Pony Kids

Brianne Link and Foxcroft Veronsky
Photo by Jennifer Wood/PMG.

Name: Brianne Link
Hometown: East Islip, NY
Age: 9
Ponies: Foxcroft Veronsky, Asgard Mercury, Royal Crown Jewel and my new pony, Tallyman.
Trainers: Mas Niwa, Jimmy Toon, Joe Fargis, Pancho Zamudio
Of all the ponies you've ridden, which is your favorite? I love them all equally.
What pony would you like to ride? Ellen Toon's horse, In Disguise.
How did you get into riding? There was a pony ride at a party when I was 4.
What is your favorite horse show? Vermont Summer Festival
What was the high point in your riding career? Winning circuit champion at WEF and the Vermont Summer Festival last year.
What was the low point? Falling off during a show.
Who are your equestrian idols? Joe Fargis and Brianne Goutal
Other than riding, what do you do? I love to ski and draw.
What are your plans for the future? I want to show competitively in the grand prix like Joe Fargis.

Ashley Reed schooling informally on one of her ponies
Photo By: Haley Streibich

Name: Ashley Reed
Hometown: Winnetka, IL
Age: 13
Ponies: Silver Surfer "Nick" [I own him now], Scarlett O'Hara "Scarlett" (both horses, but ponies to me!) And Little Wonder "Wende"
Trainers: Jen Frogge
Of all the ponies you've ridden, which is your favorite? My first pony, Wende, but Nick's a lot of fun too!
What pony would you like to ride? My riding friend, Laura's new horse Henry (he's gorgeous!)
How did you get into riding? I love animals and when I first got on a horse at my camp, I couldn't stop riding, so here I am today! It's funny, because no one in my family likes horses!
What is your favorite horse show? The Ledges Classic, it's a lot of fun!
What was the high point in your riding career? Winning the short stirrup perpetual trophy during my first year of showing, and doing very well in the finals, with a horse I've never ridden -- I got a first out of about 50 people in the warm-up!
What was the low point? Getting bucked off at the finals and landing on my tail bone, and falling off on my first ride at the first horse show of the 2008 show year.
Who are your Equestrian Idols? My trainer Jen Frogge, because she has taught me so much including laughing at my mistakes.
Other than riding, what do you do? I play softball in the spring, but mainly riding.
What are your plans for the future? I hope to continue my riding and get a scholarship to a good equestrian school.