From Louise Taylor, USHJA
The third annual Kym K. Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships (YHPC) were held on August 23, 2020 at the Virginia Horse center in Lexington, Virginia. The Championships saw a 33% increase in entries this year. More than $20,000 in prize money was awarded and six division champions were named during the Virginia Young Horse Festival.
Eamon Snyder, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, and Partly Cloudy claimed the Overall Grand Champion title at the event. Partly Cloudy is no stranger to the spotlight at the YHPC as the 2018 Overall Grand Champion and multiple class winner with owner Vanessa Mazzoli. This year with Snyder aboard, the pair earned the overall title, as well as the champion title of the Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’ and Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’3” divisions.
In the Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’6” division, Champion was Wynnbrook Polar Vortex, owned and ridden by Amy Krebs of Franklin, TN, trained by Michelle Zimmer. Amy and her pony were Champions in the Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2’3” division last year (2019).
The USHJA congratulates the following division champions and special award winners at the 2020 event:
Five-Year-Old and Under Under Saddle:
Champion: Royal Finale, owned and trained by Melissa Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Finley Scheffel
Reserve Champion: Farnley’s Paper Mache, owned by Farnley Farm, ridden by Ashley Moran, trained by Damaris Abeles
Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2'
Champion: Royal and Rare, owned and trained by Melissa Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Finley Scheffel
Reserve Champion: Farnley Rock Around, owned by Farnley Farm, ridden by Lilia Sharp, trained by Damaris Abeles
Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2'3"
Champion: Farnley Tenspeed, owned by Hetty Abeles, ridden by Lilia Sharp, trained by Damaris Abeles
Reserve Champion: Royal & Rare owned and trained by Melissa Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Finley Scheffel
Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’
Champion: Partly Cloudy, owned and ridden by Eamon Snyder, trained by Alison Babcock
Reserve Champion: Papillion, owned by Cameron Kosko, ridden by Hannah Haines, trained by Shelly Haines-Clement
Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’3”
Champion: Partly Cloudy, owned and ridden by Eamon Snyder, trained by Alison Babcock
Reserve Champion: Welcome Back, owned and ridden by Kacy Baumgart, trained by Martine Hartogensis
Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’6”
Champion: Wynnbrook Polar Vortex, owned and ridden by Amy Krebs, trained by Michelle Zimmer
Reserve Champion: Royal Street, owned and ridden by Lauren Snellings, trained by Stephanie Free
Other Special Awards:
For more information about the USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championship, visit https://www.ushja.org/competition/hunter/young-hunter-pony-championships.
The third annual Kym K. Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships (YHPC) were held on August 23, 2020 at the Virginia Horse center in Lexington, Virginia. The Championships saw a 33% increase in entries this year. More than $20,000 in prize money was awarded and six division champions were named during the Virginia Young Horse Festival.
Eamon Snyder, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, and Partly Cloudy claimed the Overall Grand Champion title at the event. Partly Cloudy is no stranger to the spotlight at the YHPC as the 2018 Overall Grand Champion and multiple class winner with owner Vanessa Mazzoli. This year with Snyder aboard, the pair earned the overall title, as well as the champion title of the Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’ and Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’3” divisions.
In the Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’6” division, Champion was Wynnbrook Polar Vortex, owned and ridden by Amy Krebs of Franklin, TN, trained by Michelle Zimmer. Amy and her pony were Champions in the Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2’3” division last year (2019).
The USHJA congratulates the following division champions and special award winners at the 2020 event:
Five-Year-Old and Under Under Saddle:
Champion: Royal Finale, owned and trained by Melissa Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Finley Scheffel
Reserve Champion: Farnley’s Paper Mache, owned by Farnley Farm, ridden by Ashley Moran, trained by Damaris Abeles
Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2'
Champion: Royal and Rare, owned and trained by Melissa Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Finley Scheffel
Reserve Champion: Farnley Rock Around, owned by Farnley Farm, ridden by Lilia Sharp, trained by Damaris Abeles
Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2'3"
Champion: Farnley Tenspeed, owned by Hetty Abeles, ridden by Lilia Sharp, trained by Damaris Abeles
Reserve Champion: Royal & Rare owned and trained by Melissa Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Finley Scheffel
Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’
Champion: Partly Cloudy, owned and ridden by Eamon Snyder, trained by Alison Babcock
Reserve Champion: Papillion, owned by Cameron Kosko, ridden by Hannah Haines, trained by Shelly Haines-Clement
Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’3”
Champion: Partly Cloudy, owned and ridden by Eamon Snyder, trained by Alison Babcock
Reserve Champion: Welcome Back, owned and ridden by Kacy Baumgart, trained by Martine Hartogensis
Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’6”
Champion: Wynnbrook Polar Vortex, owned and ridden by Amy Krebs, trained by Michelle Zimmer
Reserve Champion: Royal Street, owned and ridden by Lauren Snellings, trained by Stephanie Free
Other Special Awards:
- Style Award: Kacy Baumgart
- VPBA High Point Award: Farnley Farm
- Welsh High Point Purebred Award: Farmore Eye Candy
- Welsh High Point Half Bred Award: Partly Cloudy
For more information about the USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championship, visit https://www.ushja.org/competition/hunter/young-hunter-pony-championships.
