Lexington, KY – August 3, 2025 – The ponies have arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park, quickly taking over the facility ahead of the 2025 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall & Sterling. With two sections at each height in the Small, Medium, and Large Pony Hunter divisions, the competition was fierce during the Kentucky Summer Classic to see who would end up on top ahead of the annual championship. At the end of the competition on Sunday, Lacey Powers and Boca’s Bolero stood above the rest, claiming one of the Small Pony Hunter Championships and going on to earn the Grand Pony Hunter Championship, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.
Boca’s Bolero is a 7-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding by Entourage owned by Lisa and Leslie Butzer of Ponies & Palms Show Stables. Powers and Boca’s Bolero have dominated the pony divisions over the last two weeks, also claiming last week’s Grand Pony Hunter Championship. This week, the duo won three of the over fences classes, as well as the under saddle, on their way to winning the championship tricolor in Section A of the Small Pony Hunters.
“He’s a great pony,” smiled Powers after the awards presentation. “He’s very sweet on the ground and he’s got a great jump. He’s a pretty simple ride, you just have to support a little bit to the jumps, but you can get tight, you can get long, and he jumps well from anywhere, so that’s nice to ride.”
Lacey Powers and Boca’s Bolero
The Butzer’s were thrilled with Boca’s Bolero, and truly blown away by his consistency over the last two weeks. “It is just insane how talented this pony is,” expressed Leslie. “He’s so special. I bred him – I went slow raising him and tried to do all the right things. Lisa worked hard with him, and Danielle [Menker] has been great helping us.
Lisa added, “Honestly, we’re in shock right now. To win the greens, win the regulars and two grands two weeks in a row – that’s unheard of. He’s in his own league.”
Next week, Boca’s Bolero will compete in the Green Small Pony Hunters with Lilly Herzog during the 2025 USEF Pony Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park, and the team is thrilled to be in the Bluegrass State for another week of competition. “The horse is just like it here,’ concluded Lisa. “There’s so much space and it’s so horse-friendly. The field is really nice too – they all seem to go very well here!”
Sunday marked the conclusion of the Kentucky Summer Classic, but the Pony Hunter excitement will continue next week 2025 USEF Pony Finals. Many riders have also gathered to prepare for the 2025 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship, the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, which will all take place one week later during the Bluegrass Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park. For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.