Four junior riders from San Pascual Stables returned home from the 2025 USEF Pony Finals in Lexington, Kentucky, with ribbons, personal bests, and a lifetime of memories after competing for the national championship at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Zone 10 riders were led by the trainer team of Caroline Sterckx and Sophie St.Clair, whose shared commitment to excellence, horsemanship, and youth development was on full display throughout the week. Despite significant format changes, over 140 pony jumper competitors attended Pony Finals this year.
Each rider delivered polished rounds in their respective divisions, with multiple top-ten placings across the Individual and Team championships. The team demonstrated their sportsmanship, preparation, and teamwork — values deeply embedded in the Sterckx and St. Clair training programs.
Highlights from the 2025 Pony Finals Team:
- Isabella Asper de Tyson & Air Force One – 5th Individual Championship, 4th in the Team Championship
- Camille Chi & Funboy St. Prix – 2nd in the 1.05 Category, 6th in Individual Championship, 4th in the Team Championship
- Maeve Sager & Goldie du Rosemont – 3rd in the 1.05 Category,19th in Individual Championship, 6th in the Team Championship
- Emerson Molinelli & Easy de Iris – 4th in the 1.05 Category, 22nd in the Individual Championship, also competed in the Team Championship
“We’re incredibly proud of how each rider performed under pressure,” said Caroline Sterckx and Sophie St.Clair, co-trainers of the team. “From the very first warm-up to the final jog out, these riders represented our program with grace, grit, and a real love for the sport.”
This year marked a particularly special chapter in San Pascual’s long-standing Pony Finals tradition. Sophie St.Clair, a former San Pascual student and protégé of Caroline Sterckx, went to Kentucky as a trainer in her own right, bringing two of her students alongside two trained by Sterckx. The collaboration between mentor and mentee – now partners in the training ring – was a highlight of the week and a testament to the legacy of excellence fostered at San Pascual Stables.
The ponies were supported throughout the competition by the team’s groom, Cilantro Navarro, whose care and attention prepared each equine athlete for peak performance.
