13 Aug 2013
Sunday’s 2013 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Medal Final was the perfect conclusion to a close to perfect week at the 2013 USEF Pony Finals for best friends Emma Kurtz and Olivia Woodson. Kurtz was extremely successful in the hunter divisions throughout the week, and on Sunday Woodson bested a field of nearly 190 riders to win the 2013 USEF Pony Medal Finals, while Kurtz finished in a close second. The equitation class, held in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, marked the final event at this year’s USEF Pony Finals.
Bobby Murphy designed the first round course for the class, testing riders and ponies over a track that included a trot fence, bending lines and rollbacks and a halt directly in the middle of a line. Following the completion of the opening round, the top 25 riders returned for a second round of testing over fences. Three small ponies, 16 medium ponies and six large ponies were called back, with Woodson sitting in the eighth place position aboard the medium pony Butterfly Kisses.
One by one the small, then large and finally medium ponies returned to be tested over the second round course which required riders to jump 10 obstacles, including an in-and-out and a trot fence, and demonstrate a simple change of lead. Woodson, of Wellington, FL, and Butterfly Kisses, owned by Erika Luter, executed the course nearly flawlessly, electing to avoid tight inside turns and instead make smooth, flowing turns. Two trips later, Kurtz, of Hudson, OH, returned in the sixth place position aboard Trademark owned by David Gochman, and she too delivered an excellent test with a well executed simple change of leads. Also turning in a ride that would shoot her to the top of the pack was Charlise Casas of Kenilworth, IL. She returned for the second round in the 11th place position, but her well-executed test and other riders’ errors moved her up solidly into the top four. Many of the riders called back on top were shaken down from the top by minor errors during their tests, but one who held her ground was Emma Lemke of Franklin, TN. She returned in the third place position and would hold that spot through to the end.
With two rounds of jumping already complete, Lemke, Kurtz, Casas and Woodson were then announced as the top four riders, in no particular order, and called back for additional testing on the flat. The judges put the top young riders through their paces and asked for sitting trot, a hand gallop, and what proved to be a potentially telling turn on the haunches.
“That’s Geoff [Teall]‘s favorite way to reverse, so we do like eight turn on the haunches every single lesson,” said Woodson who trains with Teall and Charles Moorcroft.
While others struggled slightly, she executed the turn perfectly, putting the final exclamation point on her three rounds of blue ribbon worthy riding.
As they were called back for awards, Casas rode away with the fourth place ribbon, Lemke finished in third, Kurtz took second and Woodson led the victory gallop for the first place honor.
“Next year I’m going to be moving up to the big equitation, so I was really glad I did well today. It still doesn’t feel real that I just won this,” said Woodson immediately following the class.
Hunter Highlights: August 6 – 11
It was beautiful and sunny for the first day of the 2013 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championship at the Kentucky Horse Park. The top ponies and riders from across the nation gathered at the Walnut Ring for the Green Pony Hunters Model and Under Saddle, as well as the Regular Medium Pony Hunter Model. Throughout the year, riders have worked diligently to qualify for this prestigious event and compete for the winning honors. Emma Kurtz returned to the ring for award presentations six times throughout the day with her talented mounts, leading the way in the model and under saddle phases.
The USEF Pony Finals offered three-phases of competition, and the ponies were scored on conformation, way of moving under saddle and jumping ability. The young riders were subject to scoring based on equitation and skill at piloting their pony over fences. Winners were declared in all six divisions: small, small green, medium, medium green, large and large green pony, and points were tabulated to declare a USEF Green Hunter Pony Champion and USEF Regular Pony Hunter Champion, presented by Sallee Horse Vans.
The first day opened with the Small Green Pony Model, where Mackenzie Altheimer, claimed the blue ribbon prize with Heavens to Betsy, owned by ABA Hunter Ponies of Tampa, FL. The second place honors went to Emma Kurtz and Yes It’s True, owned by Sofia Roberts LLC of Wilmington, OH. Taylor St. Jacques and Hershey’s Kiss, owned by Danielle Roskens of South Lyon, MI rounded out the top three.
The Small Green Pony Under Saddle class was next, and this time the top call went to Kurtz and Yes It’s True. Lauren Gallagher and H.G. Mud Puddles, owned by Cold Spring Farm of Oxford, PA were the second place finishers, while Samantha Palermo and Tazmanian Devil, owned by Violet Barnett of San Francisco, CA, earned the third place award.
The Walnut Ring welcomed the Medium Green Ponies to the ring next for their model and under saddle portions. The model victory went to Sierra Gundersen of Ridgefield, CT, and Moonlight Star. Taking home the second place honors were Kurtz and her second mount of the day, Show Me Love owned by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL, while Addison Piper of Wellington, FL, and Sunrise earned the third place award.
Kurtz scored her second blue ribbon at the USEF Pony Finals with Show Me Love during the Medium Green Pony Hunter Under Saddle. The second place prize was presented to Coco Fath and Rosmel’s Fairy Steps, owned by Katherine G. Arliss of Red Bank, NJ. Picking up the third place honors was Morgan Mickel of Molino, FL, riding Surreal.
The Large Green Pony Hunters were next in the ring, where Kurtz continued her winning ways, this time handling All My Love for Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, to garner the winning title in the model. Laurel Bennett of Carlisle, PA, took home the second place ribbon with Harrison. The third place award was presented to Bernadette Chungunco and Childs Play Hot Topic, owned by Kathy Martin of Morriston, FL.
During the Large Green Pony Hunter Under Saddle, Daisy Farish and Northwind Marin, owned by Prue Richardson of Markdale, ON, stepped up to the first place position and won the blue ribbon prize. Lily Deer of Highland Park, IL, was presented with the second place honors for her ride aboard Golden, while Carly Williams and Cheerybrook Queen of the Hill, owned by Sunset Farm of Culpeper, VA, received the third place award.
The final event in the Walnut Ring on opening day was the Regular Medium Pony Hunter Model. Out of 12 sections, it was Kurtz once again taking center stage and earning the top call, handling Grand All Over for David Gochman of New York, NY. Picking up the second place award was Zayna Rizvi and Lakeview Pick Pocket, owned by Daryl Stout of Front Royal, VA, while Mimi Gochman and Truly Noble, owned by Pegasus Show Stables of Racho Santa Fe, CA, took home the third place prize. Kurtz captured four blue ribbons and two red ribbons on the opening day, an impressive feat for any rider.
The competition continued on day two at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park with the conclusion of the Green Pony Hunter divisions. Ponies and riders from each division completed their over fences phases, competing for the top honors as well as the championship and reserve championship titles. At the end of the day, 13-year-old Kurtz sat atop the leader board, claiming the Grand Green Pony Hunter Championship title with Yes it’s True and the Reserve Grand Green Pony Hunter Championship aboard Show Me Love.
In the Small Green Pony Hunters, it was Yes It’s True’s stunning performance over fences that helped her win all the top awards with Emma Kurtz in the irons. The duo took home the blue ribbon prize in the over fences class with scores of 86, 85, and 85, which would be good enough to claim the Small Green Pony Hunter Championship for new owner Sofia Roberts of Wilmington, OH. Their overall total came to 1018 after winning the under saddle and placing second in the model, and that helped the pair earn the Grand Green Pony Hunter Championship.
Kurtz led the Medium Green Pony Hunter division from start to finish, winning the under saddle yesterday and placing second in the model with Show Me Love, owned by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL. They showcased their skills over fences, earning scores of 78.5, 81, and 88, for third place to bring their grand total to 1007 and capture the Medium Green Pony Hunter Championship. Their impressive performance also helped the pair capture the Reserve Grand Green Pony Hunter Championship.
The Medium Green Pony Hunter Reserve Championship went to Kirklen Petersen and Foot Steps, owned by David Glefke of Keswick, VA, for their total of 994.5. They also placed fourth over fences. The winner of the class was Taylor St. Jacques riding Pink Ice for Danielle Boyle of Melville, NY, and receiving scores of 82, 84, and 82.24. Coco Fath and Rosmel’s Fairy Steps, owned by Katherine Arliss of Red Bank, NJ, picked up the second place award in the class after earning an 83, 80.5, and 83.
In the Small Green Pony Hunters, Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, CA, and Small Introduction took home the reserve championship with total score of 998, placing third over fences with scores of 83, 86, and 85.5. Taylor St. Jacques scored the red ribbon over fences with Hershey’s Kiss, owned by Danielle Roskens of South Lyon, MI. St. Jacques and Hershey’s Kiss earned scores of 85, 83.5, and 86.
The Large Green Pony Hunters were the first to compete over fences in the Walnut Ring on the second day of competition. Morgan Ward and Isport, owned by Refield Farm of Califon, NJ, jumped to the top of the leader board with scores of 83, 83, and 84.5 that earned them the blue ribbon. Lilly Mack of Cincinnati, OH, and Blue A Kiss followed in the second place position after earning an 81, an 84, and an 85. The third place ribbon went to Daisy Farish and Northwind Marin, owned by Prue Richardson of Palgrave, Ontario, who received scores of 80.25, 84.5, and 84.
At the end of the class, the overall points were tabulated and Farish was named the Large Green Pony Hunter Champion aboard Northwind Marin, topping the competition by 15 points with an overall score of 1005.5. The reserve championship honors were presented to Aleece Jarmin and Casanova, owned by Tracy Howe of Frenchtown, NJ, who placed fourth over fences and had a total of 990 points.
The Regular Medium Pony Hunter Under Saddle took place next in the Covered Arena as the day came to a close. The top call went to Elizabeth Shelbred and Dream Girl, owned by Autumn Farms of North Salem, NY, while Daisy Farish and Sassafras Creek, owned by Redfield Farm of Claifon, NJ, followed in second. Bernadette Chungunco and Steal The Crowd, owned by Donald Stewart, Ocala, FL, took home the day’s third place honors. With an overall total of 511 after placing fifth in the model, Farish and Sassafras Creek will led the division going into the following day’s Over Fences phase.
Farish and Sassafras Creek stayed cool under pressure to turn in an impressive round over fences and secure the Regular Medium Pony Hunter Championship. Farish and Sassafras Creek staked their claim to the championship with an emphatic win in the over fences. They navigated the course with ease, earning scores of 89.5, 89.5 and 83.25 to best the field of 130.
Farish and Sassafras Creek accumulated a total score of 1035.5 over the three phases of competition, giving them a lead of nearly 25 points over Taylor St. Jacques and Elegance, who took home the reserve championship. St. Jacques and Elegance, owned by Amanda Pennington of Mequon, WI, received scores of 86.5, 86.5 and 84.5 and also finished second over fences. Madeline Schaefer of Westminster, MD, and her own Frosted finished just a notch behind St. Jacques to end up in third over fences on scores of 85.25, 88.55 and 83.5.
Earlier that day, Emma Kurtz got off to a strong start in the Regular Small Pony Hunters, picking up double wins with Bit of Love. Kurtz and Bit of Love, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, opened the day with a victory in the Regular Small Pony Hunter Model. They just edged out Hana Bieling and Canterbrook Prince Charming, owned by Kathryn McCarthy of New Canaan, CT. Mimi Gochman of New York, NY, and Rafael finished third.
Kurtz and Bit of Love returned for the Regular Small Pony Hunter Under Saddle and again came out on top in the field of over 100 entrants. Gochman and Rafael showed their consistency by taking second, while Isabella Di Benedetto piloted Goldfish to a third place finish. Goldfish is owned by Addison Piper of Wellington, FL.
The rain started to pour as the day wound down on Friday, but it did not put a damper on the kids’ spirit as they showcased their skills. The Large Pony Hunters took center stage in the Walnut Ring Friday morning as they completed their Model and Under Saddle phases where Taylor St Jacques and Enjoy The Laughter took home both blue ribbons. The Small Pony Hunter Over Fences was next, and at the end of the day Hana Bieling and Canterbrook Prince Charming earned the Small Pony Hunter Championship with their consistency throughout the division.
This marked Bieling’s fifth year competing at Pony Finals and it proved to be the best. She and Canterbrook Prince Charming took home the Small Pony Hunter Championship. The duo was ranked third going into the day’s over fences phase, and with scores of 87.15, 84.5, and 84.25 they scored the second place award. With an overall total of 1019.3, Bieling and Canterbrook Prince Charming jumped to the top of the leader board and earned the coveted title.
The winner of the Small Pony Hunter Over Fences phase was also the division’s reserve champion. Daisy Farish and Armani, owned by Madeline Schaefer of Westminster, MD, received scores of 86.15, 87 and 84.55 to take home the blue ribbon prize as well as the Small Pony Hunter Reserve Champion title. The third place finisher during the Over Fences was Kyla Sullivan and Clovercroft Love Bunny, owned by Rabbit Hill Farm of Newtown, CT. The pair earned scores of 86.15, 84 and 83 for their beautiful round early in the day.
Earlier in the day, the Large Pony Hunter Model and Under Saddle were the main highlights in the Walnut Ring. Taylor St Jacques and Enjoy The Laughter, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, earned the top call in both phases to take home the winning prize.
The second place prize in the Large Pony Hunter Model was presented to Emma Kurtz and Westside, owned by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL, while Holland Nievergelt of Norfolk, VA, and Glynhafan Red Kestral received the third place honors. In the Large Pony Hunter Under Saddle, Kurtz and Westside once again claimed the red ribbon, while Aleece Jarman of Pace, FL, and Valentino took home the third place award.
On Saturday, Farish capped an outstanding week at the 2013 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals by claiming the Grand Pony Hunter Championship with Sassafras Creek. Farish and Sassafras Creek were awarded the Medium Pony Hunter Championship on Thursday, and none of the small or large ponies could match their impressive total score of 1035.5, which earned them the Grand title and the International Jumping Derby Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mason Phelps, Jr.
Emma Kurtz and Westside came the closest to besting Farish and Sassafras Creek, as they took home the Large Pony Hunter Championship with a cumulative total of 1020.9 after collecting scores of 86.85, 83 and 80.85 in the Large Pony Hunter Over Fences class. Their division winning efforts also earned them the Reserve Grand Pony Hunter Championship.
Griffith’s efforts with Farish and Sassafras Creek, or simply “Sassy,” earned her the Emerson Burr Perpetual Trophy, donated by the 2000 Hunter Pony Committee, and presented to the trainer of the Overall Grand Pony Hunter Champion.
Reserve Grand Pony Hunter Champions Kurtz and Westside, who was recently purchased by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, took the third place ribbon in the over fences class, the final phase of the Large Pony Hunters. Their strong finish clinched their Large Pony Hunter Championship title and the Reserve Grand Champion award.
First place over fences, along with the Large Pony Hunter Reserve Championship, went to Aleece Jarman and her own Valentino. Jarman, of Pace, FL, earned scores of 87.2, 83.5 and 84.5. Isabel Ryan of Locust Valley, NY, and her own Woodlands Misty Rain finished second over fences on scores of 86.5, 80.75 and 84.5.
This year’s Hunter Pony Championships, presented by Sallee Horse Vans, concluded with the Under Saddle Champion Class, which brought back top finishers from all of the week’s under saddle classes to square off for the title. Judges gradually narrowed down the field of 23 until the top 10 combinations remained in the ring. They began pinning the class, calling horses into the middle one by one until it was a head-to-head competition between Dr. Betsee Parker’s Enjoy the Laughter, ridden by Taylor St Jacques, and Addison Piper’s Goldfish, ridden by Isabella Di Benedetto. St Jacques was finally named the winner, making it two in a row for Enjoy the Laughter, who took last year’s title with Cloe Hymowitz aboard.
An afternoon awards ceremony was held in the Alltech Arena to recognize the week’s best performers in the hunter divisions. The High Score State Team Award went to the Florida team comprised of Kurtz and Westside, Jarman and Valentino, and Bernadette Chungunco and Donald Stewart’s Steal the Crowd. They received the International Challenge Trophy.
The Buttons ‘n’ Bows Sportsmanship Trophy, donated by Mr. R. Bates Newton in memory of Maxine Best, was awarded to 8-year-old Hagen Hall of Thompson Station, TN. Blue on Blue, ridden by Sarah Boston and owned by Chloe D. Reid LLC, received the Betsy Fishback Memorial Trophy, given to the best turned out hunter pony. Kurtz was recognized for her achievements with the Mindy Darst Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the equestrian athlete with potential to become a top professional in the future.
Jumper Highlights: August 7 – 9
Thursday afternoon, the Alltech Arena hosted the USEF National Pony Jumper Team Championships and Phase II of the USEF National Pony Jumper Individual competition. The defending champions, Zone 4, returned to the top of the podium again this year with all four riders riding to double clears during the two rounds of competition. The winning team included Morgan Gravely of Newberry, FL and her mount Dragon’s Lair Banner, Micaela Smith of Clover, SC aboard Blue Me Away, Cooper Dean of Fayette, AL, riding American Hero, and Heather Vaxer of Delray Beach, FL on her mount Cha Cha Cha. The Zone 4 team was led by Chef d’Equipe Katie Maxwell.
The competition opened with 11 teams competing over the Marc Donovan designed course. From there, the top six teams returned for round two of competition over the same course. Gravely kicked things off with an opening clear round for Zone 4 and the momentum just continued from there, making for an exciting night for all four of the young riders. One by one, they each delivered clear opening rounds, putting Zone 4 on top coming back for the second round. When Dean returned in the third rider position for Zone 4 and turned in their seventh clear round of the night, the crowd erupted with cheers as Zone 4 had just cemented their guaranteed victory.
Finishing in the silver medal position with eight faults was the team from Zone 5, consisting of Carson Ruff of Maple Park, IL on Jet Pilot, Emma Ellis of Annapolis, MD riding Tangled Up In Blue, Emma Bach of Cincinnati, OH aboard Lucky Charm, and Caitlyn Connors of Glen Mills, PA with Break Away. Taking the bronze medal spot on the podium were the four riders from Zone 7: Caroline Zaunbrecher of Lafayette, LA on Fire Van Battenbroek, Fiona Donnelly of Rowlett, TX with Picasso, Sedona Chamblee of Keller, TX aboard Lucky Star, and Elizabeth McDougald of Lawton, OK riding Knock My Sox Off.
Faults earned during Thursday night’s two phases of competition also counted toward the rider’s individual standings. Seven riders led the pack with clear rounds throughout both of the two rounds held Thursday and a welcome round held Wednesday evening. All riders who successfully completed the three phases without elimination returned Friday evening for the Individual Pony Jumper Finals and the naming of the 2013 USEF National Pony Individual Champion.
At the end of Friday night, Cooper Dean of Fayette, AL and his mount American Hero donned the Gold Medal and rode away with the title of Pony Jumper Individual Champions.
After the opening round, four riders sat tied with four faults each, while Dean and Christina Rodriguez riding A Lotta Moxie, each led the pack with zero faults. The four-way tied riders Carly Williams and High Hopes of Lexington, VA Morgan Gravely and Dragon’s Lair Banner of High Springs, FL, Heather Vaxer and Cha Cha Cha of Delray Beach, FL and Camilla Siekmann and Mist of a Champion of Washington Crossing, PA all returned to jump-off for their shot at the Bronze Medal, while Dean and Rodriguez of Dade City, FL came back to vie for the silver and gold awards.
Williams bested the other four faulters in the jump-off, going clear in a time of 36.927 seconds and clinching the Bronze Medal. Then it was up to Dean and Rodriguez to face off for the gold. Rodriguez was the first to return, and she sped through the course until a disappointing second to last fence unseated her. Her qualification for the jump-off guaranteed her no less than second, but her fall left the Gold Medal easily up for grabs by Dean and American Hero. Dean was also a key member of the Zone 4 team that clinched the Gold Medal in the team competition Thursday night.
For more information about the 2013 USEF Pony Finals, please visit www.usef.org.
Source: Phelps Media Group
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