Zone 4/Team 5 team turned in an impressive performance to win gold in the Medium Pony Jumper Team Championship today at the Kentucky Horse Park, part of the USEF/World Wide Technology Pony Jumper National Championships, supported by the Youth Show Jumping Foundation.
The Zone 4/Team 5 squad finished with zero total faults across two rounds on a combined time of 198.341 to ensure their victory. Emma Videla (Aiken, S.C.) with Smoke Tree (J) Knight Ryder, a 2015 Welsh Pony gelding (Bunbury Jamboree x Smoke Tree Little Minx), owned by Rancho Pampa LLC; Azalia Jane Lavigne (Wellington, Fla.) and Pretty Please, a 2009 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Trinity Christner, as well as Catherine Zechmann (McClellanville, S.C.) and Salty Oak Farm Bakers Dozen, a 2020 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Salty Oak Farm, were all double-clear in both rounds, while Brianna Black (Harpersville, Ala.) and Royal Occasion, her own 2015 Welsh Pony (Mynach Master Class x Russetwood Romance) had finished the day as the drop score.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited,” Lavigne said. According to Videla the main goal for each of the combinations was simply to “post a clean round to set the tone for [each other].” Each athlete was quick to share credit beyond the irons, giving gratitude to their ponies, trainers, and parents.
The combined Zone 8/10 team took silver on four total faults, finishing with a combined time of 194.880 to slot them in behind the Zone 4/Team 5 on the podium. Sloane Green (Santa Barbara, Calif.) with Mr. Miraculous, a 2020 Welsh Pony gelding (Eyarth Tayma x Hilin Seren-Y-Bore), owned by Lindsay Wallach, and Cora Greenstreet (Erie, Colo.) aboard One Up’s Jellybean Daydream, a 2013 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Reagan Thoennes, both produced double-clear rounds for the team. Zahara Henderson (Longmont, Colo.) and KCS Harmony, her own 2013 Welsh Pony Cross (KCS Rock n Rebel x KCS Mystic Melody), added four faults in the second round, which counted towards the team’s overall total, with Ainsley Green (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Bjerregards Katja, a 2008 Welsh Pony mare (Birtley First Edition x Bjerregards Evita), owned by India Kulkin, also delivered a four-fault round for the team.
Zone 2/Team 1 earned the bronze, also completed the team competition on four total faults, finishing with a combined time of 197.041. Gracie Vasta (Coopersburg, Pa.) and Lalaloopsy, a 2006 Welsh Pony mare (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Madeline Keahon, and Alexa Wang (New York, N.Y.) and Lidos Nimble Cat, a 2016 Quarter Horse (Only One Peppy Cat x Lidos Princess), owned by Urminda Firlan, both jumped clear in both rounds of team competition. Avery Rogowski (Goshen, N.Y) and My Cheddar Half, her own 2016 Welsh Pony Cross (Unknown x Unknown), added four faults in the first round, while Lyla Winneker (Chester, N.J.) and Gayfields Elyon, a 2013 Welsh Pony gelding (Gayfields Way Too Cool x Gayfields Hop Skip and Jump), owned by Southside Equestrian LLC, were the team’s drop score.