Horse Illustrated Magazine

The 40th anniversary of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pony Finals National Championships, which began on Wednesday and run through Sunday at the Kentucky Horse Park, are hot: literally. Temperatures have hit the triple digits, but the young competitors don’t seem to notice.

The five-day championship has a total of 697 entries, including 536 ponies and 420 riders who are competing for the title of four premier championships—Wild Horsefeathers/USEF Pony Hunter Finals, Wild Horsefeathers/USEF Green Hunter Pony Finals, USEF Pony Medal and the Adequan®/USEF Pony Jumper Final.

The Hunter Pony Championships are a three-phase competition that judges the pony’s conformation, way of moving under saddle and jumping ability. The Pony Medal Final tests young riders in a head-to-head competition, judging both their equitation and their ability to compete over a technical and demanding course of fences. With the Pony Jumper Championships, ponies and riders qualify by their placement as one of the top four pony/rider combinations in their zone standings. 

“It’s a great event.  What makes it so great is that the kids have fun.  The competition is very good… and the kids enjoy the facility and the camaraderie that happens at this show,” says Pony Finals show manager Hugh Kincannon.  

For more information about the Pony Finals, visit www.usef.org.