Lexington, KY – At the close of what was the longest and largest USEF Pony Finals National Championships to date, Kaitlin Campbell of Upper Black Eddy, PA, was one happy camper. The 14-year-old Campbell rode five ponies at this year’s event and ended her sixth year at Pony Finals with the Overall Grand Champion title in the Wild Horsefeathers/USEF National Hunter Pony Championship with a score of 1,002. Campbell was also the winner of the medium pony division in this championship.

Campbell was a catch-rider, riding Rockette for the first time in the warm-up on Tuesday. Rockette is a 13.2-hand, seven-year-old crossbred pony mare, owned by Grand Slam Farm and Rachel Degabrielle. Campbell was also seventh in last night’s Individual Jumper Championship. “I messed up. I knew I had more classes later, but I was still disappointed,” said Campbell. When asked whether riding jumpers helps her out in riding hunters and vice versa, she was in absolute agreement. “Yes, because there are a lot of bending lines and you work off of your eye. I am used to practicing bending lines and turns, and that helps a lot,” she said.

As the Grand Champion she received a Royal Riders monogrammed dress sheet, a Pessoa saddle and the International Jumping Derby Trophy. She also received the Beagle Brook Farm Perpetual Trophy for winning the medium pony division. Campbell’s trainer also received the Emerson Burr Perpetual Trophy.

The overall grand reserve champion and small pony division winner was 12-year-old Schaefer Raposa from West Palm Beach, FL, riding the 12.2-hand, nine-year-old Welsh gelding, Super Trooper, owned by Grand Central, Inc. Their final score was 1,000. As the reserve champion, Raposa received a Royal Riders monogrammed dress sheet and a bridle.

Raposa started riding when she was just five years old, and this is her third year at Pony Finals. Raposa rode Super Trooper two years ago when he was very green and then started riding him again this May. “He’s really spoiled,” said Raposa. “He thinks he is a big shot. Around the barn he always puts his ears back a lot.”

Raposa also had five ponies here this year and thanked her parents and trainer, Patricia Griffith. As the winner of the small pony division, she received the Professional Horseman’s Association of America Perpetual Trophy. Raposa hopes to move into big equitation and jumpers in the next year. “I like jumpers. It is kind of nice because you don’t have to make the pony look pretty; you just have to give the pony a good ride,” she said.

Today’s winner of the large pony division was 15-year-old Jennifer Waxman of Chagrin Falls, OH. She rode the 14.2-hand, 10-year-old Welsh/Thoroughbred pony gelding, Cherrybrook Blue Suede, owned by Paulexi LLC. As the winner of her division, she received the Pony Cross Farm Perpetual Trophy. Their final score was 981.

Waxman has been riding the pony she calls Suede on and off for a year-and-a-half. She rode him for his old owner, as well as his current owner. This is her sixth Pony Finals and likely her last. She likes the fact that she is going out on a high note and with such a great mount. “He knows…he’s very nice. He knew it was a big class today so he really tried his hardest,” said Waxman. “He was perfect; he did everything right. I would like to thank the Johnson family for letting me ride Suede.”

The overall winner of the Buttons & Bows Sportsmanship Trophy over all five days of competition was local girl, Amber Siegelman of Versailles, KY. The 15-year-old and her eight-year-old, 14.1-hand Welsh/Dutch Warmblood pony gelding, The Waterboy, were the big winners in Saturday night’s Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Individual Championship. This trophy is awarded to the junior rider who best personifies the high standards and virtues of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, courage, good temper and unselfishness during the USEF Pony Finals competition.