Kat Fuqua and Brighton Lead Large Regular Hunter Pony Division at the 2018 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm
The 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm (Pony Finals) got underway on Tuesday, August 7, with the Large Regular Hunter Pony Model and Under Saddle phases presented by Charles Ancona. In a field of 147 large hunter ponies, it was Kat Fuqua (Atlanta, Ga.) and Brighton, her nine-year-old Deutches Reitpony gelding, that came out on top of the leaderboard. Scoring a 260.23 to win the Model phase and a 281.42 to win the Under Saddle phase, the combination’s overall score of 541.65 proved that even though they have only been training together for one month, they are here to win.
“I think this is his third time [at Pony Finals] and my fifth, but our first together,” said Fuqua. “I was so happy the first time I rode him; it was so much fun. He kept looking for treats the whole time in the Model [phase] but he was being really good.”
The large regular hunter ponies will contest the Over Fences portion of the competition on Wednesday, August 8.
Leaderboard:
- Kat Fuqua and Brighton
- Chandler Wilks and Valentino
- Caroline Passarelli and Chic In Time
Clara Propp and With Love Lead Small Green Hunter Ponies at 2018 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm
Clara Propp (New York, N.Y.) and Aquitaine Equine’s nine-year-old Welsh Pony mare, With Love, lead the way in the Small Green Hunter Pony division at the USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm.
“This is my first time [at Pony Finals] with ‘Fifi,’” said Propp. “She was really good in Model [phase], but our hack wasn’t the best. I love riding her; she is just so sweet. When you’re trotting her she just goes, she doesn’t hesitate or anything.”
Propp and With Love claimed the top position in the Model phase with a score of 265.98 and were third in the Under Saddle phase with a score of 254.50. An overall score of 520.48, put the combination in the overall leader position ahead of 39 combinations headed into the Over Fences phase on Wednesday, August 8.
Leaderboard:
- Clara Propp and With Love
- Omi Enkin and Happiness
- Helen Ryan and Charming
Live coverage of the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm will continue on the USEF Network beginning at 7:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday.
Find out more information about the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm at www.ponyfinals.org.
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