Lexington, KY – August 6, 2026 – The Small Green Pony Hunters took center stage on Thursday afternoon at the 2026 USEF Pony Finals, presented by Marshall & Sterling, where Gabrielle Pitts (East Hampton, N.Y.) piloted Little Aspen to a brilliant round in the over fences phase to secure the USEF Small Green Pony Hunter National Championship. Little Aspen is a 7-year-old Welsh Pony gelding (Rotherwood Taboo x Trefriw Romance) who is owned by Rivers Edge, and earned a score of 509.64 to win the over fences phase, along with scores of 252.04 in the model phase and 255.05 in the under saddle phase. Their overall score of 1017.18 clinched the duo’s first Pony Finals title against a field of 46 ponies.
“It feels amazing [to be champion],” expressed Pitts after her win. “Today, my goal was to be confident, hope for a really solid round, and have a lot of fun. I started riding him at the beginning of the winter circuit, and I got an amazing opportunity from Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley letting me ride him and trusting me with him.”
Gabrielle Pitts & Little Aspen. Photos by Shawn McMillen
This is Pitts’ third year at Pony Finals, but this marks her first championship tricolor, and she was thankful for the advice of Stewart and Berkley. “They told me to just stay confident and trust myself,” she explained.
Pony Finals is always one of Pitts’ favorite events of the year. This year, she is showing four hunter ponies, which she thinks has been very helpful in preparing for the week. “I had a lot more rides to prepare me to accomplish something like this,” she noted.
Pitts concluded, “I love seeing all of my friends and getting the opportunity to ride in the Rolex ring!”
Kelly Mapes & For Real
Rounding out the day, the reserve champion honors went to Kelly Mapes(Newtown, Conn.) riding For Real, a 10-year-old Welsh Pony gelding (Paddock Rio x Paddock Jonquil) owned by Serendipity Equine LLC. The duo topped the model phase on their way to the overall reserve title.
