Lexington, KY – August 6, 2025 – The Small Green Pony Hunters took center stage on Wednesday afternoon at the 2025 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall & Sterling, where Violet Dalton (Laguna Beach, Ca.) piloted Buttons and Blues to a brilliant round in the over fences phase to secure the USEF Small Green Pony Hunter National Championship. Buttons and Blues is a 10-year-old Welsh Cross gelding by Holyoake Czar 36048 who is owned by First Blue LLC, and earned a score of 520.90 to win the over fences phase, along with scores of 253.73 in the model phase and 266.47 in the under saddle phase. Their overall score of 1016.33 clinched the duo’s first Pony Finals title against a field of 51 ponies.
At just 10 years old, this marks Dalton’s first trip to Pony Finals, and she was thrilled to be doing it with Buttons and Blues. “I was just so happy when I was two strides away from the last jump. I could see the distance, and then when I landed the correct lead I was so happy,” she smiled. “I started daydreaming about Pony Finals a few years ago, and then last year I was really thinking about it. A few months ago, I started in the Small Ponies and then started trying to qualify, which we did at Thermal. [Buttons and Blues] can be sassy, but he is also really sweet. In the morning, he’s always lying down, and I like to go cuddle with him and give him lots of pets.”
Dalton trains with Lee Flick of Bridgeport Farms, who attributed her concentration and work ethic to her success. “Her concentration is really, really good,” he explained. “When we walk a course, she concentrates and tries to execute the plan.”
This trip has been very special for Dalton, and she has cherished every part of it. “We got here last week, and my favorite part has been showing my ponies and just riding them around. I think jumping all the courses is so fun – especially when you have a good round!”
Rounding out the day, the reserve champion honors went to Colin Shippam riding Mr. Brightside, a 7-year-old Welsh gelding owned by Beyaert Farm. The duo finished in the top phase in the model and over fences phases on their way to the overall reserve title.