According to Grace Stenbeck-Werner, the Harrisburg Coliseum at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex seems to bring out the best in her and her ponies – and her results certainly show that to be true. For the third year in a row, Stenbeck-Werner earned a pony hunter division championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and for the second consecutive year, she also rode to the Grand Pony Hunter Championship.

This time, Stenbeck-Werner’s top results came aboard Play Date, a 10-year-old Welsh Pony Cross, owned by LVP Farms, LLC. Stenbeck-Werner piloted the bay gelding to the Medium Pony Hunter division championship before also taking home the overall grand championship. Finishing as the reserve champions in the Medium Pony Hunter division were Charlotte Morassutti and her own Best Sport.

“For me as a rider, I do well in kind of these bigger environments, and I think so do my ponies,” said Stenbeck-Werner, 12. “They kind of rise to the occasion. I like that the pressure’s on, and it’s in a big ring.”

Stenbeck-Werner felt a bit of extra pressure on Saturday, October 11, as she knew she and Play Date needed to do particularly well in their final over fences in order to earn the championship.

“I was really scared going in…just because there was so much on the line,” said Stenbeck-Werner, who trains with both Madeleine Flocks and David Belford. “I just wanted to go in there and try my best.”

Stenbeck-Werner did just that, earning the win in the class and guaranteeing the championship for Play Date.

“It felt really good,” said Stenbeck-Werner of her final round. “I just really like the environment. Especially this ring, it’s very different. It feels like a very big deal.”

For the division championship, Stenbeck-Werner was presented with the Swamp Girl Challenge Trophy, donated by Brooks and Streett Moore. For the Grand Pony Hunter Championship, Stenbeck-Werner was awarded the Francis E. Armstrong Memorial Challenge Trophy, donated by the Bedard Family.

In the Large Pony Hunters, the championship and the For the Laughter Perpetual Cup, donated by Dr. Betsee Parker, went to Charlotte Morassutti and Special Gift, owned by Lauren Free. Stenbeck-Werner took home the reserve championship aboard her 2024 grand champion, Prestige, owned by Swede Ventures LLC.

The Small Pony Hunter Championship, sponsored by the Alban Family, and the Knick Knack Challenge Trophy, donated by Christina & Craig Cook and Cook Forage Company, went to Lilly Ward and Celebration, owned by McLain Ward. Lacey Powers piloted Kingsley to the reserve championship for owner Twin Island, LLC.

Powers also earned a big win in the $10,000 Pony Hunter Winners Stake where she piloted Down To A T to a score of 90 and the Little Brook Farms, Inc. Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Duffy.

For full results of all pony hunter competition at the 2025 Pennsylvania National Horse Show, visit pnhs.showmanagementsystem.com.

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