Sugg and Secret Hero Garner USHJA Pony Hunter Derby Championship – East
Upperville, Va.—June 10, 2026—Pony Hunters took center stage at the Grafton & Salem Farm Show Grounds during the Loudoun Benefit for the 2026 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby Championship – East, on Tuesday, June 9. Returning to the championship event stronger than ever, 2025 reserve champions Penelope Sugg and Secret Hero stepped it up to claim the championship title with a total score of 172.625. Less than one point behind them, Lilly Rae Buncher and Cherrybrook Starboy secured reserve honors with a score of 172.25, while last year’s champions, Lucca Rossano and Reidell Day Dream, rounded out the top three with a score of 168.5.
“It feels very good to win, it’s a big confidence booster,” smiled Sugg after her win. “I was reserve last year, so I really wanted to win this year, and have a good time. The ring is really nice – it kind of gives the same vibe as the Pony Finals ring, and I really enjoy riding in bigger rings. This is one of my favorite shows!”
The 2026 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby Championship welcomed 55 entries to vie for the winning title. Alan Lohman designed a welcoming Classic Round in the Grand Prix Ring of the Salem Showgrounds with three option fences and an in-and-out. The field was narrowed down to the top 12 for the Handy Round, which began with a rollback to the first vertical, the in-and-out, a trot fence, and several inside options before the final oxer.
Sugg, from Jonesboro, Arkansas, in Zone 7, was ranked third heading into the Handy Round with a score of 85.125, within striking distance of the leading score of 88. Trusting her four-year partnership with her own Secret Hero, Sugg showcased her pony’s brilliance over each fence and was rewarded with an 87.5. It was good enough to overtake Buncher, of Tomball, Texas, in Zone 7, who earned a Handy score of 85.5 on Cherrybrook Starboy, owned by Riley Pogue. Rossano, of Wellington, Florida, in Zone 4, climbed the rankings from fourth with Reidell Day Dream, owned by Adeline Rossetter, earning an 83.5 to take home third. At the end of the afternoon, Sugg returned to the center of the ring to accept the championship title and lead the lap of honor.
“For the Handy, I wanted to go in and be pretty competitive,” explained Sugg. “I wanted to do most of the inside turns, and I think my pony's really good at that, so that worked out nicely. I think he's pretty easy to ‘turn and burn,’ so he makes that very easy on me.”
Secret Hero is a 9-year-old Palamino gelding that Sugg began riding four years ago, and she has worked hard to develop a strong partnership with the striking large pony. “He's awesome—he’s my best friend,” she said. “He's pretty simple. Once you're on the right pace and he shows you the jumps, he's pretty easy.”
Sugg and Secret Hero captured the Large High Score Pony award for the second consecutive year, while Rossano and Reidell Day Dream repeated their success by earning the Small High Score Pony title for the second year in a row. The Medium High Score Pony award went to Henry Flynn, from Charlotte, North Carolina, in Zone 3, and Cherrybrook Bella Vita, owned by Alexandra Dow.
The USHJA Pony Hunter Derby offers Juniors the opportunity to compete ponies in a series modeled after the International and National Hunter Derby programs. Competitors can earn year-end series awards and qualify to compete in either the East Coast or West Coast Championships. The Championships feature two rounds—a Classic Hunter-style course and a Handy Hunter course.
The USHJA sends special thanks to the Grafton & Salem Farm Show Grounds team for hosting the Championship; to Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Parlanti, and StrideFull; Supporting Sponsors Essex Classics and GumBits.
For more information about the USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, visit ushja.org/PonyHunterDerby.
Photos: Erin Gilmore Photography, SDH Photography for Erin Gilmore
Release: Cavaletti Consulting
USHJA Pony Hunter Derby Championship – East Results
Rider | Horse | Owner
Round 1 Avg. | Round 2 Avg. | Final Score
1. Penelope Sugg | Secret Hero | Penelope Sugg
85.125 | 87.5 | 172.625
2. Lilly Rae Buncher | Cherrybrook Starboy | Riley Pogue
86.75 | 85.5 | 172.25
3. Lucca Rossano | Reidell Day Dream | Adeline Rossetter
85 | 83.5 | 168.5
4. Marlowe Martin | So Charming | Sprucedale Inc.
83.75 | 82.75 | 166.5
5. Zoey Chambers | Highlight | Suzanne Chambers
88 | 78.5 | 166.5
6. Tegan Price | Cottonwood | Haley Kauffman Rhinier
80 | 83.5 | 163.5
7. Ava Christine | Whale of a Tale | Parker Ponies, LLC
82.5 | 79 | 161.5
8. Carleigh Carter | Quantum Blue | Barbara Sheffield
83.875 | 76 | 159.875
9. Adriana Villegas | Lovestruck | AGV Equines, LLC
81.25 | 77 | 158.25
10. Henry Flynn | Cherrybrook Bella Vita | Alexandra Dow
85 | 55 | 140
11. Annabel Smith | King Midas | Annabel Smith
81.925 | 55 | 136.925
12. Kinley McAvoy | Veikko | Pinehurst Equestrian, LLC
82.25 | 51 | 133.25
