As the last class and biggest class of the hunter divisions at the U.S. Equestrian Federation Pony Finals began on Saturday, the skies opened up and riders were straining to find their distances through the driving rain. But less-than-ideal weather couldn’t stop popular catch-rider Taylor St. Jacques from putting in a smooth, consistent round atop Finders-Keepers to claim the top spot in the medium pony championships.
The underdog U.S. Pony Club team stepped off the podium as the lone team to successfully complete the U.S. Pony Jumper Championships, held in conjunction with the U.S. Equestrian Federation Pony Finals, Aug. 4-10, against nine traditional zone teams. Then they hung up their gold medals, led their ponies back to the barn and went about all the barn chores themselves.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation Pony Finals award ceremonies are a familiar scene for Blueberry Hill, who earned the top tricolor in the small regular pony hunter division with Natalie Jayne aboard. While this is only Jayne's second time competing at Pony Finals, this marks "Whitney's" sixth time making the trip.
Devin Seek may have only sat on Hudson a week ago, but after a slow start in the regular pony hunter division, they fell into a groove just in time to win over fences and sport the championship ribbon at the U.S. Equestrian Federation Pony Finals, Aug. 4-10.
