Edited Press Release
The Grand Pony Hunter Championship was awarded to Bel Air, ridden by Beatrice Klemann for Mary Kate George. Held at White Hollow Farm in Stillwater, NY, competition continues with the Saratoga Classic II Horse Show on June 18-22.
The Grand Pony Hunter Champion was Bel Air, ridden by Beatrice Klemann and owned by Mary Kate George. The pair finished first under saddle, won the handy, won the conformation over fences, and was second and third in the remaining over fences classes to win the division championship in the Medium Pony Hunters. For their grand win, they were presented with the Diana Hall Elliott Memorial Perpetual Award, donated by Ms. Cathleen Elliott Ellington.
Twelve-year-old Klemann, from Greenwich, CT, has been riding for six years and has trained at Heritage Farm for three years. She started in Short Stirrup, showed in the Children’s Pony Hunter division, and moved up to the rated Pony Hunter divisions. She started riding Bel Air in December 2024. They competed at the Winter Equestrian Festival this past winter, but Klemann noted that this grand championship was special.
“It means a lot to me because it’s my first big win on him,” she expressed. “I think that it shows such a learning curve in riding him. I haven’t been this consistent at a show before. He’s helped me develop as a rider. It’s such an accomplishment, especially us working together and getting to know each other as Pony Finals and indoors comes up.”
“He has a nice scopey stride,” said Klemann of the 15-year-old Welsh pony gelding by Orchard Red Prince. “I really like how he helps you find the distances; you just have to keep him straight. He knows his job. Whenever I make a mistake as a rider, he lets me know and says, ‘Hey, you did this wrong.’ He has taught me a lot over the past seven months. As a pony he’s very trustworthy.”
While Bel Air demands a tax of treats or a banana to enter his stall, Klemann noted that he is still a “very sweet boy.” She added, “He really has such a character and such a great expression. He is someone who I trust to not do anything wrong around kids. He won’t bite or be naughty.”
Klemann also competed at the Saratoga Spring Horse Shows in May and appreciates that the shows have competitive riders and offer the pony hunter model classes.
“It’s nice they have the model class so that we can practice,” she said. “One of my ponies isn’t the greatest in the model, so it’s good practice for Pony Finals. Very few shows offer it.”
