Eddyn Molden and RC Isabella Top USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships - East

Lexington, Va.—Sept. 3, 2024—Ponies took over at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia, for the annual USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships - East on Sunday, August 25. Over 190 vied for the title with $19,000 in prize money offered. Claiming the Overall Grand Champion honors was RC Isabella (Entourage x Unknown), a 2019 Welsh Pony mare co-owned and bred by Richard Cunkle, co-owned and trained by Cheri Kershner, and ridden by Eddyn Molden.

"I was super grateful to win the Overall Grand Champion title in 2022 with Reidell Pumpkin Spice, so to come back and win it again this year was the cherry on top of my Junior career," Molden said of her win. "I have had the opportunity to catch ride RC Isabella at a few shows this summer with great success. She just has such a grand expression when she walks into the ring." 

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Judges Jessie Lang and Danny Robertshaw were impressed by the Virginia-bred Welsh pony mare who topped two divisions and a special award during the Championship. Molden, of Middleton, Virginia, piloted RC Isabella to the 4- and 5-Year-Olds 2' and 2'3" tricolors, High Point Virginia-Bred Pony award, and earned herself the Best Child Award for the third year in a row. With two champions under her girth, RC Isabella added the overall title to her accomplishments, taking home an array of awards from USHJA sponsors.

"I feel very fortunate to be the trainer and co-owner of this nice pony. It's a lot of hard work, but it's all paid off at this show," Kershner commented. "It takes a team of people to get these young ponies to this point. They all added to her success at this show."

Molden is no stranger to the pressure of riding in pony championships, as she was a 2019 USHJA Gochman Grant recipient, named 2023 Best Junior Handler for 2023 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships - East, and was the rider and handler for the Overall Grand Champion Pony in 2022.

"[Winning] was a very nice feeling since we got into breeding for fun. She stands out because she's confirmationly correct, a beautiful mover, and lovely jumper," remarked Cunkle, RC Isabella's breeder and co-owner. "I didn't get to go to the event, but I've talked with many friends who went, and they all said it was a wonderful experience."

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The USHJA congratulates the following division champions at the 2024 event:

5-Year-Old and Under Under Saddle

  • Champion – Maranatha Opal (Wynnbrook Coup D’Etat x Maranatha Pearl), a 2020 Welsh Pony mare owned by Ezra Utting, ridden by Isabel Lerch, trained by Kathlees Fitzpatrick, and bred by John Kolemba  
  • Reserve Champion – Royal Monet (Telynau Royal Charter x Orchard Hills Fancy That), a 2019 Welsh Pony mare owned and trained by Missy Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Louise Rehme, and bred by Cindy Bolen 

4- and 5-Year-Olds 2'

  • Champion – RC Isabella
  • Reserve Champion – Popcorn (Pixar x Scooby), a 2020 ISR Oldenberg German Riding Pony gelding owned and bred by Lorna Stokes, ridden by Molly Young, and trained by Jessica Chappell  

4- and 5-Year-Olds 2'3"

  • Champion – RC Isabella  
  • Reserve Champion – McDreamy (Maarlen’s Romeo x Rondo’s Allure), a 2019 Welsh Pony gelding owned by Vaness Scoggins, ridden by Lilly Herzog, and trained by Missy Jo Hollingsworth 

6- and 7-Year-Olds 2’

  • Champion – High Heavens (Entourage x Highlands Heaven Sent), a 2018 Welsh Cross gelding owned by Susan Chewning, ridden by Finley Scheffel, trained by Cheri Kershner
  • Reserve Champion – Simonova Fox (Land’s End Monarch x Indeego), a 2017 Welsh Cross mare owned by Foxglove LLC, ridden by Louisa Rehme, trained by Missy Jo Hollingsworth, and bred by Richard Taylor 

6- and 7-Year-Olds 2’3”/2'6"

  • Champion – High Heavens 
  • Reserve Champion – Simonova Fox

Adults on Ponies 7-Year-Old and Under, Presented by Missy Jo Hollingsworth and Saddle Lake Equestrian Center 

  • Champion – Lottery (Longacre Showtime x Lizzie Quinn), a 2018 Westfalen Riding Pony gelding, owned and ridden by Isabelle Mesiarik, trained by Constance Mesiarik, and bred by Denise Williams
  • Reserve Champion – Troubleshoot (Byley Aragorn x Paddock Sahara), a 2019 Welsh Pony gelding, owned, ridden, and trained by Theresa Tolar 

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A number of special awards were also presented, including:

  • Leading Owner – Missy Jo Hollingsworth 
  • Leading Trainer – Richard Cunkle 
  • Leading Breeder – Missy Jo Hollingsworth 
  • Get of Sire – Telynau Royal Charter 
  • Produce of Dam – Orchard Hills Fancy That  
  • Style Award – Rome Rehme 
  • Best Child Rider – Eddyn Molden
  • Leading Junior Owner/Rider – Stella Sambataro-Boch 
  • High Point Virginia-Bred Pony – RC Isabella  
  • New Forest Pony – Sulaatik’s Vanguard (Sulaatik’s Vingino x Sulaatik’s Mandarin Marmalade), a 2018 stallion owned, ridden, and trained by Alexis Clelan-Liskey  
  • High Point Westfalen German Riding Pony – Lottery

  • High Point Welsh Pony for each section:

    • 5-Year-Old and Under Under Saddle – Royal Monet 

    • 4- and 5-Year-Olds 2' – Utopia (Waxwing Perrin x Utopia Lucky Lady Lunar), a 2019 gelding owned and trained by Missy Jo Hollingsworth, and ridden by Lilly Herzog

    • 4- and 5-Year-Olds 2'3" – McDreamy

    • 6- and 7-Year-Olds 2’ – Windhover Triple Crown (Telynau Royal Charter x Lochmere Jade Fox), a 2018 gelding owned and trained by Missy Jo Hollingsworth, ridden by Corrigan Janiak, and bred by Sara Grieling  

    • 6- and 7-Year-Olds 2’3”/2'6" – Ollivander (Darden Speedy Connection x Gayfields Miss Miss Sippi), a 2017 gelding owned and trained by Denice Perry-DiRisio, ridden by Eddyn Molden, and bred by Cameron Van Buskirk

  • Overall Half/Part Welsh Champion – Windhover Triple Crown

  • Overall Purebred Welsh Champion – McDreamy 

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The USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships offer two championships on the East Coast and centrally with the aim to develop the Hunter Breeding sport and create opportunities for current and new owners, breeders and handlers to showcase talented young Hunter pony prospects. The Championships feature competition for ponies aged 7 and under with most sections comprised of a model, under saddle and over fences classes. Classes are open to Juniors, excluding the popular Adults on Ponies division open to Amateurs and Professionals.

The new central championship will take place during the Texas Rose Classic at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas, on September 13. 

The USHJA extends a special thanks to the Virginia Horse Center Foundation, Manager Keedie Leonard, and Secretary Marianna Wade for hosting the Championships and to Missy Jo Hollingsworth and Saddle Lake Equestrian Center for presenting the Adults on Pony division. The USHJA also thanks Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena, and Parlanti; official program sponsor Exhibitor’s; award sponsors Essex Classics, Boy-O-Boy Bridleworks, and Floral Wreaths by Susan Garrett; supporting sponsors Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, and SmartPak; and section supporters Virginia Pony Breeders Association, Farnley Farm, Foxlore Farm, GC Ponies, Kickapoo Ponies, Melinda Snyder with Partly Cloudy, and Hunter's Haven Farm.

For more information about the USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships, visit ushja.org/YHPC.

Photos: SDH Photography