Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, the U.S. Pony Finals were held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky August 9-14, 2016. The U.S. Pony Finals attract the top qualifying ponies and riders in the nation for a three phase competition judging the pony’s conformation, way of moving, and jumping ability. The Pony Medal Championship is an equitation competition, and the U.S. Pony Jumper Championship is designed as a stepping stone for junior rider who may one day move up to Grand Prix.
In Small Green Pony Hunter, Caroline Passareli of High Falls, NY and So Enchanted swept the field with 1052.46 points to take the Championship. Her scores were consistently in the mid-to-upper 80s with two 90s in the Over Fences component. Casey Oliver, riding Picturesque Bow Tie was Reserve with 995.98 points overall.
In Medium Green Pony Hunter, Kyla Sullivan and Not So Secret won the Championship with 985.38 total points. Augusta Iwasaki was Reserve title on Editor’s Note with 971.36 points. Middle Tennessee rider Amy Krebs, riding Daddy Doesn’t Know, competed in this division.
In Large Green Pony Hunter, Madeline Schaefer and Minted nailed the Championship with 1001.51 points. Ella Reinaur and Baby Blue were close in Reserve with 999.70 points.
In Small Regular Pony Hunter, Claire Campbell and Roll Call earned the Championship title with 1026.32 overall points. Kyla Sullivan had her dream come true as she and her pony Dream Come True were Reserve with 1010.58 points. Middle Tennessee rider Amy Krebs, riding And So Forth, competed in this division.
In Medium Regular Pony Hunter, Natalie Jayne and Woodlands Stevie Ray were Champions with 1003.07 overall points. Hunter Champey and News Flash earned the Reserve title with 998.14 points.
Large Regular Pony Hunter Champion was Mimi Gochman, riding Storyteller, who accrued 1040.80 overall points. Devin Seek rode Garavani for Reserve Champion, earning 1003.25 points. There were 138 entries in this division.
In the Pony Medal Finals, Caroline Passarelli earned top honors, with reserve honors going to Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, California.
West Tennessee riders from Spring Mill Farm in Eads, TN who qualified for the U.S. Pony Finals were: Jordan Ricketts and Teadoro, who showed in Large Pony Hunters. Madison Hill rode Vienna and Rollingwoods Over the Top. Anna Marie Mayers showed Carnival in Pony Medal, while Natalie Sharp showed Carnival in Large Pony Hunters. Katherine Walters showed Northwind Liam and Calder Trotz showed Brownland Miss Kimmy in Small Pony Hunters. Madison Hill and Rollingwood's Over The Top placed 9th (out of 157) in the Medium Pony Hunters. Katherine Walters won the Buttons and Bows Sportsmanship Trophy, awarded to the junior rider who best personifies the high standards of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, courage, good temper, and unselfishness during Pony Finals.
Amy Krebs, 8, daughter of Sherrin and Ames Krebs of Franklin, TN, had the experience of a lifetime at the U.S. Pony Finals. Krebs is trained by Michelle Zimmer at The Jaeckle Centre in Thompson’s Station, TN. Zimmer, former coach of the UK Equestrian team, took two of her riders to this year’s U.S. Pony Finals. “It was a great experience for her and truly something she’ll remember forever; she’s already working towards earning her way back next year,” said Sherrin Krebs. “Some of the best riders in the country are there, and to be there alongside of them is a nice accomplishment. A highlight [for Amy] was a finish in the top 25 in one of her classes,” added Krebs.
In Small Green Pony Hunter, Caroline Passareli of High Falls, NY and So Enchanted swept the field with 1052.46 points to take the Championship. Her scores were consistently in the mid-to-upper 80s with two 90s in the Over Fences component. Casey Oliver, riding Picturesque Bow Tie was Reserve with 995.98 points overall.
In Medium Green Pony Hunter, Kyla Sullivan and Not So Secret won the Championship with 985.38 total points. Augusta Iwasaki was Reserve title on Editor’s Note with 971.36 points. Middle Tennessee rider Amy Krebs, riding Daddy Doesn’t Know, competed in this division.
In Large Green Pony Hunter, Madeline Schaefer and Minted nailed the Championship with 1001.51 points. Ella Reinaur and Baby Blue were close in Reserve with 999.70 points.
In Small Regular Pony Hunter, Claire Campbell and Roll Call earned the Championship title with 1026.32 overall points. Kyla Sullivan had her dream come true as she and her pony Dream Come True were Reserve with 1010.58 points. Middle Tennessee rider Amy Krebs, riding And So Forth, competed in this division.
In Medium Regular Pony Hunter, Natalie Jayne and Woodlands Stevie Ray were Champions with 1003.07 overall points. Hunter Champey and News Flash earned the Reserve title with 998.14 points.
Large Regular Pony Hunter Champion was Mimi Gochman, riding Storyteller, who accrued 1040.80 overall points. Devin Seek rode Garavani for Reserve Champion, earning 1003.25 points. There were 138 entries in this division.
In the Pony Medal Finals, Caroline Passarelli earned top honors, with reserve honors going to Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, California.
West Tennessee riders from Spring Mill Farm in Eads, TN who qualified for the U.S. Pony Finals were: Jordan Ricketts and Teadoro, who showed in Large Pony Hunters. Madison Hill rode Vienna and Rollingwoods Over the Top. Anna Marie Mayers showed Carnival in Pony Medal, while Natalie Sharp showed Carnival in Large Pony Hunters. Katherine Walters showed Northwind Liam and Calder Trotz showed Brownland Miss Kimmy in Small Pony Hunters. Madison Hill and Rollingwood's Over The Top placed 9th (out of 157) in the Medium Pony Hunters. Katherine Walters won the Buttons and Bows Sportsmanship Trophy, awarded to the junior rider who best personifies the high standards of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, courage, good temper, and unselfishness during Pony Finals.
Amy Krebs, 8, daughter of Sherrin and Ames Krebs of Franklin, TN, had the experience of a lifetime at the U.S. Pony Finals. Krebs is trained by Michelle Zimmer at The Jaeckle Centre in Thompson’s Station, TN. Zimmer, former coach of the UK Equestrian team, took two of her riders to this year’s U.S. Pony Finals. “It was a great experience for her and truly something she’ll remember forever; she’s already working towards earning her way back next year,” said Sherrin Krebs. “Some of the best riders in the country are there, and to be there alongside of them is a nice accomplishment. A highlight [for Amy] was a finish in the top 25 in one of her classes,” added Krebs.
