Lexington, Ky. – August 9, 2022 – Young riders were eager to enter the famed Rolex Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park Tuesday morning for the 2022 USEF Pony Finals presented by Honor Hill Farms. The Bluegrass State welcomed bows and braids back for another year of promising young talent to showcase their dedication to the sport through three elements of hunter competition. Day one of competition kicked off with the Small Green Pony Hunter Model and Under Saddle, and Regular Large Pony Hunter Model and Under Saddle. At the conclusion of the Regular Large Pony Division, it was Payton Flanders and Best Blonde to top the pack of 153 ponies in the under saddle while Jole Kosloske and Chic In Time took the blue ribbon in the model. The Small Green Pony Hunters rounded out the competition day with Vivian Golden and Preston besting the field of 43 ponies to win the model, and Finley Baras and Spring Fling winning the under saddle.
Flanders and Best Blonde owned the Rolex Arena, striking the judges with their accomplished partnership. Rachel Agee’s 9-year-old Warmblood gelding demonstrated textbook movement and a pleasant expression, carrying Flanders to an overall score of 276.82 points, winning the section by approximately four full points. The duo averaged an incredibly high score of 92 from each judge. The pair is familiar with having a blue on the bridle, most recently claiming the championship in the Regular Large Pony Hunter Division at the Manchester Summer Festival [Manchester, VT]. Claiming the red ribbon in the under saddle was Emi Richard aboard Cacique scoring 272.54 points. JJ Torano piloted Monogram to a close third place with an overall score of 271.42 points.
Sharing the Regular Large Pony Hunter spotlight Tuesday morning was Kosloske and her very own 15-year-old German Riding Pony, Chic In Time. The duo was nothing short of impressive, showcasing exquisite turnout and impressing the judges in the model. Chic In Time stood confidently in the stadium, earning the pair an overall model score of 267.17 points to top the leaderboard amongst the large crowd of seasoned pony hunter competitors. Following closely behind was Tessa Carlino and Madagascar with a score of 266.91 points to secure the red ribbon, while Brixton and Vivian Golden rounded out the podium with 266.76 points, currently leading the division going into day two.
Smaller in size but equally as competitive, the Small Green Pony Hunters took to the stadium Tuesday afternoon. Wrapping up Golden’s full day of pony competition, she stole the show with Betsee Parker’s 6-year-old Welsh Pony gelding in the Small Green Pony Hunter Model. Preston overwhelmed the judges with his picture-perfect confirmation and eager expression to earn Golden the blue with an overall score of 261.24 points. As a new pair to the show ring, coming together just this May, they are quickly proving that they are a force to be reckoned with. Carsyn Korotkin and Among Us sat in second place, besting Lucille Langhorst and Bouchard by just .01, putting the duo in third.
Baras and her very own Spring Fling strutted to the top of the leaderboard in the Small Green Pony Hunter Under Saddle to end day one. The 7-year-old Welsh Pony Cross mare demonstrated experience beyond her years as she took to the Rolex Arena with confidence. Spring Fling showcased her promising talent to earn an overall score of 268.93 points, leaving Baras with a beaming smile to accompany their blue ribbon. JJ Torano and Sun’s Up, the 8-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by Gertrude Hall, came just short of the win with a score of 268.90, securing their second place finish and leading position going into the second day of competition. The yellow ribbon was awarded to Aundrea Hillyard and the 7-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by Sienne Smith, Royal Legacy, with 259.92 points.
The 2022 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Honor Hill Farm, will continue through Sunday, August 14. The nation’s top young pony riders will battle for the title of Grand Champion in both the Regular Hunter and Green Hunter divisions in the Rolex Ring, and the Claiborne Ring will play host to the Pony Jumper competition starting Thursday, August 11. The highly anticipated Pony Medal will conclude the 2022 USEF Pony Finals Sunday at 7 a.m. Competition will continue Wednesday morning with the Regular Small Pony Hunters.
Results
Place / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
Regular Large Pony Hunter Under Saddle
Payton Flanders / Best Blonde / Rachel Agee / 276.82
Emi Richard / Cacique / Carolex Stables, LLC / 272.54
JJ Torano / Monogram / Lelia Denny / 271.42
Gray Neville / Tresoro / Gray Neville / 270.26
Ava Barnes / Prestige / Ava Barnes / 267.61
Liam Gaspar / Valentino / Maulsby Gaspar Equestrian, LLC. / 267.32
Lulu Wells / Heaven’s Gift / Lulu Wells / 266.73
Vivian Golden / Brixton / Betsee Parker / 265.40
Madeline Rubin / Rockaway / Briar Field Farm, LLC. / 264.84
Kalea Iuliano / So Dapper / Kalea Iuliano / 264.64
Regular Large Pony Hunter Model
Jole Kosloske / Chic In Time / Jole Kosloske / 267.17
Tessa Carlino / Madagascar / Tessa Carlino / 266.91
Vivian Golden / Brixton / Betsee Parker / 266.76
Karma Jackson / Philippe / Jackson Creek Stables, LLC. / 263.87
Rowan Bomar / Tobi Van De Lufkenshoeve / Rowan Bomar / 263.710
Jack Strang / Jimmy Choo / St. Ranch, LLC. / 261.47
Mallory Brown / Bear With Me / Mallory Brown / 260.28
Lulu Wells / Heaven’s Gift / Lulu Wells / 259.91
Taylor Silvius / Sahara / Taylor Silvius / 259.37
Rylie True / Olof / Rylie True / 257.67
Small Green Pony Hunter Model
Vivian Golden / Preston / Betsee Parker / 261.24
Carsyn Korotkin / Among Us / Castlewood Farm, Inc. / 260.45
Lucille Langhorst / Bouchard / Lucille Langhorst / 260.44
JJ Torano / Sun’s Up / Gertrude Hall / 257.06
Ashley Moran / Picturesque Bit Of Bling / Samia Al Otaiba / 256.68
Finley Baras / Spring Fling / Finley Baras / 255.91
Violet Rheingold / Posh Bedtime Story / Jamie Pitt Miller / 255.68
Aundrea Hillyard / Royal Legacy / Sienna Smith / 254.87
Gracelyn Haydel / Plumbrook Peregrine / Shelby Litwin
Mimi Maddock / Orchard Hill Valentina / Winsome, LLC. / 251.42
Small Green Pony Hunter Under Saddle
Finley Baras / Spring Fling / Finley Baras / 268.93
JJ Torano / Sun’s Up / Gertrude Hall / 268.90
Aundrea Hillyard / Royal Legacy / Sienna Smith / 259.92
Agatha Lignelli / EMC Enjoy / Hidden Ridge / 259.87
Carsyn Korotkin / Among Us / Castlewood Farm, Inc. / 256.73
Ella Endzweig / Snow Pea / Emily Elek-Burtard / 255.81
Tegan Price / Rock A Rhyme / Astaria Farm, LLC. / 248.99
Lilly Herzog / Bitcoin / Vivianne Kassin / 247.42
Hannah Goforth / Rosmel’s Fairy Glow / Hannah Goforth / 247.10
Bridget Harris / Role Model / Joe Currais / 246.90