Julianne Befeler from Stockton, NJ, won the 2000 Prudential AHSA Overall Grand Hunter Pony Championship riding her Medium Pony, Knickerbocker, on August 12, 2000, at the Fairfield Country Club, CT.

Befeler, 14, last rode at the Pony Finals in 1995 when she collected ribbons in the under-saddle class with two ponies. This year's win came as something of a surprise. "I didn't know I was going to be able to ride him as well as I did," she commented on taking the title. "I owe a lot to Kim [Stewart], my trainer, she understands the ponies and doesn't make me nervous."

Stewart consequently became the recipient of the inaugural Emerson Burr Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the trainer of the Overall Grand Champion. Befeler, also rode Knickerbocker, as well as her Large Pony, Newsworthy, on the winning New Jersey team in the High Point State Team competition. In addition, Knickerbocker added the Virginia Bred Pony Award to their tally and Newsworthy was the winner of the Large Pony division.

Alexandra Skiffington. Wellington, FL, took the Overall Reserve Champion title with Austintatious, as well as the Small Pony Hunter Finals.