Edited Press Release
The Blenheim June Classic III featured the Blenheim West Coast Pony Challenge, presented by USHJA Zone 10.
Earning victories in the West Coast Pony Challenge were Lauren Padilla and Smallwood Mystic in the $2,500 West Coast Pony Hunter Classic, presented by Asuncion Valley Farm, and Chloe Eynon and Why Not? in the $1,000 West Coast Green Pony Hunter Classic, also presented by Asuncion Valley Farm.
Padilla and Smallwood Mystic, owned by Highland Farm LLC, earned scores of 84 and 88 for their winning 172 total.
“[Smallwood Mystic] is so fun to ride,” said Padilla of the 13-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding that she’s ridden for the past year. “He is pretty easy, except in the beginning, I have to really strike up my canter and make sure he’s moving off my leg. Then after that, it’s good.”
“I’ve been coming to Blenheim for forever,” continued Padilla, 12, who trains with Christa Endicott at Pegasus Show Stable. “I like showing at Blenheim because they make stuff fun. I love the grass fields because normally a lot of other shows down here do not have grass; it’s really nice and spacious here.”
For Eynon and Why Not? a second-round score of 80 helped them secure the win in the $1,000 West Coast Green Pony Hunter Classic.
“It feels really special because I’ve only had [Why Not?] for two months,” said Eynon, 11, of the 6-year-old gelding “It feels really great that he has been so willing to do everything; being able to do the West Coast Pony [Challenge] is like a dream come true. Obviously, I wanted to do well, but I was just hoping to do well and get the distances. I never expected that I would win it!”
Eynon, who trains with Seahorse Riding Club, continued, “I’ve been showing at Blenheim for three years. I like that a lot of my friends are there, so it’s fun to do the shows with them. I like that we all get to support each other; I think that’s cool.”
Both Padilla and Eynon will now set their sights on the USEF Pony Finals in Lexington, KY, in August.
“We qualified for Pony Finals, and my goal is to place there,” said Eynon.
For Padilla, she hopes to continue to improve each time out. “I just want to be consistent on him. I would like to progress with him and get better and better and better every time that I ride him.”
For full results of all pony competition held during the Blenheim June Classic III, visit blenheim.showgroundslive.com.
