Individual Jumping, which included the Team Competition.

Meredith Darst and Highlands Make Believe, owned by Elizabeth Wenner of Garden City, NY, had an incredible round during the Medium Pony Hunter over fences phase that earned them a total of 259 points. Their excellent score helped them win the over fences phase and also moved them from 14th in the overall standings to first place overall. Their advancement in the standings with a 1006.25 total score garnered them the Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship.

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