5 year old Pinehurst's Panda Ponium qualified for Pony Finals 2010 earning Reserve
Champion in Wellington, FL his second time in the Medium Green Hunters.
Pony Finals 2010
Panda enjoyed a roomy box stall for the 800 mile trailer ride to Lexington, KY on
Tuesday the of week prior to Finals. When he arrived to his Kentucky stall, he nestled
right in to making it home, rolling in every square inch of the fluffy thick shavings. After
going out hand grazing on tasty blades of bluegrass for a while, Panda enjoyed the rest of
his day off to relax and take in his new surroundings from his new view.
With having no paddock for turnout, Panda instead got to play for a few minutes on the
lunge line his first two days before Alex hacked him around the schooling rings and grass
fields.  
On Friday Alex and Panda had a chance to get into the Murphy Ring to school over
fences.  Despite the crowd and confusion of countless other ponies going every which
way at the same time, they were great!  
Early morning rides are cool and beautiful in Kentucky as the sun comes up
and fog rises from the rolling hills on the show grounds.
On Saturday, competition began for Panda and Alex at the Kentucky Summer Classic.
Instead of doing the Medium Green Pony Hunter Division, they decided to challenge
themselves against the Regular Medium Ponies.  There were 82 entries in their division!
They competed in Section A, scoring a 73, in contention for placing right up until the last
few competitors. While slipping out of the ribbons at the end, the proud pair still ended
up finishing 15th over fences their first time out against the best Regular Medium Ponies
in the country!!   CLICK HERE to watch video of their over fences round!
Sunday brought the second half of the Regular Medium Pony Division.  
Panda was the very first pony into the ring, and set the bar for the other competitors with a
score of 75 in the Handy Hunter round.  The score held, and they again remained in contention
to jog for ribbons right up until the last few competitors, ending up 13th in the Handy.  

Alex and Panda also competed in the USEF Pony Medal for the first time.  While they were
partway around the course, another pony and rider mistakenly entered the ring and began
jumping at the same time!!! Oh no!! It was an honest mistake the other young rider made, and
the judge permitted Alex to redo her trip to be fair.  Despite the distraction, they finished 14th
in the Medal- a fantastic accomplishment!
After a busy weekend of horse showing in the Regular Medium Pony Division, Panda enjoyed
an easy day on Monday with just a light hack within the famed Walnut Ring where he will be
competing during Pony Finals in the Green Medium Pony Division.
There are 65 Green Medium Pony Finalists they will be competing against this week.  
Alex & Panda have been placed into Section E.
After a busy weekend of horse showing in the Regular Medium Pony Division, Panda enjoyed
an easy day on Monday with just a light hack within the famed Walnut Ring where he will be
competing during Pony Finals in the Green Medium Pony Division.
There are 70 Green Medium Pony Finalists they will be competing against this week.  
Alex & Panda have been placed into Section E.
On Tuesday Alex and Panda began their day early with a great schooling during the Ticketed
Warm-Up over fences in the Claiborne Ring.  
Then began the Pony Finals Competition with the Green Pony Divisions in the Walnut Ring.
Alex and Panda did a model class (their 3rd ever!), and a flat class as well.
Panda looked fantastic, was on his best behavior, and did everything Alex asked of him.  
In the pressurized atmosphere of the Finals, a few mistakes were made (all a part of mileage and learning);
the pair ended up with scores of 80, 80, 79 on the flat and had scores of 76, 75, 74 in the model.   
On Wednesday, Sean and Alex walked the course for the Green Pony Final, then went to do
another Ticketed Warm-Up, this time in the Stonelea Ring. Panda looked phenomenal, and
Alex's eye was right on!
Then came the last phase of the Pony Finals Competition with the Green Pony Divisions in the
Walnut Ring- the over fences class.  Once again, Panda was a model citizen, jumped amazing
and did everything Alex asked of him.  Alex navigated Panda to the center of  every jump,
allowing him to shine over each fence.  While the Pony Finals competition could not hide
inexperience and some show ring jitters,  Alex and Panda's effort individually and combined was
something to be proud of.  Alex is inspired and motivated to celebrate their strengths and get
back to work, keep horse showing for ring time mileage and come back to Finals next year
better than ever!  .