American junior jockey Teddy Davies represented the United States recently Abu Dhabi, UAE in the 2018 HH Sheikha Latifa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Ponies Cup at the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. Here are a few photos from Teddy’s trip. You can watch the race here and the prize giving here.
You can read more about the international challenge that led Teddy to be the representative for the U.S. here.
The Washington International Horse Show Shetland Pony Steeplechase sponsored by Charles Owen ran its first two legs this past Memorial Day weekend May 27th and May 28th ad the Devon Horse Show. Six lucky pint-sized jockeys and their ponies were chosen to perform an exhibition Shetland steeplechase on Sunday and Monday. Paddy “The Champ” Young, joined by his children Rory and Cece and wife Leslie, served as the official starter for the Shetland jump race both days. Winning on Sunday was Tuesday with Chloe Canter in the irons and Olney Smarty Pants with owner/rider Sophie Perri aboard took home the trophy on Monday. The first ones under the wire weren’t the only winners at Devon, as sponsor Charles Owen supplied a new jockey skullcap for the rider deemed by show management as having the safest trip. Ki’Mani Davenport aboard Olney Kushion on Sunday and Olney Oh My with James Wyatt (son of trainer Todd and jockey Blair Wyatt) on Monday took home Safest Rider Awards. See links below for entries, results, and race replays.
ENTRIES
RESULTS
Video Day 1
Video Day 2
Tuesday, ridden by Chloe Canter, was the first one under the wire in the first leg of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase at the Devon Horse Show. pc: Ellie Ellis Glaccum
Ki’Mani Davenport aboard Olney Kushion won the Safest Ride Award in the first leg of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase at the Devon Horse Show. pc: Ellie Ellis Glaccum
James Wyatt (Olney Smarty Pants) won the Safest Rider Award on Day 2 of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase at the Devon Horse Show. photo: Lani Hyde
Sophie Perri on her Olney Smarty Pants won Day 2 of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase at the Devon Horse Show. photo: Lani Hyde
Olney Smarty Pants in the lead. pc: Ellie Ellis Glaccum
Pony jockeys pre-race. pc: Ellie Ellis Glaccum
Are you between 15-18 years old as of July 1st and have an interest in steeplechase racing? If yes, then check out what the NSF has to offer you in the way of their Young Rider Domestic Steeplechase Trip! This years trip will be held from Sunday, July 23 through Friday, July 28th.
The NSF Domestic Young Rider Trip is structured towards providing the participant with an in-depth experience of what steeplechase racing in the USA is all about. It is for teenagers who are familiar with jump racing and who have a demonstrated interest in learning more about the sport. The ideal candidate will have expressed interest in being involved with steeplechase racing in the future. Activities include a hands-on visit to trainers’ barns in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, attending lectures and discussion sessions with trainers, jockeys, owners and stewards, and attending races at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY.
New for this year, Hall of Fame trainer Janet Elliot will be leading the Saratoga Springs portion of the trip! This is an excellent opportunity for young riders to learn the ropes from the best in the business! US Pony Racing director/NSA trainer, Regina Welsh, will be leading the beginning portion of the trip. Ms. Welsh has led this trip since it’s inception, some 13 years ago! Several jockeys attended this experience in the past including Gus Dahl, Eric Poretz, Mary Motion, McLane Hendriks, Fritz Boniface, and many more. Attendees will be working with top jump race trainers like Jack Fisher, Jonathan Shepard, Doug Fout, and many more.
The application deadline has been pushed back to July 6th, so don’t hesitate to get your application in ASAP. If you plan on applying, please let Regina Welsh at regina@usponyracing.com know as soon as you can to
For the current application click HERE. For sample itinerary, click HERE.
Top jockey Jeff Murphy gives some pointers on proper position and technique on the Equicizer to the NSF young rider group.
MSA Young Rider Racing Clinic
Sunday, March 12 at 11:00 AM
Dodon Farm, Davidsonville, MD
Did you know???
• To ride in an MSA Field Master’s Chase you and your mount (the combo) must be approved by an MSA representative, obtain a grandfathered status, OR have hunted your mount at least 4 times in the last year for at least 1.5hrs. (see Rule 7 in MSA Jr/Young Rider General Conditions)
• ALL ponies running in an MSA race MUST obtain a measurement card issued by the MSA, USEF permanent cards or cards from other jurisdictions are not honored. (see Rule 6 in MSA Jr/Young Rider General Conditions)
• ALL mount/rider combos riding in a USPR sanctioned race MUST be approved as a pair regardless of their hunting status or MSA approval.
Did you know???
ALL OF THE ABOVE can be checked off at the Maryland Steeplechase Association Young Rider Clinic!!! So don’t miss your opportunity to get some requirements out of the way! There are very few opportunities to do all of these things in ONE spot.
Don’t miss out on the price break for the MSA Young Rider Racing Clinic!! Price break ends ($25) tomorrow, Tuesday, March 7th. PLUS! Don’t miss your chance to ride with some of the top amateur steeplechase jockeys in the circuit including James Stierhoff, Bethany Baumgardner, and Eric Poretz…. all of Maryland Hunt Cup fame…. as well as NSA trainer, Regina Welsh, and amateur steeplechase jockey, Casey Pinkard!
Here is the link to information about the clinic. To go directly to the registration form click HERE.
For questions call Regina at 410-329-3749 or email usponyracing@gmail.com.
FINALLY! The south is calling! Don’t miss out on the YOUNG RIDER RACING CLINIC at 1:00pm this coming Sunday, February 25th at Springdale Race Course!
All mounts must be at LEAST 5 years old. Horses and ponies welcome, but no stallions.
Approved helmet, paddock boots, and yoke required. Protective vests preferred (and will be
required for racing). This clinic will help young riders learn how to gallop and school in company, as well as the ins and outs of the sports of steeplechase and flat racing. Half of the clinic will be an unmounted discussion about technique, strategy, safety, and training, the second half will be mounted. This clinic is an opportunity for you and your mount to get in front of an NSF reviewer to see if you can be approved for pony and young rider races. Be sure not to miss out!
Instructors: Regina Welsh, Richard Valentine and more! (see website for updates)
1:00PM @ Springdale Racecourse • exact location at Springdale TBD• Camden, SC
PLEASE SEND YOUR REGISTRATION IN ASAP,
so we can notify you of exact location and know to expect you.
Auditors are FREE Riders are $25
The NSF hopes to host pony and possibly junior horse races around the time of the Carolina Cup this spring. Stay tuned for progress report updates, but in the meantime… come to the clinic!
Wow! What a fantastic day at the Maryland Million. Check out the race cards, results, and the actual races below.
Congratulations to Charlie Marquez (Large), Nina McKenna (Medium), Cassidy Wilcox (Small), and Harry McMahn (Shetland), the winning riders of their divisions!
Entries close MONDAY… don’t forget to enter….
Reminder to contact US Pony Racing if your pony/rider combo have not competed at Pimlico, Timonium, Willowdale (this year), or Laurel pony races before. This goes for jumping and flat entries.
Approval session will be Thursday at the MD State Fairgrounds, Timonium Racetrack. Contact usponyracing@gmail.com.
To enter flat and jumping races click HERE.
REQUIRED health certificate and negative coggins, EHV-1 within 90 days are no longer required for this event.
Check out our Entries/Results tab for info regarding the Maryland State Fair Pony Races. Reminder that ALL (except lead line) entries must be pre approved. There will be an approval session on Monday August 22nd location TBD, but will be near Hunt Valley, MD.
Do you have plans on Sunday? If not, now you do! The fast(-ish) and furry Shetland ponies will be racing over fences THIS Sunday, May 29th (Post Time est 3:20pm) and Monday, May 30th (Post Time est 4:10pm) at the Devon Horse Show in Devon, PA in the Washington International Horse Show Shetland Pony Steeplechase Series. Here’s the line up. Sponsored by Charles Owen, leader in equestrian safety products, these races attracted six entries each from Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The ponies are “foundation-type” Shetlands. These versatile ponies are not just for racing, but also regularly participate in Pony Club, foxhunting, eventing, and just about every other horse sport out there! We hope you can come out and cheer them on this Memorial Day weekend.
Watch last years event below!
