Herzog Cashes In With Bitcoin in Small Green Pony Hunters at WEF 12

Edited Press Launch

Ring 11 on “Pony Island” began with the Small Inexperienced Pony Hunter division on the ultimate day of WEF. Lilly Herzog of Cleveland, Ohio, piloted Bitcoin to wins underneath saddle and over fences with a rating of 87, to simply edge out J.J. Torano and Reagan Jarrett’s Function Mannequin for the championship title.

“He’s so cool, and he’s actually enjoyable to journey. He’s simply so easy, and he has such a constant rhythm,” Herzog mentioned of the seven-year-old Welsh Pony gelding.

At 12 years previous, Herzog is in her closing yr of eligibility for the Small division. She hasn’t proven within the Smalls for a pair years however got here to Wellington this season hoping for one final alternative. Herzog’s coach, Amanda Lyerly, knew Bitcoin’s proprietor, Vivianne Kassin, and helped arrange the catch journey for Herzog.

“We received to the barn to satisfy Bitcoin, and I knew we have been in search of a gray pony, however we didn’t actually know what that entailed precisely, as a result of there’s completely different sorts of gray ponies,” Herzog recalled. “Then ‘Colby’ walked in, and I used to be identical to, ‘Whoa, that’s a extremely fairly pony!’ and once they mentioned, ‘Oh, he’s for you!’ I used to be actually excited.”

The plan was for Herzog to provide Colby expertise within the ring, so Kassin’s daughter, Katherine Babun, might begin to take over the journey towards the top of the season. On this closing week of WEF, Babun confirmed Colby for the primary time within the Small Pony Hunter division.

“Katherine went within the ring yesterday, and simply seeing all of the work that she’s achieved, and I’ve achieved, and even that Colby has achieved, repay is de facto cool,” mirrored Herzog.

Although Herzog has been exhibiting Colby within the Inexperienced division, she defined that he’s not your typical inexperienced pony. He’s not spooky and doesn’t miss any lead modifications, so their largest concern is that his unfamiliarity with the horse present rhythm results in impromptu lavatory breaks.

“We discovered these Tummy Gummies that Equine Elixirs makes, they usually assist rather a lot,” Herzog mentioned with fun.

It’s only one aspect of the small up-and-coming star’s huge character.

“He’s very a lot a personality. He’s so good within the ring, however on the bottom he’s hysterical,” described Herzog. “Within the barn he’s positively the alpha, and he’s sort of imply to the opposite horses round his stall, however in a humorous approach. On the bottom he’s pushy, however very candy.”

She continued, “He positively likes peppermints. He works for the peppermints, so each time he comes out of the ring, he’s trying to find them.”

Herzog is transitioning to driving principally horses now, competing within the 3’3” Junior Hunters in addition to the three’ and three’3” junior equitation courses. Even so, her season with Bitcoin has been a spotlight, ending as Reserve Circuit Champion.

“I didn’t actually suppose coming into this circuit that I used to be going to have a small to complete off my final yr within the division. Simply to exit with my final yr being so nice within the smalls is superior. It feels nice to exit with a bang,” expressed Herzog.