Ep 24: Pony Finals Tips From a Mom Who’s Been There (Three times)

Jul 21, 2026 | Beginner Horse Moms, Horse Shows, Podcast

pony-finals-tips-first-timers

Why do we need an entire episode focused on Pony Finals tips for first-timers, when many of us will never aspire to go to Pony Finals? Because I consider myself a pretty prepared mom, and still, even after reading over the USEF Pony Finals page, I STILL had mom questions that I needed answers to. Somewhere over the last few weeks, I realized the official communications answer the competition questions, but leave a lot of the horse mom questions completely untouched.

I needed the Pony Finals tips for first-timers, like: Do we need a golf cart? What do we do the second we pull into Kentucky Horse Park? What do we do when our kid isn’t competing? None of that is in the prize list. But, you know who DOES know that? Horse moms who’ve attended before.

So I sat down with Laura Greenstreet, founder of the Pony Jumpers USA Facebook group and mom to pony jumper rider Cora, and asked her every single one of those buried, not-mentioned-anywhere questions. She’s been three times. She’s made the mistakes so we don’t have to. And her mantra alone, more on that below, might be the most useful thing I’ve heard all season.

Do This Before You Ever Leave Home for Pony Finals

Kentucky Horse Park now runs on something called EventPass, and it’s worth setting aside some time to use it before you haul out. You’ll upload your vaccine record, your Coggins, and your health certificate ahead of arrival. Get this done early so you’ll see a green check in the app instead of standing at the show office digging through folders. We love technology!

Support services book up fast, too. Braiders get snapped up by hunter barns that have been coming for years, so lock yours in now. The same goes for grooming help and bodywork – those spots disappear the closer you get to the show.

What Actually Happens the Moment You Arrive

There’s no formal check-in the way you might picture it. You pull in, head to the stabling office, and look for a board with either you or your trainer’s last name on it. That board points you to your barn number, and the numbering doesn’t run in obvious order, so pull up a park map before you start driving in circles. Once you’re settled, your pony cannot leave the stall without a number, so getting to the actual show office to collect it is not optional.

Stall footing also varies by barn, and you won’t know what you’re getting until you check the board. The newer stalls and shed rows sit on concrete, and so do many of the tent stalls in the parking lot. Only the tent stalls near the Rolex have dirt. A stall mat runs about a hundred dollars at Dever Rentals, and a lot of families layer wet shaving pellets underneath to build their own cushion instead.

The Mantra That Makes All of It Manageable

This one Pony Finals tip for first-timers that Laura shared for the moments when something inevitably goes sideways is, by far, my favorite.

“Lexington is not a third world country. Anything you don’t have, you can procure same day. Tractor Supply, farm vet, Walmart does same-day deliveries. So it’s all going to be OK.”

Whatever gets left in the trailer at home, you can replace it. That includes warm-up strategy, too. Many pony jumper families skip the $45 ticketed warm-ups entirely, since every rider already gets an included training round the first day, plus a full schooling ring, and that combination tends to be plenty.

Key Takeaways

  • Complete your Event Pass documents before you leave home, not when you arrive.
  • Book your braider, groomer, and bodyworker now since they fill up weeks in advance.
  • Bring a hose!
  • Pack a raincoat, as it will likely rain at least one day.
  • Bring a three-pronged fan and plenty of zip ties – box fans aren’t allowed.
  • Check the stabling board for your stall number when you enter Kentucky Horse Park and grab a park map immediately.
  • Sign up early for the Thursday kids’ Grand Prix at the Dover Saddlery booth near the Rolex — it fills up.
  • Remember that Pony Finals runs on strict timing, so keep someone at the ring tracking the order of go.

Guest Resources

Additional Resources

Free 2026 Pony Jumper Finals Parent Guide: brokehorsemoms.com/ponyfinals2026

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