Lexington, Ky. – July 25, 2026 – The Kentucky Summer Horse Show, presented by Rood & Riddle, was thrilled to showcase junior riders on Saturday morning during the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby. Featuring a Hunt and Go format, Avery Furtwangler and Primrose Red Ryder showcased brilliance and handiness to take home the winning title. Lilly Rae Buncher and Boca’s Stars Go Blue followed closely, finishing in second place by just two points, while Seattle Lajoie and Top That rounded out the top three.
“It feels really good to win today,” smiled Furtwangler. “He is really good and I’m so happy to be riding him. He’s very fun. He has a very nice step, especially going to the jumps, so it’s nice to be riding such a good pony.”
Avery Furtwangler and Primrose Red Ryder. Photos by Winslow Photography
A field of top large, medium, and small ponies showed over Joseph Carnicom’s course, which featured seven fences for the classic round including the in-and-out. The continued to the handy round, which began over two option fences, followed by the trot fence, a rollback, and a long gallop to the final oxer.
Seattle Lajoie and Top That
Lajoie and her large pony Top That (Hillcrest’s Top Hat x Perks) set the score to beat early in the day for owner Emily Elek-Burtard, earning an 80 in the classic round and an 84 in the handy for a two round total of 164. She was not edged out until the final two rides of the day. Furtwangler was aboard Candid Investment’s small pony Primrose Red Ryder (Dragonwyck Candyman x Tylwyth Shimmer) and earned two scores of 83 to take over the lead. Buncher and Boca’s Stars Go Blue (Entourage x Boca’s Blue Fox), a small pony owned by Ponies & Palms Show Stables was the last to go and narrowly edged out Top That for the second place prize after earning scores of 82 and 82.5 for a 164.5. At the end of the class, Furtwangler and Primrose Red Ryder returned to the center of the ring to accept the winning title and lead the victory gallop.
Lilly Rae Buncher and Boca’s Stars Go Blue
“It was really good round – I’m very happy with him,” noted Furtwangler. “We made all the inside turns that we could, and he did them really well. I focused on just keeping it smooth and not overthinking it.”
Hunter action at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show will conclude on Sunday with the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Hunter divisions will also wrap up, honoring top finishers with the Hagyard Grand Hunter Champion title. For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.