Colter and So Enchanted Lead the Way in the Small Regular Hunter Pony Championship Presented by Noelle Wolf Stables, LLC at 2018 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm
Day two of the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm (Pony Finals) kicked off with the Model and Under Saddle phases for the Small Regular Hunter Pony Championship presented by Noelle Wolf Stables, LLC. The rainy weather chased the classes out of the Walnut Ring and into the covered arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, but didn’t keep 11-year-old Carolyn Colter (Houston, Texas) and Jessica and Michaila Zandri’s nine-year-old Welsh Pony cross mare, So Enchanted, from taking the lead in the division with a total score of 526.69.
Colter and So Enchanted were fourth in the Model phase with a score of 255.77 and won the Under Saddle phase with a 275.20. They will contest the Over Fences phase tomorrow, Thursday, August 9.
Leaderboard:
- Carolyn Colter and So Enchanted
- Taylor Cawley and Benjamin Buttons
- Helen Ryan and Smitten
Fuqua and Brighton Sweep the Large Regular Hunter Pony Championship Presented by Charles Ancona to Win First Title of 2018 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm
With a national champion title on the line and 146 other ponies to beat, Kat Fuqua (Atlanta, Ga.) and Brighton, her nine-year-old Deutches Reitpony gelding, sat at the top of the leaderboard headed into this afternoon’s Over Fences phase for the Large Regular Hunter Pony Championship presented by Charles Ancona. Scoring a 261.00 for the top spot, Fuqua and Brighton swept all three phases to win the overall Large Regular Hunter Pony national championship with a score of 1063.65 at the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm (Pony Finals).
In a relatively new partnership with Brighton, and her fifth time at Pony Finals, this is Fuqua’s first national title at the event.
“I haven’t even taken it all in yet; I’m so excited,” said Fuqua. “This is my fifth year [at Pony Finals]. I’ve never won before. It feels amazing because it is only my second year getting a ribbon, so it is really thrilling. I was really happy with [the course]. I’ve only been riding him a little over a month, but he has really learned our program.”
Results:
- Kat Fuqua and Brighton
- Chandler Wilks and Valentino
- Clara Propp and News Day
Wireman and Neon Moon Jump to Win Overall in the Small Green Hunter Pony Championship at 2018 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm
Sitting in the 21st position after the Small Green Hunter Pony Model and Under Saddle phases on Wednesday, Skylar Wireman (Bonsall, Calif.) and Neon Moon literally jumped to first place in the Over Fences phase today to win the class with a score of 263.00 and take the overall title with a score of 998.50.
“It went really, really well,” said Wireman. “[Neon Moon] was super, really amazing, a super good boy. My plan today was just to go put in the best round that I could and not think about what the ribbons were; just go ride my round because that is usually when I ride the best. Just ride my ride and do what I do everyday.”
Wireman and the nine-year-old Welsh Pony cross gelding owned by Balmoral were 27th in the Model phase with a score 235.00 and 18th in the Under Saddle phase with a score of 237.50. But the duo proved they were here to compete today in the Over Fences phase. Wireman and “Angus” have been riding together since January at Thermal for Balmoral and this is her second time at Pony Finals.
Results:
- Skylar Wireman and Neon Moon
- Alexa Lignelli and Just Right
- Alexandra Miller and Pineapple
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 Thursday.
Find out more information about the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm at www.ponyfinals.org.
Keep up with the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm on Facebook (@USequestrian, @USEFNetwork, and @USEFPonyFinals), Instagram, and Twitter (@USequestrian and @USEFNetwork) for all the latest from the ring and behind the scenes.