Portraits by Sophia Donohue
For 13-year-old pony rider Grace Stenbeck-Werner, there has always been more to the sport than success. Though she has already experienced much of what the sport has to offer in that sense, Grace’s favorite part has remained remarkably simple—the horses. For her, riding is about the partnership she builds with each one, the feeling of getting into the ring and finding their rhythm, and, above all, enjoying every moment along the way.
“I tell myself just to be present in the moment,” Grace said.
Growing up on her family’s farm in North Salem, New York, surrounded by a mix of sport horses and rescue horses, Grace was only 6 months old when she first sat on a horse. Her mother had ridden growing up so horses were already an important part of the family when Grace came along. By the time she was old enough to understand what showing meant, horses were already woven into nearly every part of her life.
Her first pony, Romeo, came into Grace’s life at the very beginning. He was a rescue and, while he never became a show pony, he was her introduction to the special relationship that would eventually shape her riding career.
Then, at 2 years old, Grace met Candy while visiting family in England. She immediately fell for the little gray pony, and soon Candy was on her way to America.
Grace showed Candy for the first time when she was 3 years old, and the two eventually made their way through the Short Stirrup division together. Today, Candy still lives happily at the family’s farm and has found a new companionship in Grace’s little sister. “I’m still so close to Candy to this day,” Grace said. “I’ll take her on a trail ride here and there, and I always love being with her. She’s pretty much my favorite pony.”
That early relationship with Candy is a fitting introduction to the way Grace approaches horses today. Championships and ribbons have become a familiar part of her young career, but when she talks about riding, her focus returns to the horses themselves. “I really, simply love horses,” Grace said. “I think you can’t really love the sport unless you love the animals.”
For Grace, the best part of riding is the partnership that develops between horse and rider. “I just love getting to learn about each horse and how every one is so different,” Grace said.
That connection is something David Belford, Grace’s trainer, has noticed throughout their time together. “She builds confidence through her bond with her horses,” David said. “She spends so much time with each animal and takes a lot of solace in that.”
For David, that bond is one of Grace’s greatest strengths, but there is much more to her than her focus in the show ring. “She’s very much an old soul when it comes to her focus while competing,” David said. “But there’s another side of her that’s completely infatuated and in love with her horses.”
That love for her horses has grown alongside Grace’s success in the show ring. She has attended Pony Finals since she was 9, with each year bringing new experiences and golden memories.
In 2024, Grace and her pony Prestige captured both the Regular Large Pony Hunter National Championship and the Overall Grand Pony Hunter National Championship at USEF Pony Finals. It was Grace’s first championship title at Pony Finals, but that was just the beginning.
Her success continued in 2025 when she and Play Date won the Medium Pony Hunter Championship and Grand Pony Hunter Championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. At the 2025 Washington International Horse Show, Grace and Clovermeade Heartthrob also shared the Grand Pony Hunter Championship. Most recently, at the 2026 USEF Pony Finals, Grace was named Overall Grand Champion with Clovermeade Heartthrob and champion in the Large Green Hunter division with Royal Encore.
For Grace, however, the excitement of a horse show extends far beyond the results, and from someone who has played a vital role in her horsemanship, trainer David believes that all aspects of the sport are important. “I think it’s not just about earning the ribbons,” he said. “It’s about meeting your friends, bonding with your horses and trying new things.”
Devon is one of the best examples of that balance. One of Grace’s favorite shows, the Devon Horse Show is close enough to her home in New York that it feels familiar while still bringing together many of the friends she has made throughout the winter circuit. “I think it was my first big show,” Grace said. “I love that all my friends go, and I love the energy there.”
Her success at shows like Devon has become another part of an already impressive young résumé. But perhaps more importantly, the experiences have taught Grace how to enjoy the moments that make a horse show memorable in the first place.
Grace has now attended Pony Finals five times, and what was once an exciting new experience has gradually become an opportunity to draw on everything she has learned along the way. “I think it definitely changes over the years,” she said. “My first year there, I didn’t feel a lot of pressure because I was pretty young, but that changed when I went back. Now I like riding with a little bit of pressure. I feel like that almost helps me in a way.”
The key, she has learned, is knowing when pressure becomes distracting. “I just don’t want to feel stressed going into it, because that never ends well for anybody,” Grace said.
Instead, Grace reminds herself to stay present and focus on the ride in front of her. For her, handling pressure isn’t about avoiding it, it’s about trusting the partnership she has built with her horse and letting that confidence carry her through the moment.
Grace is quick to point out that none of her accomplishments happen alone. In addition to her trainer David, she receives help from Maddie Flocks, who helps her in a multitude of ways. She also credits the many people who care for the horses and help make the logistics of a demanding show schedule possible.
“There’s a lot of work behind the scenes that nobody really gets to see or understand,” Grace said. “I’m really grateful that I have the best team behind me that makes it possible.”
For now, Grace is beginning to look toward the next chapter of her riding career. She hopes to continue developing in the equitation divisions as she gradually moves out of the pony ring. She is already competing in some of the smaller equitation classes and would like to put more focus on the 3’6” equitation in the coming season. “I definitely want to get more serious with that, and I think it will be a smooth transition as I ease out of the ponies,” Grace said.
Her trainer is also eager to see what’s next. “As we get closer to her winding down the ponies, we’ve really been trying to capture the moment with the Junior Hunters and find her horses that she clicks with,” David said. “She has one amazing horse that she just clicked with right off the bat, and was champion with at Devon and I’m excited to see that relationship deepen.”
As Grace continues to expand into Junior Hunters, equitation and eventually the jumpers, David sees her taking advantage of every opportunity. “She’s focused on what the sport has to offer,” David said.
Away from the show ring, Grace enjoys spending time with her friends and simply being a teenager. Balancing school with riding is becoming part of her next chapter, too. She currently attends school in Florida during the winter season, following a hybrid schedule that allows her to ride in the mornings before attending school and completing online coursework. “This schedule allows me to still ride every day, even during the busy winter season in Wellington,” she said.
For Grace, the ribbons and championships are certainly meaningful, but they are only part of what makes the sport special. What keeps her coming back is the opportunity to ride, spend time with her horses and continue growing alongside them. “I’m just really grateful and really fortunate that I have such a big and supportive team around me,” Grace said.
With the pony ring slowly giving way to new divisions, Grace has plenty to look forward to. There will be new horses to get to know, new goals to chase and plenty more to learn along the way. For now, she is happy taking it one ride at a time and being open to where the sport takes her.
Follow Grace on Instagram @grace.stenbeck
Photos by Sophia Donohue, sophiadonohuephotography.com
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