Lexington, Ky – August 10, 2025 – The final day of the 2025 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall and Sterling, showcased the highly anticipated USEF Pony Medal National Championship. The nation’s top young pony athletes took center stage in the Alltech Arena as they tried their hand at the ten-obstacle course, hoping for the chance to make it to the final round. Twenty of the top contestants came back for the second round, vying for top honors, as they maneuvered the course, testing their handiness while keeping perfect form throughout the track. In the end, 10-year-old Cisy Zhou of New York, NY, followed up her gold medal performance from Friday in the Small/Medium Pony Jumpers with another gold medal, this time aboard her large pony Editorial who came out on top after executing a strong first round and following it with a hoof-perfect test. Kenzie Smith of Shoreham, NY, was the leader after the first round with Higher Love and took home the second place honors, while Lacey Powers of Loxahatchee, Fla, and Fortnite rounded out the top three.
Kenzie Smith and Higher Love
Lacey Powers and Fortnite
After leading the lap of honor, Zhou expressed her excitement saying, “It feels amazing to win. Editorial is a young, green pony, and I feel really accomplished. He was really brave everywhere – he had my back and I really trusted him. I knew he could win – he loves winning, so I knew I had a chance.”
During round one, course designer Jasen Shelley tested the riders on their ability to navigate through a winding and flowing course that included a technical bending line as the first test, an in and out, and an ‘S’ track bending line at the end. After 184 pony and rider combinations jumped the first round, 20 were invited back to test over a nine-obstacle track for round two. The test consisted of a short rollback approach to the first fence, a hand gallop to the third oxer, the in-and-out bending to a vertical, followed by a halt at the far end of the ring. Riders then picked up their canter and made another rollback to the final bending line going towards the gate.
Ciszy Zhou and Editorial
Zhou was focused on putting in a solid test with Editorial, and knew there were areas that she could really show him off. A good hand gallop and an excellent halt, as well as smooth approach to each fence, paid off and the duo earned the top prize for the day.
Editorial is a 7-year-old New Forest gelding that Zhou purchased three years ago to begin developing, and she took over the reins under the guidance of Heritage Farm in 2024. Zhou noted, “I love him so much and I know I can trust him anywhere. He needs a strong ride – a firm hand with a lot of leg, but he’s very brave and easy – he does all the work for you!”
Zhou showcased her talent this week with two winning performances, and trainer Patricia Griffith was quick to credit the rider’s hard work saying, “She has a very natural way of sitting on a horse, which is hard to teach people. She had that correct feel, and she’s a worker – talent and a worker is hard to top. She’s not afraid to ride all day, try ponies for me, drop her stirrups – she never says no. She rides all day long, so [this win] is not surprising because she’s very talented, that’s natural, but also a top worker and really has the drive and the desire and the backing. Her family wants her to do it, and she’s happy to put in the hours and come all day on the weekend. Even if it’s 100 degrees, she doesn’t complain.”
The hard work and dedication paid off with a win that will be marked in the history books, showcasing a bright future for the talented young rider.
The Pony Medal Finals concluded the 2025 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall and Sterling. Next year, the event will return to the Kentucky Horse Park and continue to showcase the most coveted ponies in the United States, with some of the best young hunter, jumper, and equitation athletes that their respective divisions have to offer. To see a complete list of results or to learn more about the 2026 USEF Pony Finals please visit www.usef.org.