When it comes to the USEF Pony Finals, the stakes are high: for the pony hunters the championship is decided by only one model class, one under saddle and one jumping class. For the equitation, the stakes are higher, with the score of the first round deciding which 30 riders make it to the second round. And for the pony jumpers, only a few jumping rounds mean that every fault has a huge impact and so does the time.
With the jumping score accounting for 50% of the total score in the hunter divisions– the model is 25% of total score and the under saddle is also 25% – and even more in the Pony Medal and Pony Jumpers, the over-fences portion of these championships is arguably the most important place to excel during Pony Finals.
Preparing for the Over-Fences Section of Pony Finals
So, what is the best way to prepare for these important pony hunter, jumper, and equitation over-fences rounds?
The answer: practicing over the same jumps and courses that you’ll see in the championship rings.
Pony hunter jumps can sometimes actually be smaller and the distances between lines is always adjusted for ponies as well.
This change in dimension may catch the eye of pony and rider alike, changing how they mentally approach the jump. Because of this, it’s important to practice over the same jumps you’ll see in the ring. As DJC always says, prepare before you go! DJC can help you get ready for just this with our various pony hunter jumps. It’s always good to practice over the smaller pony standards and pony hunter walls.
Same goes for the pony jumpers! For Pony Finals 2025, 125 pony jumper pairs showed up to give it their all– you can get ready for this competition with your very own Pony Jumper Package from DJC too!
We also recommend mimicking common hunter and jumper courses in your own ring at home to help build your confidence before stepping into the actual competition ring. If you plan on doing the Pony Medal, make sure to practice common equitation questions, like rollbacks and a trot jump! You can even practice the USEF tests 1-22, the final test the judges may give to determine top placings.
As with any higher-stakes competition, there is also always a mental component. Practicing over the same courses and jumps that you’ll see in the show ring will help build confidence, but also try other ways of sharpening your mental game: talking with your trainer to set goals, positive self-talk, setting a pre-performance routine, stimulated pressure practice, and mindfulness practice, just to name a few.
More Tips for Prepping for Pony Finals and Big Pony Hunter and Equitation Championships
Don’t discount the under-saddle and model phases.
Even though the over-fences accounts for 50% of the score in the pony hunter divisions, the under-saddle and model classes are not to be brushed off– these phases can make or break if you make it into the championship ribbons.
Prepare for the undersaddle by focusing on your flat work at home and practicing what you may see in the ring at pony finals: work with your trainer to figure out ways you can stand out in the flat class; practice your halt and other common under saddle questions; and make sure you’ve mastered the ‘simple things,’ like having the right diagonal and lead.
For the pony model class, take advantage of the USHJA clinics held at pony finals to workshop how to make your pony stand out in the model classes.
How Else do I Prepare for Pony Finals?
There’s also one other important Pony Finals event to prepare for: the DJC Kid Jump Prix! Every year DJC collaborates with US Equestrian to put on this spectacular event where the pony riders compete, on foot, over kid jumps. The winner gets to take home their very own kid jump! You can start preparing for this event now by building your very own kid jump course at home– DJC offers pre-made and custom kid jump designs for you to choose from.
If you have any questions regarding pony jumps or kid jumps, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at DJC. You can also get jump inspiration on our social media and website.