2009 USEF Pony Finals

The recent USEF Pony Final Championships included a few Arabian-breds in several divisions. The ponies competing must qualify by winning a Champion or Reserve at an AA rated show or a Champion at an A rated show each year.

In Pony Jumpers, the purebred PARTLY CLOUDY, above, (registered as DL LIGHTNING JIM), ridden by 13 year old Mary Lauren Shelton of Texas finished in 12th individually in very stiff competition amongst 40 of the country's best ponies. The top five competitors were in a 5-way tie before the last round. PARTLY CLOUDY won the Silver medal in Pony Jumpers at the 2007 Pony Finals.

Competing in Individual Jumpers but finishing out of the Top 12, were the Half-Arabians ROSEBELLE (registered as RAVENWOODS ROSEBELLE), RICOCHET RABBIT, above left, (registered as TOM EL BEAU JUELS) and ERIN MEADOWS SILK STOCKINGS, above right, (registered as SILK N FIRE TS).

ROSEBELLE, above, and 14 year old rider Amelia Drumm of Washington, helped the Zone 8 Jumper Team earn the Gold Medal with a no-fault scores after two difficult rounds each. The jump courses are set to 3'6" for these classes.

In the Farewell Jumper class, RICOCHET RABBIT placed 2nd and ERIN MEADOWS SILK STOCKINGS placed 11th.

In Large Pony Hunter, a Welsh/Arabian cross RIKKI TIKKI TAVI, above left, finished 30th out of 133 entries, while the purebred BEDAZZLED, above right, (registered as SAHLITAIRE DANCER) further down in the final rankings.

In the Medium Pony Hunters, a Welsh/Arabian cross SILLY PUTTY, above left, and Connemara/Arabian/Welsh pony WELLENS GOLD COIN, above right, (whose dam is a Welsh/Arabian by purebred AM LORD ELOPE). Both ponies finished in the middle third of the rankings. GOLD COIN's dam has produced several top show ponies, as has AM LORD ELOPE.

The American Hunter Pony Classic Sale, held in conjunction with Pony Finals, featured an Arabian-bred pony in the top 5 sellers of the sale. HILLCREST'S BLUE HALO, photo left, , sired by HILLCREST'S BLUE SMOKE, a registered Half-Arabian out of LADS AMELIA (Alada Baskin), brought $42,500. There was a green Half Arabian by TF COUNT BISBEE, sire of many nationally ranked ponies and another out of an Arabian mare KHLIO BASKULE.

HILLCREST'S BLUE SMOKE, pictured below, (aka True Blue) was purchased at the 2004 Pony Classic auction for $23,500 and is also registered Half-Welsh. He was Reserve Champion in the Medium Green Hunters in 2006 Pony Finals and 3rd Overall Green Hunter Pony in 2007.