By Shelly Mann, USPC Press
Attendees of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park were treated to all things Pony Club including demonstrations, Prince Philip Cup Games, educational opportunities and more.
In its 18th consecutive year at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, four teams competed in the Prince Philip Cup Games sponsored by Hero Kids Foundation. Although the riders were there to compete, they kicked off the Games competition with a Celebrity Games Round on Friday, April 27th. Pony Club Alumni Clark Montgomery (Brazos Valley Pony Club), Ellen Doughty-Hume (A, Trinity Hills II Pony Club) and Elinor MacPhail O’Neal (C-2, Hunter Run Pony Club) saddled their ponies and took turns running through the games with the Prince Philip Cup competitors. After two hotly contested rounds, the Sunshine Region Butterfingers finished as the winners of the coveted trophy. Sunday morning, all four teams entered the Rolex Stadium for their honor round in front of a cheering crowd.
Final placings for the Prince Philip Cup Games:
First: Sunshine Region – ButterfingersCarolyn Lokay riding Ginger Snap Cookie
Laci Eiseman riding Karat
Zina Grechniw riding Marquis
Natalie Tanski riding Sheldon
Kali Walker riding Holly
Second: Midsouth Region – Pickles
Jessena Defler riding Sparrow
Bibiane Crane riding Bullet
Laney Hardeman riding Clancy
Zoe Love riding Whinnie
Rachael Volk riding Roma
Third: Eastern Pennsylvania/Old Dominion/Tri-State Regions – Switch Blade
Margaret Buchanan riding Sky is the Limit
Jesse Bradley-Johnson riding Rudy
Molly Brown riding Traveller
MacKenzie Raniowski riding Bittens Pride
Maddie Zaun riding Sunflower Power
Fourth: Sunshine Region – Yellow JacketsKani Schram riding Precious
Maggie Bennet riding Parker
Ava Geraci riding Miss Sparkles
Tahlia Ionno riding Domino
Ginger Martin riding Zipper
Other Pony Club activities at the Kentucky 3-Day
Thanks to Equestrian Events, Inc., event officials and Pony Club alumni, USPC members had several chances to gain first-hand knowledge of what it takes to run the only CCI4* event in North America. Two Pony Club members, Isabel Brunker (H-B, Keeneland Pony Club) and Kaila McCormack (H-B, Metamora Hunt II Pony Club), were selected from their essay submissions to serve as media interns in the Land Rover Kentucky Media Center under Pony Club Alumni Ann Haller. “I had a great time being a media intern at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. I got to see what goes on behind the scenes of the event as well as what it takes to get the information, quotes and pictures for the articles we all see after the event. It was a wonderful learning experience and I got to meet so many great people!” said McCormack.
On Friday, ten current member’s names were drawn randomly to take part in the second “Meet and Greet” with current Pony Club alumni involved in the event. Competitor Colleen Rutledge (A, Fredrick Pony Club), FEI Steward Kathy Barker (Pony Club Volunteer) and Will Coleman’s groom Lucy Beard (C-3, Big Sky Region) spent time interacting with the members and provided insight on how Pony Club knowledge helps them in their roles. With the introduction of the Split Rock Tour Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix, Course Designer Guilherme Jorge gave an in-depth tour of his course and designing decisions. On Sunday, Richard Jeffery, Pony Club alumni, and Marc Donvan (A, Meadow Brook Hounds Pony Club) led the popular Pony Club Stadium Course walk before the final phase of the event commenced.
The local Midsouth Region was well-represented at the Kentucky 3-Day, as members of the Keeneland Pony Club showed a daily quadrille demonstration; many members volunteered as gate crew for Dressage; and nine USPC riders carried flags for the opening ceremony on Sunday before the Stadium Jumping phase.
Attendees of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park were treated to all things Pony Club including demonstrations, Prince Philip Cup Games, educational opportunities and more.
In its 18th consecutive year at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, four teams competed in the Prince Philip Cup Games sponsored by Hero Kids Foundation. Although the riders were there to compete, they kicked off the Games competition with a Celebrity Games Round on Friday, April 27th. Pony Club Alumni Clark Montgomery (Brazos Valley Pony Club), Ellen Doughty-Hume (A, Trinity Hills II Pony Club) and Elinor MacPhail O’Neal (C-2, Hunter Run Pony Club) saddled their ponies and took turns running through the games with the Prince Philip Cup competitors. After two hotly contested rounds, the Sunshine Region Butterfingers finished as the winners of the coveted trophy. Sunday morning, all four teams entered the Rolex Stadium for their honor round in front of a cheering crowd.
Final placings for the Prince Philip Cup Games:
First: Sunshine Region – ButterfingersCarolyn Lokay riding Ginger Snap Cookie
Laci Eiseman riding Karat
Zina Grechniw riding Marquis
Natalie Tanski riding Sheldon
Kali Walker riding Holly
Second: Midsouth Region – Pickles
Jessena Defler riding Sparrow
Bibiane Crane riding Bullet
Laney Hardeman riding Clancy
Zoe Love riding Whinnie
Rachael Volk riding Roma
Third: Eastern Pennsylvania/Old Dominion/Tri-State Regions – Switch Blade
Margaret Buchanan riding Sky is the Limit
Jesse Bradley-Johnson riding Rudy
Molly Brown riding Traveller
MacKenzie Raniowski riding Bittens Pride
Maddie Zaun riding Sunflower Power
Fourth: Sunshine Region – Yellow JacketsKani Schram riding Precious
Maggie Bennet riding Parker
Ava Geraci riding Miss Sparkles
Tahlia Ionno riding Domino
Ginger Martin riding Zipper
Other Pony Club activities at the Kentucky 3-Day
Thanks to Equestrian Events, Inc., event officials and Pony Club alumni, USPC members had several chances to gain first-hand knowledge of what it takes to run the only CCI4* event in North America. Two Pony Club members, Isabel Brunker (H-B, Keeneland Pony Club) and Kaila McCormack (H-B, Metamora Hunt II Pony Club), were selected from their essay submissions to serve as media interns in the Land Rover Kentucky Media Center under Pony Club Alumni Ann Haller. “I had a great time being a media intern at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. I got to see what goes on behind the scenes of the event as well as what it takes to get the information, quotes and pictures for the articles we all see after the event. It was a wonderful learning experience and I got to meet so many great people!” said McCormack.
On Friday, ten current member’s names were drawn randomly to take part in the second “Meet and Greet” with current Pony Club alumni involved in the event. Competitor Colleen Rutledge (A, Fredrick Pony Club), FEI Steward Kathy Barker (Pony Club Volunteer) and Will Coleman’s groom Lucy Beard (C-3, Big Sky Region) spent time interacting with the members and provided insight on how Pony Club knowledge helps them in their roles. With the introduction of the Split Rock Tour Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix, Course Designer Guilherme Jorge gave an in-depth tour of his course and designing decisions. On Sunday, Richard Jeffery, Pony Club alumni, and Marc Donvan (A, Meadow Brook Hounds Pony Club) led the popular Pony Club Stadium Course walk before the final phase of the event commenced.
The local Midsouth Region was well-represented at the Kentucky 3-Day, as members of the Keeneland Pony Club showed a daily quadrille demonstration; many members volunteered as gate crew for Dressage; and nine USPC riders carried flags for the opening ceremony on Sunday before the Stadium Jumping phase.
