Small Pony Jumper Individual Championship
Estella Waldman (Palm Beach, Fla.) and Ka-Chow, a 2012 Welsh Pony mare (Farnley Tiber x Winter Wind) owned by Southside Equestrian LLC, topped the Small Pony Jumper Individual Championship, jumping clear in both the first round and the jump-off to win with a time of 29.933 seconds. It’s the second individual Small Pony Jumper title in two years for Ka-Chow. Layla Bice (Canton, Ga.) and Prim and Proper Primrose, a 2013 Welsh Pony cross mare (JMR Vicinniteq x Rosewin Kaylee) owned by Jamie Bice, also jumped double-clear to finish second in 34.920 seconds, and Ainsley Lynch (Wellington, Fla.) and Real Gem, a 2012 Welsh Pony mare (Gayfields The Thief x Rollingwoods Jettin Joann) owned by Real Deal Ponies LLC, rounded out the top three, also jumping an impressive double-clear and stopping the timers in 36.561 seconds.
Estella Waldman & Ka-Chow
“It felt really good,” Waldman said of winning gold with Ka-Chow, whose barn name is “Winnie.” In the jump-off, Waldman said her plan was simple. “The plan was to go as tight as I can, and really be in control and smooth, and make it look really effortless.”
Large Pony Jumper Team Championship
Zone 7/Team 1 turned in a fault-free performance to claim gold in the Large Pony Jumper Team Championship today at the Kentucky Horse Park. The win came as part of the pressure-filled team format – a first-time experience for many of the competing combinations.
Riding to the top of the standings, Zone 7/Team 1 team finished on zero total faults and a total time of 192.569 seconds.
Kit Holmsten (Fort Worth, Texas) and Charlie Ferrari, a 2009 American Warmblood gelding (Leo da la Vinci x Unknown) owned by Moncrief Equestrian, combined with Adelaide Hass (Portland, Ore.) and her own Effortless H, a 2017 Welsh Pony cross (Unknown x Unknown), both delivered double-clear performances for the team. Ella Heineking (Aledo, Texas) and her own Dude, a 2015 Irish Pony (Unknown x Unknown), jumped a clear in round one and completed the second round with four faults. Similarly, Claire Lowry (McGregor, Texas) and her own Elans Ganso, a 2005 Quarter Horse mare (Elans Playboy x Miss Callie Quixote), recorded four faults on their first-round effort and returned to produce a clear round for the team in their second trip.
Members of the gold-medal Zone 7 team spoke about their strategy during the course walk. “I knew my pony could be quick without taking bigger turns,” said Hass, who anchored the team. “I just had to be confident with her.”
Lowry’s plan for the second round was to sit up and support Elans Ganso. “The course, at first, didn’t seem like it would be her strong suit,” she said. “We tried our best out there.” Holmsten said the strategy was to go “slow and in control going into the turns,” which was a plan echoed by Heineking who opted for a slow and controlled approach with Dude, which helped the team earn their spot atop the podium.
A pair of Zone 2 teams occupied the remaining spots on the podium, with silver decided by a tiebreak based on the team’s total time. The silver-medal winning Zone 2/Team 1 team finished on four total faults in 175.9 seconds, led by Clara Mas (Allentown, N.J.) and her own Coco Chanel, a 2013 Welsh Pony cross , with a double-clear. Elisabeth Mesiarik (Pottstown, Pa.) and Barbie Girl, a 2010 pony owned by Pam Barbie, posted four faults in the first round that were dropped, while Jasper Bloomberg (North Salem, N.Y.) and Del Toro K, a 2017 German Riding Pony (Del Piero x Tiara K) owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC, added four faults in the second round which ultimately counted towards the team score after Reagan Ford (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) and BPM On My Own, a 2015 Welsh Pony cross (Huntervale Park Avenue x Royal Fame) owned by Jennifer Connor, finished with their four-fault score in the second round dropped.
The bronze medal went to Zone 2/Team 2, as the second team finished on four total faults in 180.598 seconds, just off the silver-medal winning time. Isabella Eggenberg (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) and Helicon Hopscotch, a 2009 Welsh Pony (Maranatha Tapestry x Helikon Tiddlywinks) owned by Centrest Farm LLC, and Emilia Cannizzo (Greenfield Center, N.Y.) and her own Pony Boy, a 2005 Welsh Pony cross (Unknown x Unknown), were both double-clear after two rounds. Makenna Debosh (Alpha, N.J.) and her own First Date, a 2009 German Riding Pony (The Breas My Mobility x Fiona), recorded four faults in the first round and four faults in the second round, which counted toward the team’s total.
1.05m Pony Jumper Team Championship
The energy in the Claiborne Ring only increased when attention turned to the 1.05m Pony Team Championship. The Red Team rose to the top, finishing with 18 total faults in 217.486 seconds to earn gold. Adrianna Fenig (Los Angeles, Calif.) and her own Angel Des Roseaux, a 2010 Connemara gelding (Grange Surf Sparrow x Hazara des Roseaux), were clear in the first round before adding eight faults in the second. Azalia Jane Lavigne (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Carnhill Sharkey, a 2013 Irish Sport Horse (Woodfield Sammy x Berrenhill Berta), were also clear in the first round and added four faults in their second tour of the course. Summer Smith (Cataula, Ga.) and her own Catch My Drift, a 2016 German Riding Pony (Del Piero x Hummel), finished with four faults in the first round and two time faults in the second. Members of the Red Team credited their strong teamwork, especially their ability to help one another recover when a rail or a mistake happened during competition.
“I love my pony so much,” said Lavigne, who rode Carnhill Sharkey. “He definitely helped me a little bit out there because we had a few chips. Despite that, he is the best pony in the world and I love him.”
For Smith, riding Catch My Drift, the partnership was the foundation of the team’s effort. “He is such a good pony,” Smith said. “He saves me. When I’m wrong, he does the right thing and makes the right choice. Mostly everything went to plan today.”
Fenig, aboard Angel Des Roseaux, reflected on a longer partnership and the pride that comes from steady effort. “I’ve had him for almost four years now,” Fenig said. “He always tries his best for me and I’m really proud of him for helping me out.” On what makes the team format different from competing as an individual, Fenig said, “There’s also teammates that help you, and if you have a rail, maybe your teammates can help you clear it up a little, and that’s how we won today. It’s so much fun just having everybody on your team.”
The White Team claimed silver, finishing with 32 total faults in 227.762 seconds. Zahara Henderson (Longmont, Colo.) and her own Star Wish, a 2008 Warmblood cross gelding (Unknown x Unknown), were clear in the first round before adding eight faults in the second. Samia Al Otaiba (McLean, Va.) and her own Sweet Don, a 2009 Mecklenburger gelding (Don Durello x Sweety), had four faults in the first round and were clear in the second. Corrigan Janiak (Swanton, Ohio) and WPF I Candy, a 2018 Welsh Pony cross mare (BS Lunar Eclipse x G-Sirka CH) owned by Ellie Welte, had eight faults in the first round and 12 in the second.
The Blue Team captured bronze, rounding out the podium with 44 total faults in 217.846 seconds. Lilia Allen (Wilmette, Ill.) and Fortnite Battle Pass, a 2020 Connemara mare (Tullaree Chieftain x Ahane Dixie) owned by Jennifer Robertson, finished the competition with four faults in each round. Maeve Sager (Los Angeles, Calif.) and her own Goldie Du Rosemont, a 2016 Selle Français mare (Kantje’s Admiraal x Taiga du Rosemont), struggled in the first round but bounced back to secure a clear round for the team in their second trip around the course. Addison Stewart (Tyler, Texas) and Praise On, a 2013 Paint gelding owned by Kimberly Brunson, were clear in the first round before adding eight faults in the second.