Carter Anderson and The Blu Mountie (Emily Riden)

Lexington, KY - The 2013 USEF Pony Finals kick off on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, and as the Kentucky Summer Classic came to a conclusion today, young riders took advantage of the perfect weather and the opportunity to prepare in the rings at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Kentucky Summer Classic, which ran July 30 to August 4, offered a wide array of pony divisions and classes, including the WIHS Small Pony Equitation and the WIHS Large Pony Equitation classes. The first place blue ribbons in the WIHS Equitation classes held today were awarded to Carter Anderson and Camryn Halley.

Anderson earned the top call in WIHS Large Pony Equitation class aboard The Blu Mountie, owned by Susan Kuliasha of Knoxville, TN. Anderson and the talented pony received a score of 79 over the Joseph Carnicorn designed course in the Annex Ring of the Kentucky Horse Park. The second place award in the class went to Olivia Cahill, of Austin, TX, and her own Daddy Pulled the Trigger, and Hayley Iannotti and Highlands Percival held the third place position.

For 14-year-old Anderson, the win today at the Kentucky Summer Classic comes as she prepares to compete at the USEF Pony Finals for the fourth year in a row and her first year at the Finals with The Blu Mountie, or simply "Monte."

"He's wonderful. He goes around, and he knows what he's doing. Even though he's 21, he definitely still has energy in him," mentioned Anderson. "I usually just have to point him in the right and direction and tell him the distances and everything. He's great."

Anderson always looks forward to Pony Finals, and she will compete this year in the Large Pony Hunter division and the USEF Pony Medal Finals.

"I like everything about Pony Finals - the riding, the shopping and my friends," concluded Anderson.

Pony Finals is also a much-anticipated event for WIHS Small Pony Equitation winner Camryn Halley. Halley, of Orlando, FL, and Bieber earned a winning score of 77, while the second place award went to Katie Gilcrest and Stonewall Sparkler.

"He jumps so great. He's so much fun, and I love him," gushed Halley. "He's the sweetest pony on the planet, and he has just the right motor."

This is Halley's third year competing at Pony Finals, and in addition to Bieber, she will also be aboard the medium pony Goodnight Moon and small green pony Long Story Short.

The third place award in the WIHS Small Equitation went to Atlanta, GA native, Hannah Dubose and her new pony Bluetiful. The Kentucky Summer Classic was the showing debut for the pair, and after their success this week, Dubose is really looking forward to Pony Finals.

"I've only been riding her for about a week, and she's really good. I'm still getting used to her, and the leads have been the hardest, especially the right lead," explained Dubose. "I'm excited for Pony Finals and the golf cart parade and all of the activities."

While the Kentucky Summer Classic has come to a close, competition will resume on Tuesday, August 6 with the start of the 2013 USEF Pony Finals. The following week, the Kentucky Horse Park will host the Bluegrass Classic Horse Show and the 2013 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.