It takes a certain type of pony to help regain lost confidence, and for Nora Petrey, Mr. Freckles did just that. This former eventing pony brought his little girl from the cross rails all the way to the Regular Pony division in less than a year. The pair is now attending the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling for the first time in the Medium Green Pony Hunter division.
Owned by Fox Ridge Farm, the 2009 Pony of the Americas gelding (Plaudits Snowman TE x Special N Often) once lived a life full out on the cross-country course with an early career in eventing, but when owners TJ and Beth LeBlanc met Mr. Freckles, they immediately had their student Petrey in mind.
Growing up as a trainer's kid, horses and ponies have always been a staple in Petrey’s life. However, when she fell off her pony when she was five, her mother, Whitney Boyce-Petrey thought her time in the saddle was over.
“I figured we were done riding after the first broken arm, but TJ had Nora in mind and brought [Mr.Freckles] home for her,” said Boyce-Petrey. “We had a little palomino before, and she’s shared a couple of other ponies before, but we’re so thankful for them keeping Nora in mind.”
It didn’t take long for Petrey and Mr. Freckles, or “Spot” as he’s known to some, to click, and the bond between the two was instantaneous. Petrey’s confidence grew overnight with Spot, and she soon started competing in the smaller divisions as they continued to solidify their relationship.
After making their show debut, it didn’t take long for the duo to move up to the Short Stirrup. “I was really nervous, and I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it, but he was really good and so sweet,” she said.
Spot and Petrey quickly started moving up the levels and built consistency in the 2’3” division, but not without some hiccups along the way.
“I've overcome a lot of challenges, and I've gotten a lot of confidence from Mr. Freckles. He’s such a good boy,” exclaimed Petrey.
While Petrey was working towards qualification with Spot for this year’s USEF Pony Finals, she realized her equitation was quickly improving and decided to give the Pony Medal classes a try. It only took her a few shows for the pair to qualify for the 2026 Marshall+Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Finals.
When not under saddle, Spot is always excited for what life has to bring and is known for his kind and gentle demeanor; as he is often the babysitter for new horses at the barn.
“He's really sweet. Whenever he's lying down, he trusts me enough to come over and sit down with him,” she said.
Even with his career change, Spot has always given Petrey the confidence she needed to enter the show ring. Adapting throughout his career change from eventing to hunters was never a challenge for this remarkably unique Appaloosa.
“It was very easy, but you can't point him to the jump and expect him to jump it. You have to tell him we’re jumping this,” she said. “On outside lines coming home, he’ll try to speed up, and I have to remind him we’re not in the jumper arena.”
More excited than nervous to be at the historic USEF Pony Finals for the first time; Petrey is feeling well prepared with the help of her mother and the team who support her day in and day out. Most importantly, she knows she can depend on and trust her partner, Spot.
“My role is to try to do the best I can and help my pony. I will have to help him with his lead changes, make sure we’re straight, and try not to make any major mistakes,” she said.
“I think this is a really fun horse show, and I love watching the other ponies go. I get to learn and see how to do more things that I'm not used to doing.”
While it may be her first time attending USEF Pony Finals, Petrey understands how this important event plays a significant role in the budding careers of young equestrians across the U.S.
“Pony Finals makes riders confident. It's a huge competition, so it’s an honor to qualify and actually be able to go,” she said. “Competitions like NAYC help make younger riders more confident for FEI shows, while Pony Finals makes pony riders really confident for bigger shows too, so I just think it's a great opportunity.”
Finding her way back to the saddle took some time, but the second she found the right pony, Petrey’s spark was ignited once again. Spot gave her something she never even knew she was missing: a partnership with a pony.
“Horses mean everything to me. They gave me a lot of confidence when I was little,” she said. “When I broke my arm, I thought I would never ride a horse again, and then Spot came, and he changed everything.”