Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 9

Currie Cooper remembers the first time she rode Victory very clearly. It was the end of 2023 at Capital Challenge (Maryland) and the recently imported dressage pony was green as grass.

“I couldn’t really get down a line,” she said. “He was too quiet.”

Victory has come a long way since then. Today Cooper rode the 10-year-old German Riding Pony by Gandora to the large pony hunter championship at USEF Pony Finals, picking up the reserve grand title to boot. Medium pony Best Sport, ridden by Charlotte Morassutti won the grand pony hunter title.

“The pony is absolutely beautiful, and he’s brave, super brave,” said trainer Richard Cunkle. “He’s a beautiful mover, and a beautiful jumper, and he walks out of a stall to the ring. He’s super quiet.”

Victory and Cooper, Point Clear, Alabama, led the division after the model and under saddle classes, and came back last over fences. Cooper said she experienced too much pressure going last, and she finished seventh over the jumps to take the large pony title over Gentle Touch and Lilly Herzog.

Cooper said at home she works on straightness with the pony.

“He’s really smooth and comfortable,” she said.

Cooper has been working with Cunkle for four and a half years. Victory lives with Cunkle in Wellington, Florida, and Cooper travels there to practice regularly and meets up with him at shows.

“She’s cool as a cucumber,” he said. “Her work ethic is amazing. She doesn’t care if they’re bucking or rearing, she’ll ride 10 just like that all the time, just the dedication and the hard work, to do it over and over.”

Find full results here.

Want more USEF Pony Finals? Get all the Chronicle’s coverage here. Make sure you’re following along with the Chronicle on Facebook and Instagram @chronofhorse. You can get more Pony Finals in the September issue of the Chronicle.