Lexington, KY – May 17, 2025 – Junior riders took center stage on Saturday afternoon in the Murphy ring as ponies of all sizes gathered for the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby. With two beautiful rounds, Memphis and Ainsley Lynch took home the winning title. Snowbound and Breda Campbell followed closely, finishing in second place by just one point, while Lost Boy and Dakota Zehler rounded out the top three.
“I’m so happy, I love him so much, he’s the best,” beamed Lynch after her victory.
A field of top large, medium, and small ponies showed over the classic round and were invited to return for the handy round. The handy phase featured several rollbacks, an in-and-out, and a trot fence.
Dakota Zehler & Lost Boy
Zehler and Lost Boy were early in the order for the classic, going third, and posted a classic high score of 87 and finished with a total of 163 points. Memphis and Lynch followed shortly after, going sixth in the order, and scored an 80 in the classic round and followed that with a class winning handy score of 87 for a total of 167 points. Snowbound and Campbell were seventh in the order for the classic and score a pair of 83s in both the classic and the handy round for a total of 166 points.
Brenda Campbell & Snowbound
“We just wanted to go around and have a good time,” explained Lynch. He’s so smooth and I just love riding him. He’s really good at the handies.”
Trainer Nick Pongracz added, “I just want to thank Jacob Pope for all of his amazing training, and Beth her mom for helping her with these amazing ponies. Also, a thank you to Sam Schafer for letting us have Memphis and helping us with Ainsley’s career. She works really hard, she takes care of all her ponies at home herself – her and her mom do everything. She’s a real star.”
Memphis is an 11-year-old New Forest Pony gelding owned by Penelope Sugg that Lynch has only been riding for two months now. “He’s just amazing, he’s so sweet and gentle. He loves carrots and pretty much anything I give him,” expressed Lynch as Memphis nuzzled her for a treat.
Ainsley Lynch & Memphis
“He’s very sweet, he has great character. He loves cuddling, he loves peppermint, he’s just a lot of fun to be around and we are so lucky,” smiled Lynch’s mom, Beth Bakotic Lynch.
Lynch has been competing at the Kentucky Horse Park for only about a year, concluding, “I love everything about coming here, I love the fields and all of the nice people, and seeing my friends.”
Hunter action will conclude on Sunday with the Grand Hunter Championship awarded by Hagyard Equine. For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.