Lexington, Ky—Aug. 7

Four years ago Sienna Rossano had a stellar trip to USEF Pony Finals when she finished third overall on two different ponies. But this year she outdid that record, riding her own High Tops to the top of the medium pony division. She also picked up the top Welsh/half-Welsh award in the medium division.

Rossano came back sixth in the jumping phase, which counts double toward the division title. She and High Tops laid down a beautiful trip to score marks that soared up to an 89 to win the jumping phase and rise to the top of the division.

Rossano, who recently moved with her family from Fishers, Indiana, to Wellington, Florida, to be closer to the equestrian action, is celebrating her anniversary with the 15-year-old half-Welsh (Telynau Royal Anthem—Claire) as they paired up at Pony Finals two years ago.

“It took a little while before we really jelled,” said Rossano, 12.

“We work on holding [him so he doesn’t] swap,” she added.

Rossano trains with Stephen Long and Cara Cheska. Rossano said that they have to be careful with “Cosmo” in the barn because he has a habit of biting.

“He has a specific program and you just need to follow it almost daily to keep his habits in control,” said Cheska. “Like she was saying about his personality in the barn, going around the ring he’s always [perfect], but he’s actually quite a savage. I say he likes flesh better than he likes treats half the time.

“Stephen and I have figured out his exact program and every single jump has to be calculated, every single turn has to be calculated, every single ride has to be calculated and then you can go and win Pony Finals,” she added. “He is definitely the fanciest for sure, but it takes a lot from everyone involved and then Sienna has to put the jumps together perfectly, and she does a great job with that.”

Watch them in action, courtesy of USEF Network:

Rossano and Cosmo edged out last year’s grand champions, Currie Cooper and J.J. Torano’s Paris Charm, to take the medium title.

“I wasn’t nervous,” said Cooper, who had to go in the ring last as the leader after the model and under saddle.

“She’s pretty easy,” she added. “Sometimes she takes a lot of leg, sometimes you have to remind her to keep going when she’s quiet.”

Despite her great performances in the ring, “Paris” can be tricky to work with. The first time Cooper got on the pony Paris bolted forward with a hump in her back. Normally Cooper has to have her number on and spurs adjusted before she gets on as the mare doesn’t care for anyone fussing around her. But she’s getting better.

“She lets me pet her while I’m on her now, and my mom handed me a water bottle while I was on her,” said Cooper.

Boca’s Entourage Earns A Big Fan Club

There were plenty of people squeezed into the victory photo for Boca’s Entourage’s win picture for the small green pony hunter championship.

There was his rider, Lilly Herzog, of course; the pony’s trainer, Danielle Menker; and Herzog’s home trainer Amanda Lyerly. But maybe the proudest member of crowd was owner Leslie Butzer of Ponies And Palms Stables, who bred the 8-year-old Welsh cross (EMC Entourage—Racquel) and has known him since he hit the ground.

“To see him accomplish this, watching him be born in the stall, is pretty amazing,” she said.

Boca’s Entourage, who was just gelded before this season, came into the over fences class in second and a third-placed ribbon boosted him to the top of the division.

“I was pretty nervous,” said Herzog of going into the over fences round, “but I knew that my team behind me has him and me so well prepared that there really was nothing to worry about.

“I was thinking just about how great of an experience it is for him and that even though it may be my last time showing him, he’s going to come back here and he’s going to have such another great experience,” she added.

Herzog and the pony will be parting ways soon as she’s too old to show him in the regular small division. But the Cleveland-based rider has enjoyed their time together.

“I have been a partner with him since probably around December, and I showed him a bit in the [Winter Equestrian Festival (Florida)] and then we reconnected these weeks in Kentucky,” said Herzog, 14. “He’s just a Steady Eddie and cute as could be.

“He likes a confident ride,” she added. “He’s confident as it is, so he likes you to match his confidence.”

Menker said Herzog is the perfect match for Boca’s Entourage, and other Ponies And Palms mounts in her program.

“She has a very calm demeanor and she gets along with all the ponies that we have,” she said. “She’s really great with the young ones. She never gets frustrated. We love her and we wish we could keep her on the ponies forever.”

Like Butzer, Menker was emotional about Boca’s Entourage’s win.

“I’ve gotten to work for a number of top professionals that have won championships here,” she said. “I’ve sent many, many ponies, to Pony Finals with people I’ve worked for that have gone on to win. And this is actually my first Pony Finals [win] as trainer.”

Find results here.

You can see all the Chronicle’s coverage from USEF Pony Finals here, and check out the Sept. 23 issue of the magazine as well. Be sure you’re following the Chronicle on Instagram and Facebook @Chronofhorse.