Lexington, Ky. – Green hunter ponies were awarded national championship titles today in Rolex Stadium at the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling. Meanwhile, in the Claiborne Ring, team and individual jumper championships took center stage, part of the USEF/ World Wide Technology Pony Jumper National Championships, supported by the Youth Show Jumping Foundation.
Medium Green Pony Hunter National Championship
It was all about the green ponies on Friday afternoon at the 2026 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall+Sterling.
The Medium Greens kicked things off with their over-fences phase, where Kenzie Smith (Shoreham, N.Y.) and Paparazzi, a 2018 German Riding Pony gelding (Dreidimensional AT x Crazy Girl) owned by Rivers Edge, wowed the crowd and judges to earn a 546.10. Combined with their model score of 262.25 and their under-saddle score of 263.13, they had a decisive victory with an overall total of 1071.48. They earned the USEF Medium Green Pony Hunter National Champion title, and their top score made them the Grand Champions for the green divisions.
While this is Smith’s fourth trip to the USEF Pony Finals, this week’s accomplishment marks her first championship, as well as her first grand championship at the national event. “It feels amazing and I'm really glad I won it with him because he's really special,” she said. “He's come a long way. His canter is really nice. He goes like a nice junior hunter – he really covers the ground, and he jumps up so nicely.”
Smith and Paparazzi were in the lead in the Medium Green standings heading into the over-fences phase, but she did not let the pressure get to her, saying, “I was a little bit nervous. It wasn't crazy, but I felt a little bit of pressure since the rider that was second and I were close for points.”
Paparazzi is owned and trained by Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley of Rivers Edge, and Smith began riding the talented pony last year. “I rode him a few times last year, and then I really started riding him midway through winter. He's grown up a lot since then. In Florida, I rode him every day. Today, [Scott] told me to just be confident, know your horse, and sit up tall.”
This year’s USEF Pony Finals were extra special for Smith, but she loves coming every year and concluded, “I really like that most of my friends that I don't get to see at all the horse shows, they always come here. It's really nice seeing everybody and having all the support!”
Just six-tenths of a point separated second and third in the Medium Green Pony Hunters, with Evynn Morelli (Suffolk, Va.) claiming the reserve championship title aboard her own Smallwood Emma, a 2016 Welsh Pony mare (Maple Side Wish List x Walnut Creek Ice Angel) on a 1035.80. Marlowe Martin (Pendleton, Ind.) rounded out the top three with her own It's Always Sunny, a 2016 Welsh Pony gelding (Boston Bonaparte x Woldberg's Foxtrot) on a score of 1035.20.
Large Green Pony Hunter National Championship
Grace Stenbeck-Werner (North Salem, N.Y.) returned to the winners' circle on Friday afternoon, this time to claim the USEF Large Green Pony Hunter National Championship, as well as the Reserve Grand Green title. She was aboard Royal Encore, a 2016 New Forest Pony gelding (AB Jetstream x Unknown), owned by Catrine Golia. The duo scored 527.82 during Friday's jumping phase, combined with their model score of 262.49 and under-saddle score of 256.78 for a total of 1047.09.
Earning two championships in as many days, Stenbeck-Werner is having a great Pony Finals and was thrilled with the results. “I feel really good – I'm really happy,” she said with a smile. “I really liked being in [the second] position today. I walked in the ring feeling really confident. With green ponies, it's kind of hard to tell, but I got so lucky with Royal Encore. He's the same every single round and I knew he'd be perfect, so I just had to do my part, and I knew it'd all come together.”
Stenbeck-Werner began riding Royal Encore last summer but has enjoyed getting to know the talented pony over the course of the year, saying, “I always knew he'd be perfect. He always has to have his balance up, and it's kind of easy to get long and low. He's a really easy ride once you put him together and then you can just continue your course.”
The Reserve Large Green Pony Hunter National Championship title went to Lacey Powers (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Summertime, a 2019 German Riding Pony mare (Cover Noble x Castenrayseweg's Romance) owned by Beyaert Farm on a 1016.97. With a score of 1015.24, the third-place prize was awarded to Kenzie Smith (Shoreham, N.Y.) and Chesterfield, a 2019 German Riding Pony mare (Morgensterns Dalai x Steendieks Lady Diana) owned by Rivers Edge.
Large Pony Jumper Team Championship
Zone 7/Team 1 turned in a fault-free performance to claim gold in the Large Pony Jumper Team Championship today at the Kentucky Horse Park. The win came as part of the pressure-filled team format – a first-time experience for many of the competing combinations.
Riding to the top of the standings, Zone 7/Team 1 team finished on zero total faults and a total time of 192.569 seconds.
Kit Holmsten (Fort Worth, Texas) and Charlie Ferrari, a 2009 American Warmblood gelding (Leo da la Vinci x Unknown) owned by Moncrief Equestrian, combined with Adelaide Hass
(Weatherford, Texas) and her own Effortless H, a 2017 Welsh Pony cross (Unknown x Unknown), both delivered double-clear performances for the team. Ella Heineking (Aledo, Texas) and her own Dude, a 2015 Irish Pony (Unknown x Unknown), jumped a clear in round one and completed the second round with four faults. Similarly, Claire Lowry (McGregor, Texas) and her own Elans Ganso, a 2005 Quarter Horse mare (Elans Playboy x Miss Callie Quixote), recorded four faults on their first-round effort and returned to produce a clear round for the team in their second trip.
Members of the gold-medal Zone 7 team spoke about their strategy during the course walk. "I knew my pony could be quick without taking bigger turns," said Hass, who anchored the team. "I just had to be confident with her."
Lowry’s plan for the second round was to sit up and support Elans Ganso. “The course, at first, didn't seem like it would be her strong suit,” she said. “We tried our best out there." Holmsten said the strategy was to go "slow and in control going into the turns," which was a plan echoed by Heineking who opted for a slow and controlled approach with Dude, which helped the team earn their spot atop the podium.
A pair of Zone 2 teams occupied the remaining spots on the podium, with silver decided by a tiebreak based on the team’s total time. The silver-medal winning Zone 2/Team 1 team finished on four total faults in 175.9 seconds, led by Clara Mas (Allentown, N.J.) and her own Coco Chanel, a 2013 Welsh Pony cross , with a double-clear. Elisabeth Mesiarik (Pottstown, Pa.) and Barbie Girl, a 2010 pony owned by Pam Barbie, posted four faults in the first round that were dropped, while Jasper Bloomberg (North Salem, N.Y.) and Del Toro K, a 2017 German Riding Pony (Del Piero x Tiara K) owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC, added four faults in the second round which ultimately counted towards the team score after Reagan Ford (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) and BPM On My Own, a 2015 Welsh Pony cross (Huntervale Park Avenue x Royal Fame) owned by Jennifer Connor, finished with their four-fault score in the second round dropped.
The bronze medal went to Zone 2/Team 2, as the second team finished on four total faults in 180.598 seconds, just off the silver-medal winning time. Isabella Eggenberg (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) and Helicon Hopscotch, a 2009 Welsh Pony (Maranatha Tapestry x Helikon Tiddlywinks) owned by Centrest Farm LLC, and Emilia Cannizzo (Greenfield Center, N.Y.) and her own Pony Boy, a 2005 Welsh Pony cross (Unknown x Unknown), were both double-clear after two rounds. Makenna Debosh (Alpha, N.J.) and her own First Date, a 2009 German Riding Pony (The Breas My Mobility x Fiona), recorded four faults in the first round and four faults in the second round, which counted toward the team's total.
1.05m Pony Jumper Team Championship
The energy in the Claiborne Ring only increased when attention turned to the 1.05m Pony Team Championship. The Red Team rose to the top, finishing with 18 total faults in 217.486 seconds to earn gold. Adrianna Fenig (Los Angeles, Calif.) and her own Angel Des Roseaux, a 2010 Connemara gelding (Grange Surf Sparrow x Hazara des Roseaux), were clear in the first round before adding eight faults in the second. Azalia Jane Lavigne (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Carnhill Sharkey, a 2013 Irish Sport Horse (Woodfield Sammy x Berrenhill Berta), were also clear in the first round and added four faults in their second tour of the course. Summer Smith (Cataula, Ga.) and her own Catch My Drift, a 2016 German Riding Pony (Del Piero x Hummel), finished with four faults in the first round and two time faults in the second. Members of the Red Team credited their strong teamwork, especially their ability to help one another recover when a rail or a mistake happened during competition.
"I love my pony so much," said Lavigne, who rode Carnhill Sharkey. "He definitely helped me a little bit out there because we had a few chips. Despite that, he is the best pony in the world and I love him."
For Smith, riding Catch My Drift, the partnership was the foundation of the team's effort. "He is such a good pony," Smith said. "He saves me. When I'm wrong, he does the right thing and makes the right choice. Mostly everything went to plan today."
Fenig, aboard Angel Des Roseaux, reflected on a longer partnership and the pride that comes from steady effort. "I've had him for almost four years now," Fenig said. "He always tries his best for me and I'm really proud of him for helping me out." On what makes the team format different from competing as an individual, Fenig said, "There's also teammates that help you, and if you have a rail, maybe your teammates can help you clear it up a little, and that's how we won today. It's so much fun just having everybody on your team."
The White Team claimed silver, finishing with 32 total faults in 227.762 seconds. Zahara Henderson (Longmont, Colo.) and her own Star Wish, a 2008 Warmblood cross gelding (Unknown x Unknown), were clear in the first round before adding eight faults in the second. Samia Al Otaiba (McLean, Va.) and her own Sweet Don, a 2009 Mecklenburger gelding (Don Durello x Sweety), had four faults in the first round and were clear in the second. Corrigan Janiak (Swanton, Ohio) and WPF I Candy, a 2018 Welsh Pony cross mare (BS Lunar Eclipse x G-Sirka CH) owned by Ellie Welte, had eight faults in the first round and 12 in the second.
The Blue Team captured bronze, rounding out the podium with 44 total faults in 217.846 seconds. Lilia Allen (Wilmette, Ill.) and Fortnite Battle Pass, a 2020 Connemara mare (Tullaree Chieftain x Ahane Dixie) owned by Jennifer Robertson, finished the competition with four faults in each round. Maeve Sager (Los Angeles, Calif.) and her own Goldie Du Rosemont, a 2016 Selle Français mare (Kantje’s Admiraal x Taiga du Rosemont), struggled in the first round but bounced back to secure a clear round for the team in their second trip around the course. Addison Stewart (Tyler, Texas) and Praise On, a 2013 Paint gelding owned by Kimberly Brunson, were clear in the first round before adding eight faults in the second.
Small Pony Jumper Individual Championship
Estella Waldman (Palm Beach, Fla.) and Ka-Chow, a 2012 Welsh Pony mare (Farnley Tiber x Winter Wind) owned by Southside Equestrian LLC, topped the Small Pony Jumper Individual Championship, jumping clear in both the first round and the jump-off to win with a time of 29.933
seconds. It's the second individual Small Pony Jumper title in two years for Ka-Chow. Layla Bice (Canton, Ga.) and Prim and Proper Primrose, a 2013 Welsh Pony cross mare (JMR Vicinniteq x Rosewin Kaylee) owned by Jamie Bice, also jumped double-clear to finish second in 34.920 seconds, and Ainsley Lynch (Wellington, Fla.) and Real Gem, a 2012 Welsh Pony mare (Gayfields The Thief x Rollingwoods Jettin Joann) owned by Real Deal Ponies LLC, rounded out the top three, also jumping an impressive double-clear and stopping the timers in 36.561 seconds.
"It felt really good," Waldman said of winning gold with Ka-Chow, whose barn name is “Winnie.” In the jump-off, Waldman said her plan was simple. "The plan was to go as tight as I can, and really be in control and smooth, and make it look really effortless."
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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