Lexington, Ky—Aug. 13
It’s pretty tough to follow up two consecutive titles at USEF Pony Finals. Pretty much all you can do is win again. So that’s what Maddy Darst did with For The Laughter.
That Betsee Parker entry claimed the large pony championship the last two years. This time around she came into the over fences with a 22-point lead, but a bobble at the first fence meant she nearly lost the chance at a title.
“I had a rub and the rail bounced, said Darst, 14. “I thought I had a rail was going to come down, then when I came down the diagonal and saw it was still up I thought ‘oh good I can still get in the low 80s instead of a 45.’ ”
Watch For The Laughter’s round.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sure enough Darst stayed focused and the rest of the trip was perfect for scores 83.7, 79.5 and 80, good enough for 10th place, the championship and the reserve grand title behind barnmate Enchanted Forest. Daisy Farish rode All The Best, owned by Katherine Strauss, to blue in the over fences to boost that pair from 16th to overall reserve.
Watch All The Best’s winning round.
For The Laughter won the last two years with Victoria Colvin up.
“He’s really fun,” said Darst of “Bubbles.” “He jumps really well and has a really big stride. You have to just keep him in front of your leg.”
Rob Coluccio normally trains the 10-year-old Welsh cross (Brilliant—Mon Cheri), but Coluccio is battling a brain tumor, so the pony’s former coach, Scott Stewart, stepped in at Pony Finals.
ADVERTISEMENT
Darst also rode large green pony champion Faunti, owned by Meredith Maroone and Coluccio, and yesterday she guided Enchanted Forest to the medium title.
“Forest and Bubbles have big strides, and they’re both really nice,” said Darst. “They’re both pretty, but Forest is a little more experienced and Bubbles is a little greener.”
As if that weren’t impressive enough, For The Laughter also won the top model class at Pony Finals, and earned eighth in the new champion under saddle class.
Around The Showgrounds
-After winning the grand green pony championship aboard medium pony Magical Diamond, Kirklen Petersen ran into some bad luck. She took a tumble off her two other mounts, both of whom had been standing second: medium Hearts Desire and large Chakko. But it all came together again when Petersen rode Chakko to the top of the champion under saddle class for Lynn Colston.
-The Walnut Ring wrapped up this afternoon, and action moves to the covered arena for the rest of the competition. Tonight the pony jumpers take over to vie for the individual USEF Pony Jumper title, and tomorrow the pigtails will disappear as riders get down to business in the USEF Pony Medal Final.
Visit www.shownet.biz for full results.
