USEF Pony Finals
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 | |
| Sanctioning body | United States Equestrian Federation |
|---|---|
| Location | Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY |
| Held | August |
| Sponsors | Marshall & Sterling |
| Number of entries | 600+ |
The United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals is an annual championship for pony hunters, jumpers, and equitation. The event takes place over six days and is typically held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. More than 600 ponies compete at the championship every year.[1][2]
The American Horse Show Association created the hunter pony division in 1951, and shortly after, the International Pony Competition was created for American ponies to compete against British counterparts.[3] The first American Pony Finals took place in 1967 in Deep Run, Virginia after the dissolution of the International Pony Competition. The first event featured only two divisions: the small pony hunters (ponies 12.2 hands and under) and large pony hunters (ponies 12.2-14.2 hands). In 1976, the medium pony division was created for ponies 12.2-13.2 hands in height, shifting large ponies to being 13.2-14.2 hands.[3] The green pony hunter division was created in 1978, and was further divided into two sections (small/medium and large) in 1983.[3]
Over the years the event has always taken place every August and has moved locations several times. It was held five times at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Connecticut, and also was hosted at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, the Virginia Horse Center, and The Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, Ohio before finding its permanent home at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2005.[4]
Many top American riders have competed and won at Pony Finals, including Gregory Best in 1975, Lauren Hough in 1985, and Reed Kessler in 2006.[3][5]