2020 Virtual Pony Final

28/11/2022

Hello all you virtual pony finals friends!!! For everyone who comes to WEF, I just want to introduce you to our new medical center we are opening up at WEF this year!
Please follow our page Show MDs!!!!
Healthcare that will change the way you show!!!

10/05/2022

Exercise in pregnancy with one of my FAVS Gayle Guyardo!!!!!

OB-GYN Jill Hechtman MD Dr. Jill Hechtman joins the Bloom Women’s Health Special with how to stay fit during pregnancy. Bloom airs in 40 markets across the country, with a reach of approximat…

12/12/2020

It is with a very heavy heart that I write to share the news of the passing of Frank Willard.

Frank was one of the incredible Virtual Pony Final judges. He impacted so many kids this year and received such rave reviews from the kids about him!

Although I did not know him in person, he was such a pleasure to work with. He was so excited to be a part of this. I truly appreciated him.

I want to wish his family, his friends, his colleagues and so many of us in the equestrian world my heartfelt condolences, and sending strength.

Jill Hechtman

14/09/2020

14/09/2020

Tonight is the night!!!! LIVE drawing for the Charles Ancona show coat and Training jacket!!!!

Good luck!!!!!

10/09/2020

As the final few kids receive their calls, and we prep for the drawing for the Ancona jackets, you should have received your email about the gifts your child won! Please check the spam on your email account if you did not receive it yet! If you still can’t find it, please message or email us!

This virtual event has meant the world to me! I thank all of you again for making this dream of mine a reality!!!

09/09/2020

We are down to our last few kids waiting on their calls from the judge! If you have not received your call, please reach out to me! I want to ensure I did not make a mistake!!!

06/09/2020

🎉🎉You may have noticed on the prize announcement the blank spot next to the Charles Ancona jacket.... Well we haven’t forgotten! Just waiting on a few more calls to be returned and once everyone has had their time with their judge we will do another live draw to see who the lucky junior is! Stay tuned for an announcement on when Jill and Emma will be making another live appearance!🎉🎉

01/09/2020

🥳🥳🥳Finally!!!🥳🥳🥳

The list of winners for each of our donated prizes! Another huge thank you to all of our donors! We love how our equestrian community came together to make lemonade out of lemons! Thank you and congratulations to all of our participants! I hope you enjoyed your call with your judge! They certainly enjoyed calling you!!!

If you don’t see your name please contact us ASAP and we will get you added. If we spelled your name wrong, please accept our apology!

Please be patient with us in getting these gifts to you! We have handed over the donations portion of the 2020 Virtual Pony Final to an expert, Pat Campbell! It is a huge endeavor to manage 200+ prizes! She will certainly get the job done and we are so appreciative of her help!

There are some judges that are still working to get their calls done! Do not panic. No one will be left out! Feel free to reach out via email and we can give you a status update!

This has been such a fun journey that became far more than our wildest of dreams. Reading everyone’s positive comments, and reactions from the kids as well as the judges, have made every moment of hard work completely worth it!!’🎉🎉

Wishing Alexis a continued positive progression. 🙏🏼


All the best,
Jill Levine Hechtman
Michaila Zandri

31/08/2020

Just as you think it won’t get better....HUGE thanks to three major sponsors/donors that came in AFTER our live Virtual Draw so that EVERY child will be able to get a prize!!!

So if your name did not get called Saturday night, don’t worry!!!
I will draw the remaining kids (NOT LIVE) for the following prizes generously donated by Just Fur Fun (Mona Straub) Hoof Beat Media (Pat Campbell) and Sweet Oak Farm (Ali and Shane Sweetnam)!!!

We are so grateful to all the sponsors who made it possible for all 257 kids who entered (some on more than one mount ) the 2020 Virtual
pony Final and received, or will be receiving feedback from National Judges who have donated their time to give feedback to each rider! There were 280 total videos submitted!

Once every child has had their round reviewed, the judges will be submitting 1 name to be entered into a seperate drawing for the Charles Ancona show coat! But wait.... there is now an addition of a training jacket!!!

Last but not least, we will post the list of winners tonight or tomorrow on both Facebook and IG!!!

29/08/2020

💥💥💥TONIGHT AT 8 pm EST 💥💥💥

Facebook and Instagram

26/08/2020

LOOK WHAT WE DID!!!!!! OMG!!!!! Thank you so much everyone!!!!

25/08/2020

When typed out words are not enough! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

24/08/2020

🥳🎉🥳🎉And what’s a good party without prizes! So very grateful for the amazing donors who have stepped up and come up with over 150 prizes to be won. If you’ve entered the show, you are entered into the draw which will take place August 29th. Big items will be done on a live feed so gather round (time to be announced). If you haven’t entered yet (you still have time!), submit the round you’ll learn the most from, as there are no top 20 prizes here. Every entry has an equal shot at winning something. Fun for all! 🎉🥳🎉🥳

24/08/2020

What happens when you blow past expectations on entries?!?!? You line up more incredible judges!!!

Thank you to:

Abby Blankenship
Ralph Caristo
Susie Schoelkoff
Tucker Ericson
Scott Hoffstetter
Tracy Magness
Mike Rosser
Jeff Ayers

23/08/2020

🎉🎉🎉🎉THE 24th IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER THE PONY PARTY OF 2020🎉🎉🎉🎉 open to any junior on a pony (cross rails- division ponies), you can submit an old show video or one from your barn, tons of donated prizes that are won on a lottery system (which will take place on a live stream event), phone call from a national judge AND 100% of the donations going towards Alexis’s medical bills. What’s not to love? Come join in!

22/08/2020

Rained out? No trainer available? Missing a pony? Worried about running out of time? Submit an old show video! We are trying to make this as open and easily accessible to as many juniors who want to participate as possible. Questions? Blow us up! Guys, believe me... It’s worth the time to send us an email and donate👏🏼👏🏼

22/08/2020

“My daughter Lainie Rubin had the most wonderful call with Judge Chris Wynne! In addition to reviewing the round, he invited Lainie to discuss some questions she had about equitation rounds. Chris took his time fully answering her questions. He even invited her to reach out anytime in the future if she had questions!

Your group has put together a truly meaningful charitable event that benefits both Alexis and her recovery as well as some hard working kiddos who don’t often have the chance to ever receive a word of praise or critique from these terrific judges.

Thank you for creating such a meaningful event to benefit so many young horsemen while supporting Alexis.”

22/08/2020

Clara Propp sent us this submission of her and her pony 🏝 Island Grace 🏝

Judge Jimmy Torano let us know, “This round is a great example of everything we are looking for as a judge. First impression, turnout, preparation and a beautifully turned out Pony to top it off. This rider is obviously being taught at a very advanced level. You can tell that she is very poised, the minute she steps in the ring. A very polished rider.”

22/08/2020

🎉What do we love more than fancy ponies? Hearing how your experience went! Thank you for sharing.🎉

“We just wanted to say thank you to the team of folks who made this possible. Our daughter, Virginia, spoke with Jimmy Torano this morning. He could not have been more gracious with his time and expertise. He offered the perfect balance of positive feedback and encouragement with opportunities to grow and improve. While this show season was not what we expected, we are grateful for the chance for Virginia to learn from such a decorated judge while also supporting a great cause. Thank you! “

21/08/2020

🥳There’s still time to join the party!🎉 Entries accepted until Monday and lots of new prizes are being donated daily! Questions? Please ask! All for charity, famous judges, and learn to be a better rider. What more could you want?🥳

20/08/2020

They held a draw for the local juniors who wanted to participate in our Virtual Pony Final event but didn’t have their own pony to do so.

If we’ve learned anything from this event it’s that team work makes all the dreams work 💫

🎉Love all the entries we are getting today, keeping our inbox full 📨

So Dapper and his catch rider Sophie had their own 2020 Virtual Pony Final yesterday🎉! Thank you Aidan Fullerton for donating a lesson, and Catherine Ludwig for breeding a pony that not only can win at the biggest shows but can also help make a juniors dream come true. Flick🐥, you’re incredible.


This 100% charity event is actively going on and the feedback we are getting from the parents and juniors who have been called is outstanding. If you have any questions please let us know. Entries close Aug 24th!

20/08/2020

Love getting reviews from the parents and juniors. If you haven’t heard from your judge yet please don’t stress, some of them are busy judging at real shows right now but you will get your call.

“Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity and event! Lennox spoke with Patricia J. Griffith yesterday and woke up talking about her “exercises” for the week. It was great for her to hear someone else’s view of her riding - and since one of Lennox’s trainers, Natalie Johnson Russell, rode with Patricia it was extra fun !!! What a great opportunity and thank you!!! Now to work on the feedback !”

18/08/2020

✨✨Watch judge Clair Kellner break down Lillia’s entry on her pony Pitch Perfect ✨✨

17/08/2020

Pony trainers and parents!
Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity for your pony kids! The 2020 Virtual Pony Final is on fire! Entries are rolling in!
Cut off date for entering is 8/24/2020
All juniors on a pony are welcome! Cross rails, Short stirrup, Children’s and Division ponies are welcome!
Remember, this is all for CHARITY! Every dollar going directly to Alexis Halbert and her recovery fund!!!

Help make lemonade out of lemons!!!!!

16/08/2020

This is what it’s about 👏🏼👏🏼

15/08/2020

“I would like to thank Danny Robertshaw for analyzing and giving me both encouragement and recommendations for improving my riding. I found him to be extremely genuine and professional. I also happen to be a huge fan of Danny & Ron’s Rescue, so this was an extremely special moment for me that I will always cherish. I am also working on applying his suggestions to my riding my pony and hoping to improve my riding and performance of my pony. Thank you again, Isabella”

14/08/2020

What does a course review by superstar rider (and one of our judges!) McClain Ward sound like? Let’s listen in as Collin Sweetnam hears about the round he submitted yesterday 🤩

Thank you Sweet Oak Farm for sharing this moment with us.