2021 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Honor Hill Farm Triumphantly Returns to the Kentucky Horse Park

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Lexington, Ky – Aug. 10, 2021 – After a year out of the spotlight, hundreds of the nation’s top young pony riders took center stage at the Kentucky Horse Park for the inaugural 2021 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Honor Hill Farm. Day one of competition brought forth very competitive rounds in the Regular Large Pony Model, Under Saddle and the Small Green Pony Model and Under Saddle. After the completion of both the model and under saddle phases in the Regular Large Pony Hunters and Small Green Pony Hunters, Hailey Guidry emerged as the frontrunner in both divisions on Valentino and Memphis.

Ellie Sadrian and Brighton

Ellie Sadrian and Brighton, a 12-year-old Deutsches Reitpony gelding owned by Sadrian, easily caught the judges’ attention with his beautiful conformation, expression, and presence when he first entered the ring for the Regular Large Pony Model. The dynamic pair was awarded a high score of 263.360 in section two of the model, holding the lead score for the entirety of the class, earning them the blue ribbon. Finley Clement and Small Wonder, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Clement, came to a close second, just two points behind Sadrian with a score of 261.38. Clara Propp and Eastside, the 10-year-old Deutsches Reitpony mare owned by Aquitaine Equine, are no strangers to the winner’s circle and impressed the judges in the model, earning them a score of 259.650, helping them hold onto the third-place spot overall.

Agatha Lignelli and Chiccobello

Following the Regular Large Pony Model in Rolex Stadium was the Under Saddle, where Agatha Lignelli and Chiccobello, a 14-year-old German Riding Pony gelding, showcased his fantastic movement to secure first place in the under Saddle with a score of 277.830. Hailey Guidry and Valentino, owned by Honor Hill Farm LLC, continued to impress the judges in the under Saddle earning them a score of 271.960, pushing them into second. Emma Dyson, aboard D’Artagnan, an 11-year-old German Riding Pony owned by Simply Ponies, LLC, earned third place with a score of 268.630.

Guidry again was presented with the top prize in the Small Green Model, aboard Memphis, a 7-year-old New Forest Pony gelding owned by Samantha Schaefer. The young gelding caught the judge’s eye with his eager expression and picture-perfect conformation, earning them a score of 264.310. Adelaide Root and Cambridge, an 8-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by Rabbit Root Stables, LLC, came to a close second with a score of 256.760. Rounding out the top three were Alina McLean and Whinny The Blue, an 8-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by First Blue LLC, taking home a score of 254.910, emerging third in the class.

Emi Richard and Wonder Woman, photo courtesy of Shawn McMillan Photography

Emi Richard and Wonder Woman, a 6-year-old Welsh Pony mare owned by Epic Farm LLC, emerged victorious in the Small Green Pony Hunter Under Saddle. The perfectly matched pair earned a score of 262.910, securing them the blue ribbon. Olivia Sweetnam and Stella Blue, a 7-year-old Welsh Pony Cross mare owned by WPS Ponies, were just one point shy of the Richard and Wonder Woman with a score of 261.790, taking home the red ribbon. Vivian Golden and Uptown, an 8-year-old Welsh Pony Cross owned by Golden, took home the third-place honors with a score of 261.460, just 0.33 points away from Sweetnam and Wonder Woman.

The 2020 Small Green Ponies were the last group to enter the Rolex Ring on Tuesday to vie for top honors that were not awarded last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sienna Rossano and DF Crush, a 10-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by Cumberland Acres LLC, took home the blue ribbon in the 2020 Small Green Pony Model with an outstanding score of 721 beating out the rest of the competition by over 500 points. Kathryn Gooden and Minion, owned by Kendall Kauffman, emerged victorious in the 2020 Small Green Pony Hunter Under Saddle with a score of 266.670, impressing the judges with his flowingness and beautiful movement.

The 2021 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Honor Hill Farm, will continue through Sunday, August 15. The nation’s top young pony riders will battle for the title of Grand Champion in both the Regular Hunter and Green Hunter divisions in the Rolex Ring, and the Claiborne Ring will play host to the Pony Jumper competition starting Thursday, August 12th. The highly anticipated Pony Medal will conclude the 2021 USEF Pony Finals Sunday at 7 am. Competition will continue Wednesday morning with the Regular Small Pony Hunters.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

LEADER OF LARGE PONY HUNTERS

Ellie Sadrian – Winner Large Pony Model

On herself:
“I am thirteen years old and I am from Summit, New Jerey. My trainers are Dave Belford and Chris Payne.”

On Brighton:
“He is really social and likes to hang out with people. He craves treats! Before I went in the model I tried not to play with him too much because it makes him search for treats and not pay attention. I have had Brighton for two years. We purchased him from Kat Fuqua. I like how social he is and I really like to ride him because he is so smooth.”

On her goals at Pony Finals:
“My goals have to be top 10 overall and luckily I just achieved my other goal, which was to place first in one class!”

Agatha Grace Lignelli – Winner of the Large Pony Under Saddle

On Chicobello:
“I have had him for a year and a half now. I got him during Kentucky last year. He is just amazing! He is a different type of pony. He knows when he is going in the ring and he struts. He is a little bit lazy but you get used to it.”

On her flat phase:
“I sort of had a plan. He was sort of fresh but that is how you like him! I was a little worried about the halt but he was good about it. We were ready and went for it!”

On her goals at Pony Finals:
“I would like to do well in all of my classes but mostly just to get a high ribbon on every one of my pony’s.”

On her favorite part of Pony Finals:
“Normally, the pony classes are always in a small ring, here you get to ride in a big ring, which is really fun!”

LEADER OF SMALL GREEN PONY HUNTERS

Hailey Guidry – Winner of the Small Green Pony Model

On her model presentation:
“It was not too hard today or too scary. He was really nice and he was good.”

On Memphis:
“My pony (Memphis) is a catch ride for Samantha Schaffer and last week was my first ride on him.”

Emi Richard – Winner Small Green Pony Under Saddle

On her pony:
“Her name is Wonder Woman and her barn name is Rosey. She is only six years old. We got her just before COVID started. My most favorite thing about her is her personality and her trot.”

On showing at Pony Finals:
“I have been coming to Pony Finals since 2017 and I think it is a lot of fun and I like seeing all of my friends and going in the big rings.”

On her plan for the rest of the competition at Pony Finals:
“I am showing in the regular Mediums and the Pony medal! Mostly I just want to have fun and be consistent.”

RESULTS

Place / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score

Large Regular Pony Hunters Model
Ellie Sadrain / Brighton / Ellie Sadrain / 263.36
Finley Clement / Small Wonder / Finley Clement / 261.38
Clara Propp / East Side / Aquitaine Equine / 259.65
Ava Barnes / Prestige / Ava Barnes / 255.85
Jople Kosloske / Chic In Time / Jople Kosloske / 255.50
Sophia Donald / Party Favor / Sophia Donald /254.78
Hailey Guidry / Valentino / Honor Hill Farm LLC / 254.43
Blake Rowan / Envy / Caroline Mirts / 252.59
Adair Moses / Masquerade / Adair Moses / 252.22
Vivan Golden / Touch the Sun / Violet Rheingold / 251.77
Erin Morera / Nominee / GC Ponies / 250.00

Large Regular Pony Hunters Under Saddle
Agatha Lignelli / Chiccobello / Agatha Lignelli / 277.83
Hailey Guidry / Valentino / Honor Hill Farm LLC / 271.96
Emma Dyson / D’Artagnan / Simply Ponies LLC / 268.63
Kalea Luliano / So Dapper / Kalea Luliano / 268.31
Alexandra Parisi / Stonewall Top Call / Alexandra Parisi / 267.27
Khloe McSwain / Rockaway / Briar Feild Farm LLC / 267.12
Jole Kosloske / Chic in Time / Jole Kosloske / 265.10
Maura Fahey / Northwind Miss McVai / Emily Elek Burtard / 262.90
Alexandra Sawinski / Just My Style / Jordan Ayres / 260.16
Mimi Maddock / Hey Scooby / Samantha Schaffer / 260.16
Taylor Silvius / Sahara / Taylor Silvius / 259.89

Small Green Pony Hunters Model
Hailey Guidry / Memphis / Samantha Schaffer / 264.31
Adelaide Root / Cambridge / Rabbit Root Stables LLC / 256.76
Alina McLean / Whinny the Blue / First Blue LLC / 254.91
Stella Rumanes / Patchwork Caramel Candy / Liberty Lane Farms Inc. / 248.21
Lily Epstein / Pinky Promise / Lily Epstein / 247.96
Emma Hakim / Clovermeade Hush Bunny / Rabbit Hill Farm / 247.79
Annabelle Brown / Celebration / Aline McLean / 246.10
Carsyn Korotkin / Fortnite / Castlewood Farm Inc. / 246.04
Finley Clement / Way Too Charming / Finley Celement / 243.48
Gracelyn Hayde / Optimus Prime / Gracelyn Hayde / 242.93
Abbeygale Hamilton / Starbound / Abbeygale Hamilton / 242.390

Small Green Pony Hunters Under Saddle
Emi Richard / Wonder Woman / Epic Farm LLC / 262.91
Olivia Sweetnam / Stella Blue / WTS Ponies / 261.79
Vivian Golden / Uptown / 261.46
Annabelle Brown / Celebration / Aline McLean / 261.32
Alina McLean / Whinny the Blue / First Blue LLC / 260.01
Hailey Guidry / Memphis / Samantha Schaffer / 256.04
Stella Rumanes / Patchwork Carmel Candy / Liberty Lane Farms Inc. / 253.63
Carsyn Korotkin / Fortnite / Castlewood Farm Inc. / 253.29
Elisabeth Mesiarik / Maranatha Plie / Elisabeth Mesiarik / 252.46
Bridget Harris / Wrenwoods Girl Scout / Bridget Harris / 251.79
Emma Hakim / Clovermeade Hush Bunny / Rabbit Hill Farm / 251.35