Lexington, KY – August 8, 2025 – Team competition for the 2025 USEF Pony Jumper National Championship concluded on Friday with the Large Pony as 18 teams vied for the podium at the 2025 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall and Sterling. After two rounds of Nations Cup-style jumping, the Zone 4 Team 1 athletes were able to edge out the team from Zone 8/9 by just one second during the timed second phase.
For the team competition, the goal was to complete clear rounds and teams could have one drop score. The winners were determined by the combined times from the second round, where they jumped the same track as the first round. Zone 4 Team 1 included Clementine Jordan with Cillbhrid Pippa, Maddyn Vatland with Class Act George, Callan O’Toole with Drumlane Oscar, and Brooke Buras with Blue By You. Jordan, O’Toole and Vatland all completed double clear rounds to end with a team score of zero faults and the fastest combined time of 156.70 seconds.
Clementine Jordan and Cillbhrid Pippa
Ten-year-old Jordan enjoyed the course for the day’s championship saying, “The course was great – nice and twisty turny, which Pippa and I love. My round was awesome and so was Pippa!”
Fourteen-year-old Vatland added, “I’ve never been to Pony finals, but it has been great! The course was a little challenging, but my pony loves those turns, so it made it fun.”
Maddyn Vatland and Class Act George
Bringing home the gold medal was exciting for all of the athletes. “It feels great and I had no idea this was going to happen,” said nine-year-old O’Toole. “I’ve had my for a year and we’ve developed a very good bond. My pony thought the course was a little challenging, but it was fun.”
Callan O’Toole and Drumlane Oscar
Sixteen-year-old Buras was very complimentary of the new format that debuted this year, which lowered the heights to qualify and divided them by pony size. She said, “I’ve been to Pony Finals in the hunters, but without the rule change, I probably would’ve never gotten to experience the jumpers on my pony because he’s 17 years old.”
Brooke Buras and Blue By You
The silver medal went to Zone 8/9, who were hot on their heels with 0 faults and a time of 157.53 seconds. Their team included Zahara Henderson with Star Wish, Jacqueline Sherer with Diarado Des Cibaudes, Lillian Thomas with The Duchess, and Elin Uhrig with Juan Bay.
After the conclusion of the competition, the team athletes were escorted back into the rings where they took to the podium to receive their medals, cheered on by their friends and family. The gold and silver medal teams were joined by the bronze medalists from Zone 5/6, which included Caroline Sather with Wildcard, Vivian Erickson with Book Smart, Nora Erickson with Chance of a Lifetime, and Lucy Rofidal with Laced With Grace.
The final event for athletes will be Saturday’s Large Individual jumping finals to conclude this year’s USEF Pony Jumper National Championships.