USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, Presented by Markel, Pays Out More than $100,000 to Pony Riders

2017 Year-End Awards Mailing to Competitors Highlights Series Success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEXINGTON, Ky., –March 14 , 2018 – Since the USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, presented by Markel, debuted in 2017, these classes have generated more than $100,000 in prize money pay outs to participants. In addition to reaching this milestone, the program has celebrated the success of ponies and their riders by awarding year-end national and zone awards throughout the country.

"To see the derby concept available to some of our youngest members is really exciting," USHJA President Mary Babick said. " We hope this unique class format helps keep them engaged and interested in where the sport can take them as they advance."

Year-end USHJA Pony Hunter Derby awards, which have been mailed out to recipients for 2017, highlight the success of the series based on money won by horse and rider both nationally and by zone. Nationally, the top 10 horses and riders earned year-end awards as follows:

2017 National Rider Money-Won: 

Place

Rider

Age

Hometown

Zone

1

Kat Fuqua

10

Atlanta, Ga.

4

2

Augusta Iwasaki

13

Calabasas, Calif.

10

3

Lauren Reid

13

Nazareth, Pa.

2

4

Emma Jolly

16

Keswick, Va.

3

5

Libbie Gordon

14

Statesville, N.C.

3

6

Gabrielle Sokolow

13

Westlake Village, Calif.

10

7

Grace Debney

13

Hampden, Mass.

1

8

Leigh Ashby

15

Lincolnton, N.C.

3

9

Abigail Gordon

11

Statesville, N.C.

3

10

Maddie Tosh

11

Milton, Ga.

4

2017 National Horse Money-Won:

Place

Horse

Owner

Hometown

Zone

1

Somekindawonderful

Augusta Iwasaki

Calabasas, Calif.

10

2

Mischief Managed

Rhiana Hughes

Warrenton, Va.

3

3

Goldhill's Arresting Charm

Kat Fuqua

Atlanta, Ga.

4

4

Good Reason

Capstone Farm, LLC

Nazareth, Pa.

2

5

Small Suggestion

Kat Fuqua

Atlanta, Ga.

4

6

Onyxfords Blue Magic

Leigh Ashby

Lincolnton, N.C.

3

7

Captain America

Kat Fuqua

Atlanta, Ga.

4

8

Kingston

Gabrielle Sokolow

Westlake Village, Calif.

10

9

Champlain Sovereign

Amanda H Stuber

Vanceboro, N.C.

3

10

Farmore State of the Art

Abigail Gordon

Statesville, N.C.

3

 

In addition, the top 6 horses and riders in each zone earned awards based on prize money won in their USHJA Zone. To view year-end award winners by zone,  click here.

The USHJA Pony Hunter Derby program offers juniors the opportunity to compete ponies in a series modeled after the International and National Hunter Derby programs. Competitors earn National and Zone Horse of the Year bonus points as well as these year-end series awards. Lifetime earnings are also tracked by horse and rider.

Dates and locations for the 2018 series are available online, with the potential for more to be added. For more information about the USHJA Pony Hunter Derby or to view the calendar of events, visit www.ushja.org/ponyhunterderby.

Media Contact:
Megan Lacy
mlacy@ushja.org
(859) 225-6723