Lexington, Ky. – Competition is officially underway for the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling, and the first championship was presented on Wednesday, August 6, in the Rolex Stadium after 148 large pony hunters showcased their brilliance. The overall national champion title for the large regulars went to Blue By You, a 2014 Welsh Pony Cross (Clovercroft Polarized x Splash Of Hope) owned by First Blue LLC, and shown by Lacey Powers (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) on a score of 1042.17.
“I knew that [Blue By You] could do it, but it's always a matter of what I can do,” Powers said with a smile after her win. “I knew that we had a chance coming in high up, but I wanted to go in, not think about it. I wanted to think about my course and try to have a smooth round, keep a nice light seat, and just try to find everything out of stride. I was thinking, don’t get too backwards, and don't get too caught up on where I'm going to end up until I'm out of the ring.”
Her focused approach worked out well, garnering top marks from the judges and earning Powers her first championship at Pony Finals. Powers has only shown Blue By You one other time, but she felt very confident in their new partnership, explaining, “I've seen him show a lot, and he's really, really fun. He's really adjustable at the jumps. He's got a great jump. He’s pretty perfect!”
Blue By You is trained by Patricia Griffith and Heritage Farm, and Powers has enjoyed working with their team, “They do a really good job,” she said. “I really try to learn everything I can from Andre [Dignelli], Patricia, Dottie [Barnwell-Areson] and Laena [Romond]. They each have their different things, and you can just learn as much as you can from them. I think that's pretty important to get to do and really special.”
This is Powers’ fourth Pony Finals, and she is showing four hunters and two jumpers. “I am really looking forward to the pony jumpers,” she said. “I really want to have clear rounds, so I can get into the jump-off and save it until the individual finals and then see if we can put it together there!”
The reserve champion title went to He’s Epic, a 2017 Westphalian gelding (Diamond Touch x Dancing Matilda), owned by Epic Sporthorses, LLC and Harper Clark (Wellington, Fla.) on a score of 1031.94. Galway, a 2017 Warmblood cross gelding (Cabardino x Brighton Undeniably) and Emma Todorov (Cardiff, Calif.) rounded out the top three on a 1028.13. Competition gets back underway on Thursday morning, beginning with the Medium Green and Large Green Pony model and under saddle phases, and concluding with the Small Green and Small Regular Pony over fences.
USEF/World Wide Technology Pony Jumper National Championships – Small Pony Jumper Team Championship
Zone 4/8 edged a second Zone 4 team via a tiebreak to claim gold in the Small Pony Jumper Team Championship in the Claiborne Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park, part of the USEF/World Wide Technology Pony Jumper National Championships, supported by the Youth Show Jumping Foundation. Both teams finished on a total of four faults, setting up a tight finish, which ultimately was decided by time.
Zone 4/8 posted zero faults on the score sheet after Round 1, before finishing Round 2 with four total faults as a team. Their combined time as a team was 192.421 seconds, which proved to be the winning factor in their head-to-head tiebreak with the second Zone 4 team. Everly Snider (Palm Beach, Fla.) and her own Touchdown, a 2019 Welsh Pony (Ysselvliedts Songwriter x Ysselvliedts Flower Girl), jumped clear in Round 1 before adding four faults in Round 2. Mila Meredith (Wellington, Fla.) and Splendid, a 2016 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown) owned by Greta Heimbold-Gilpin, jumped a strong double-clear for the team. Eve Oosterman (Fort Mill, S.C.) and Starlord DE, a 2018 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown) owned by Danielle Pedersen, were clear in Round 1 before adding four-faults in second round, while Cora Greenstreet (Erie, Colo.) and A&M Betty's Secret, a 2018 Welsh Pony (Llanarth Shelley x Llinarth Tiara) owned by Amara Equestrian, LLC, were also double-clear on the day.
The second Zone 4 team also finished on a team total of four faults after two rounds, but a slower combined time of 200.954 seconds nudged them to second on the podium for the silver medal. Mattelyn Morrissey (Wellington, Fla.) and Kit Kat, a 2020 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown) owned by East Wind Farms LLC, and Estella Waldman (Palm Beach, Fla.) and Ka-Chow, a 2012 Welsh Pony (Farnley Tiber x Winter Wind), owned by Southside Equestrian LLC, were both double-clear. Brooke S. Consuegra (Lake Clarke Shores, Fla.) and Clovermeade Razzbunny, a 2006 Welsh Pony (Clovercrofts Hero Of The Heart x Rollingwoods Rockette), owned by Alexandra O’Toole, added four faults in the first round, before returning to produce a clear in the second. Norah Boehm (Mansfield, Ga.) and her own My Prince Phillip, a 2007 Welsh Pony (B’s Mark Of Perfection x Whispering Northern Lass), picked up 15 faults in Round 1 and 10 in Round 2.
In the bronze medal position, the Zone 10/Pony Club team finished third with eight total faults, ultimately carrying over from the first round after a stellar second round performance. Siena Gilhooley (Northridge, Calif.) and Thistledown Tea Party, a 2013 Welsh Pony (Thistledown Calon Lan x Mowbray Pandora) owned by Gilhooley Equestrian LLC, and Lily Brenes (Mercer Island, Wash.) and her own Remington, a 2009 Welsh Pony (Unknown x Unknown) were both double-clear. Seattle LaJoie (Coto De Caza, Calif.) and Wilten's Valentina, a 2011 Welsh Pony (Neighfield Tomahawk x Tynycae Osprey), owned by Lexie Looker, incurred eight faults in Round 1, which served as the team’s drop score, before jumping clear in Round 2. Carson Sharp (Simpsonville, Ky.) and her own Grahm Cracker, a 2010 gelding (Unknown x Unknown), also jumped a clear round for the team in their return in the second round to help secure the bronze.
How to Watch the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling
The 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling are streaming live and on demand on USEF Network. US Equestrian fans, subscribers, and members can access the live stream, and subscribers and members will be able to watch replays on demand.
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