Lexington, Ky. – Competition continued for both the pony hunters and jumpers at the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling on Thursday afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Three new national championships were crown in both rings, including the Small Green Pony Championship, the Small Regular Pony Championship, and the Medium Pony Jumper Team Championship.
Small Green Pony Championship
The Small Green Pony Hunters took center stage in the Rolex Stadium where Gabrielle Pitts (East Hampton, N.Y.) piloted Little Aspen to a brilliant round in the over fences phase to secure the USEF Small Green Pony Hunter National Championship. Little Aspen, a 2019 Welsh Pony gelding (Rotherwood Taboo x Trefriw Romance) owned by Rivers Edge, earned a score of 509.64 to win the over fences phase, along with scores of 252.04 in the model phase and 255.50 in the under-saddle phase. Their overall score of 1017.18 clinched the duo’s first Pony Finals title against a field of 49 ponies.
“It feels amazing [to be champion],” said Pitts after her win. “Today, my goal was to be confident, hope for a really solid round, and have a lot of fun. I started riding him at the beginning of the winter circuit, and I got an amazing opportunity from Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley, who are letting me ride him and trusting me with him.”
This is Pitts’ third year at Pony Finals, but today’s result marks her first championship tricolor, and she was thankful for the advice of Stewart and Berkley. “They told me to just stay confident and trust myself,” she explained.
Pony Finals is always one of Pitts' favorite events of the year. This year, she is showing four hunter ponies, which she thinks has been very helpful in preparing for the week. “I had a lot more rides to prepare me to accomplish something like this,” she noted.
Pitts concluded, “I love seeing all of my friends and getting the opportunity to ride in the Rolex ring!’”
Rounding out the day, the reserve champion honors went to Kelly Mapes (Newtown, Conn.) riding For Real, a 2016 Welsh Pony gelding (Paddock Rio x Paddock Jonquil) owned by Serendipity Equine LLC. The duo topped the model phase on their way to the overall reserve title with an overall score of 997.45. Taking third was Olivia Lennox (Ocala, Fla.) and Sugarbrook Blue Hill, a 2018 Welsh Pony Cross (Sugarbrook Blue Pacific x Lee Hill Hollywood) mare owned by Deer Valley Equine LLC, on a total score of 990.95.
Small Regular Pony Championship
Small ponies were the highlight this afternoon as 117 ponies competed in the over-fences phase of the division. Grace Stenbeck-Werner (North Salem, N.Y.) had a standout performance aboard Clovermeade Heartthrob, a 2016 Welsh Pony Cross mare (Clovercrofts Hero of the Heart x Currituck Glory Be), owned by Robertson Family LLC. The duo earned a score of 535.24 in the over-fences phase, combined with a 260.60 from their winning model phase and a 261.78 from the under-saddle for an overall total score of 1057.62, taking home the USEF Regular Small Pony Hunter National Championship.
Stenbeck-Werner was ranked second heading into the final phase and knew the pressure was on, but having been Overall Grand Pony Hunter Champion in 2024 with Prestige, she was familiar with the feeling. “I just wanted to remind myself that even though there was pressure, anytime I get to walk in the ring with [Clovermeade Heartthrob] is a win for me,” she smiled. “I am just grateful for my pony and for my team. I walked in there confident, and I think that showed through my round.”
This is Stenbeck-Werner’s fifth Pony Finals and her second with Clovermeade Heartthrob, and the pair has developed a strong partnership over the past two years. “She's very much a girl – she doesn't want to be told what to do, but she's smart,” explained Stenbeck-Werner. “She knows what to do. Sometimes she gets so easy that I like to complicate it, but she's the best pony I've ever ridden.”
Riding out of her family’s Swede Ventures, Stenbeck-Werner trains with Maddie Flocks, and meets David Belford of New Hope LLC at horse shows to create a winning team. “Sometimes, when I get stressed, I just like to keep going,” she said. “So, today they reminded me about holding my composure through the turns and never getting too fast – keeping one pace the whole round.”
USEF Pony Finals is one of Stenbeck-Werner’s favorite events, and she concluded, “I love the atmosphere. It's something that I always look forward to every year – getting to see all my friends. Being here and walking into the ring always feels like a win no matter what happens, so I think I always look forward to that.”
Rounding out the championship honors was Lilly Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) aboard her own Celebration, a 2011 Welsh Pony gelding (Cadlan Valley Imperial x Bronheulog Sun Shimmer), who claimed the reserve title on a total score of 1048.77, as competition came to a close on Thursday. Eliza Jane St. George (Lexington, Ky.) was third with Dream Big, a 2014 Welsh Pony mare (Tradalebelleman x Farnley Nightline) were third with a 1045.49.
USEF/World Wide Technology Pony Jumper National Championships – Medium Pony Jumper Team Championship
Zone 4/Team 5 team turned in an impressive performance to win gold in the Medium Pony Jumper Team Championship today at the Kentucky Horse Park, part of the USEF/World Wide Technology Pony Jumper National Championships, supported by the Youth Show Jumping Foundation.
The Zone 4/Team 5 squad finished with zero total faults across two rounds on a combined time of 198.341 to ensure their victory. Emma Videla (Aiken, S.C.) with Smoke Tree (J) Knight Ryder, a 2015 Welsh Pony gelding (Bunbury Jamboree x Smoke Tree Little Minx), owned by Rancho Pampa LLC; Azalia Jane Lavigne (Wellington, Fla.) and Pretty Please, a 2009 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Trinity Christner, as well as Catherine Zechmann (McClellanville, S.C.) and Salty Oak Farm Bakers Dozen, a 2020 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Salty Oak Farm, were all double-clear in both rounds, while Brianna Black (Harpersville, Ala.) and Royal Occasion, her own 2015 Welsh Pony (Mynach Master Class x Russetwood Romance) had finished the day as the drop score.
"I don't think I've ever been this excited," Lavigne said. According to Videla the main goal for each of the combinations was simply to “post a clean round to set the tone for [each other].” Each athlete was quick to share credit beyond the irons, giving gratitude to their ponies, trainers, and parents.
The combined Zone 8/10 team took silver on four total faults, finishing with a combined time of 194.880 to slot them in behind the Zone 4/Team 5 on the podium. Sloane Green (Santa Barbara, Calif.) with Mr. Miraculous, a 2020 Welsh Pony gelding (Eyarth Tayma x Hilin Seren-Y-Bore), owned by Lindsay Wallach, and Cora Greenstreet (Erie, Colo.) aboard One Up's Jellybean Daydream, a 2013 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Reagan Thoennes, both produced double-clear rounds for the team. Zahara Henderson (Longmont, Colo.) and KCS Harmony, her own 2013 Welsh Pony Cross (KCS Rock n Rebel x KCS Mystic Melody), added four faults in the second round, which counted towards the team’s overall total, with Ainsley Green (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Bjerregards Katja, a 2008 Welsh Pony mare (Birtley First Edition x Bjerregards Evita), owned by India Kulkin, also delivered a four-fault round for the team.
Zone 2/Team 1 earned the bronze, also completed the team competition on four total faults, finishing with a combined time of 197.041. Gracie Vasta (Coopersburg, Pa.) and Lalaloopsy, a 2006 Welsh Pony mare (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Madeline Keahon, and Alexa Wang (New York, N.Y.) and Lidos Nimble Cat, a 2016 Quarter Horse (Only One Peppy Cat x Lidos Princess), owned by Urminda Firlan, both jumped clear in both rounds of team competition. Avery Rogowski (Goshen, N.Y) and My Cheddar Half, her own 2016 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), added four faults in the first round, while Lyla Winneker (Chester, N.J.) and Gayfields Elyon, a 2013 Welsh Pony gelding (Gayfields Way Too Cool x Gayfields Hop Skip and Jump), owned by Southside Equestrian LLC, were the team’s drop score.
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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