Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian would like to remind exhibitors and families planning to attend 2026 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Marshall + Sterling that they should make note of upcoming deadlines and additional reminders listed below. This year’s Pony Finals will take place Aug. 4-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., and the prize list and schedule will be available soon.
Pony Finals Yearbook
Yearbook submissions for the 2026 USEF Pony Finals will open on March 27 and close on Monday, June 8 at 11:59 p.m. EST. You can access the submission portal here. No submissions will be accepted after the deadline under any circumstances. Athletes who have already qualified, as well as those planning to qualify, are encouraged to complete their submissions as early as possible.
Submissions are open to all hunter, medal, and jumper participants. Each entry must include a photo uploaded directly through the submission portal; emailed, faxed, or mailed photos will not be accepted.
Please note that only parents or guardians will have access to the submission portal and must be logged into their USEF account on behalf of the minor athlete to complete the process. Parents who do not yet have an account may create a free fan account to access the system.
Qualification Period Reminder
The Regular Hunter Pony and Green Hunter Pony Finals are a three-phase competition judging the pony’s conformation, way of moving and jumping ability. The Marshall + Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Final tests young riders, judging their ability to compete over a technical and demanding course of fences. The qualifying periods are as follows:
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Regular Pony Hunters: July 2, 2025-July 1, 2026
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First Year Green Pony Hunters: December 1, 2025-July 1, 2026
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Green Pony Hunters: July 2, 2025-July 1, 2026
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USEF Pony Medal Final: July 2, 2025-July 1, 2026
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USEF Pony Jumper National Championships: September 1, 2025 – June 15, 2026
The USEF Pony Jumper Championships provide an opportunity for Junior pony athletes to compete against their peers over multiple days of Jumping competition. Team Championships and Individual Championships by height will be offered. Fence heights will be varied according to specific height categories:
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Small Pony: ponies not to exceed 12.2 hands, athletes USEF 12 years of age (maximum), fence heights .60-.65m, not to exceed .70m.
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Medium Pony: ponies not to exceed 13.2 hands, athletes USEF 14 years of age (maximum), fence heights .70-.75m not to exceed .80m.
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Large Pony: ponies not to exceed 14.2 hands, athletes USEF 16 years of age (maximum), fence heights.80-.85m not to exceed .90m.
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1.05m: ponies not to exceed 14.2 hands, USEF junior athletes, as determined under GR103 Fence heights not to exceed 1.15m
USEF Pony Jumper Championship applications are due by June 15, 2026, on the USEF Athlete Dashboard.
Story Submissions Needed
US Equestrian is seeking stories to feature in this year’s Pony Finals official program and on our US Equestrian social media platforms. Do you know a pony who has competed at Pony Finals in the past or will compete this year with a unique story? Is there a person in the pony hunter/jumper community who deserves recognition for helping out during disaster recovery or other challenging times? Let us know by sending an email to [email protected].
Become a Sponsor
Interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities with USEF Pony Finals? Contact Ali Kicklighter at [email protected] or Layson Griffin at [email protected] to find out more.
More Information
Find all Pony Finals resources and information here. Questions? Contact [email protected].