Lexington, KY – August 6, 2026 – Small ponies took over the Rolex Stadium this afternoon at the 2026 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall & Sterling, as 117 ponies competed in the over-fences phase of their division. Grace Stenbeck-Werner (North Salem, N.Y.) had a standout performance aboard Clovermeade Heartthrob, a 10-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding (Clovercrofts Hero of the Heart x Currituck Glory Be), owned by the Robertson Family LLC. The duo earned a score of 535.24 in the over fences phase, combined with a 260.60 from their winning model phase and a 261.78 from the under saddle phase for an overall total score of 1057.62 and took home the USEF Regular Small Pony Hunter National Championship.
Stenbeck-Werner was ranked second heading into the final phase and knew the pressure was on, but having been Overall Grand Pony Hunter Champion in 2024 with Prestige, she was familiar with the feeling. “I just wanted to remind myself that even though there was pressure, anytime I get to walk in the ring with [Clovermeade Heartthrob] is a win for me,” she smiled. “I am just really grateful for my pony and for my team. I walked in there confident, and I think that kind of showed through my round.”
Grace Stenbeck-Werner & Clovermeade Heartthrob. Photos by Shawn McMillen
This is Stenbeck-Werner’s fifth pony finals and her second with Clovermeade Heartthrob, and they have developed a strong partnership. “She’s very much a girl – she doesn’t want to be told what to do, but she’s smart,” explained Stenbeck-Werner. “She knows what to do. Sometimes she gets so easy that I like to complicate it, but she’s the best pony I’ve ever ridden.”
Riding out of her family’s Swede Ventures, Stenbeck-Werner trains with Maddie Flocks, and meets David Belford of New Hope LLC at horse shows to create a winning team. “Sometimes, when I get stressed, I just like to keep going,” she said. “So today they reminded me about holding my composure through the turns and never getting too fast – keeping one pace the whole round.”
Pony Finals are one of Stenbeck-Werner’s favorite events, and she concluded, “I just love the atmosphere. It’s something that I always look forward to every year – getting to see all my friends. Being here and walking into the ring always feels like a win no matter what happens, so I think I always look forward to that.”
Lilly Ward & Celebration
Rounding out the championship honors was Lilly Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and her own Celebration, a 15-year-old Welsh Pony gelding (Cadlan Valley Imperial), who claimed the reserve title as competition came to a close in the Rolex Stadium.