Excited children were all abuzz today (August 9) at the Kentucky Horse Park, with their favorite ponies by their sides, all hoping for an experience at this year’s Pony Finals that they will remember for a lifetime. This is the first year that Pony Finals is observing a five-day format instead of the traditional four days due to the growth of the championship in recent years. This year’s Pony Finals is the biggest ever by roughly 55 entries, with 705 total entries (some riders are campaigning two horses), 400 riders, nearly 650 ponies and a record 205 entries in the USEF Pony Medal Final presented by Far Niente Stables.

Since 1984, the Finals have included the popular Pony Medal. To qualify for this championship, a rider must accumulate 30 points in USEF Pony Medal qualifying classes. In 2001, the USEF Pony Finals added the USEF National Pony Jumper Championships. Ponies and riders qualify by their placement as one of the top four pony/rider combinations in their zone standings