Five pint-sized equines and youth athletes made up the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship. Maryn Geck and Whinny won the FEI Pony Rider Team Test with a score of 67.571%.

(Photo Information and Credit:  Maryn Geck and Whinny.  Photo:  SusanJStickle.com)

Geck (West Linn, Ore.) and Laura Geck’s 2004 Welsh Pony mare had a quality test in their first appearance at Festival of Champions to take the lead in the overall standings.

“It was really good,” said Geck. “That was probably one of the best tests I’ve done especially on the team test. I was really proud of her, especially some of the half-passes and the simple changes. We have been working on those for a really long time. I think everything in general was really good. We have been working really hard to get there.”

Watch the winning ride HERE.

M.K. Connatser (Dallas, Texas) and Blitz und Donner, Linda Graves’s 2011 German Riding Pony gelding, were second with a score of 65.713%. Finley Peterson (Woodstock, Vt.) and Mystic Max, her 2006 German Riding Pony gelding, finished third on a score of 65.095%.

Results

The USEF Pony Rider National Championship finishes Saturday with the FEI Pony Rider Individual Test.

Watch the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions live stream this week on USEF Network HERE.

Complete Schedule HERE.

Live Scoring HERE.