Category Archives: Awards

USET Foundation Will Award 2011 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy to Tiana Coudray

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister had a very successful year in 2010 to garner the 2011 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy from the USET Foundation. Photo By: Stock Images.

Gladstone, NJ – January 13, 2011 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2011 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy will be talented eventing rider Tiana Coudray. Each year this award is presented to a Young Rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who exemplifies both sportsmanship and horsemanship. In 2011 Coudray had a banner year, winning the Jersey Fresh CCI*** and the Galway Downs International Horse Trials CIC***, as well as leading the U.S. efforts at the Boekelo CCI*** in Holland.

“When the USET Foundation told me that I was the winner of this year’s award I went and looked it up,” commented Coudray. “I was pretty honored to look at the other names on the list throughout the years and think of what those people have gone on to do later in their careers.”

Over the years, Coudray has consistently shown her talent as a young rider. She won Team Gold at the North American Young Riders Championships in both 2004 and 2008, and took home the Individual Silver Medal in 2004. She has won the United States Eventing Association Young Rider of the Year Award an amazing three times in 2005, 2007, and 2009.

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Apollitical Jess Named 2010 World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse

The American Quarter Horse Journal, January 12, 2010 – Champion of Champions (G1) victor Apollitical Jess was honored as the 2010 AQHA World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse tonight during an award ceremony at Heritage Place Sale Co. in Oklahoma City.

The 3-year-old colt is bred and owned by Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga Rancho El Cabresto Inc. Also named the champion 3-year-old colt and champion 3-year-old, he won six of eight starts during the year and earned $1,066,011. His victories included track-record-setting wins in the Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) and the Champion of Champions. Trained by Juan Aleman and ridden by Felipe Garcia and Eduardo Nicasio, Apollitical Jess (Mr Jess Perry-Apollitical Time by Apollo (TB)) also finished second in the All American Derby (G1).

Double Down Special, who defeated Apollitical Jess in the All American Derby, is the champion 3-year-old gelding. Owned by Vanessa Bartoo, trained by John Stinebaugh and ridden by Salvador Martinez and Jacky Martin, Double Down Special (The Down Side-Pamper Me Special by Special Effort) won five of six starts and earned $1,147,067. He set a world record of :18.613 for 400 yards while winning the West Texas Derby (G3), then won the Ruidoso Derby (G1) in addition to the All American Derby. The gelding was bred by Bob and Jerry Gaston.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Announces Dates and Details for the 2011 Dinner Dance!

Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center will be hosting its annual Benefit Auction Dinner & Dance on Friday, February 18, 2011, at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, FL. Photo Courtesy of the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.

Loxahatchee, FL – January 11, 2011 – Get out your planners and your cell phones to schedule yourself for a night you don’t want to miss in Wellington, FL.  Friday, February 18, 2011 is Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center’s Benefit Auction Dinner & Dance, which will be held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, FL. The theme for this year’s gala is “My First Pony,” and it will again feature the hugely popular mechanical bull riding competition.

“My First Pony” is this year’s theme, and will showcase riders from all levels and disciplines and their first ponies.  These riders will include Mason Phelps, Tuny Page, and Tami Hoag along with riders from the VTRC whose first ponies are mounts owned by VTRC.

After last year’s success with the Mechanical Bull riding competition, VTRC has stepped it up a notch this year to add another layer of excitement to the Annual Dinner Dance.  This year, there will be three “Buck Off” events held at the Players Club on Thursday nights before the Dinner Dance.  These dates are Thursday, January 27, 2011, Thursday February 3, 2011 and Thursday February 10, 2011.  Each of these “Buck Off” Events will serve as the qualifying rounds for the Final “Buck Off” Event, which will be held on the night of the Dinner Dance.  The final teams qualified will compete against the winners from last year’s competition, the “Bad Boy Vets” made up of Bill Patterson, Bryan Dubynsky, Johnny Jack, and Travis Laas.

Continue reading MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Announces Dates and Details for the 2011 Dinner Dance!

Tucker S. Johnson Will Be Honored with the 2011 Whitney Stone Cup from USET Foundation

Tucker S. Johnson earned the Individual Bronze Medal at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games during the Four-In-Hand Combined Driving competition. Photo By: Susan J. Stickle.

Gladstone, NJ – January 10, 2011 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that Combined Driver Tucker S. Johnson of Hobe Sound, Florida, is the recipient of the 2011 Whitney Stone Cup. The award is presented annually to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition and high standards of sportsmanlike conduct while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport. Johnson is a tremendously accomplished driver who helped lead the United States to a Team Silver Medal as well as receiving an Individual Bronze Medal during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

This is the second year that Johnson has received the Whitney Stone Cup, after being awarded the prestigious honor in 2001. Johnson now plans to retire from the competitive sport as he spent 2010 achieving many milestones. Along with other achievements, Johnson guided his Four-In-Hand team to a second place finish at the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.

After helping the United States win a Team Silver Medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, Johnson went on to a repeat performance at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. He was a member of the Silver Medal Team and after earning a 150.06 over the three phases of competition he took home the Individual Bronze Medal, achieving his personal best at a World Championship event.

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Catherine Malone Wins Everglades Dressage Adult Amateur High Score Award at Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge

Catherine Malone won the Everglades Dressage Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award with Florianus II at the Wellington Classic Dressage Holiday Challenge Show. Malone trains with Todd Flettrich, left. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (January 10, 2011) – The Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge ended the year on a good note for dressage rider Catherine Malone, who rode away the Everglades Dressage Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award at the show. Sponsored by Everglades Dressage Farm and Bethany Peslar, Malone won the High Score Award with a 66.026% in the USEF National Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Test of Choice.

Malone, the daughter of Mary Alice Malone of Iron Spring Farm in Pennsylvania, rode Iron Spring Farm’s Westfalen stallion Florianus 2. “It was our first show and it ended up going quite nicely,” Malone said. “I think we will have more confidence in the future.”

Malone, who rides with dressage trainer Todd Flettrich, said she was thrilled when her mother gave her the chance to ride Florianus 2, the first stallion fully approved by the KWPN outside of Holland. “He’s my first Grand Prix horse so I am very excited,” Malone said. “He carried me through the test where I wasn’t sure about things. It’s definitely a great privilege to ride a Grand Prix horse.”

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Premier Equestrian Congratulates Walter Zettl on Induction into Hall of Fame

Premier Equestrian, LLC is pleased to congratulate classical dressage master Walter Zettl on his induction into the Toronto CADORA Dressage Association Hall of Fame. Zettl has been a long-time advisor to Premier Equestrian. (Photo courtesy of Walter Zettl, photo credit Christine Derksen)

Sandy, UT (January 7, 2011) – Premier Equestrian, LLC, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, and stable accessories, is pleased to congratulate classical dressage master Walter Zettl on his induction into the Toronto CADORA Dressage Association Hall of Fame. Zettl has been a long-time advisor to Premier Equestrian and is also the technical advisor for Dressage Today Magazine.

“Walter is one of the true classical dressage masters left on the planet and we are so happy that he was recognized for being a contributor to the evolution of the sport of dressage,” said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier Equestrian. “Walter has lived in Canada since 1981 and has had a big impact on the Canadian dressage community. He has also had a big impact on our company and has advised and directed Premier on our products over the years.”

Zettl, who is now in his 80s, has spent years on the forefront of the dressage world, from coaching Olympic riders to teaching, training, offering clinics, writing books and producing DVDs. “It wasn’t a surprise to his family, friends or students when he was inducted into the Toronto CADORA Dressage Association Hall of Fame,” Zorn said. “Zettl’s ‘Matter of Trust’ DVD series was produced by Dancing Deer Productions and distributed by Premier.  The DVD covers classical dressage techniques from Training level to Grand Prix, and we were very pleased to have been part of it. Getting to know Walter, and understand his true passion for dressage and horses, has been a real blessing.”

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IHSA’s Bob Cacchione Selected as USEF/EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award Recipient

WELLINGTON, FL – January 9, 2011 – Bob Cacchione, Executive Director of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), will be honored as the recipient of The EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award presented by The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). The presentation will take place on January 21, 2011, at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner during the Federation’s Annual Meeting in Lexington, KY.

The EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award is a celebration of the humanitarian achievements made by a member of the equestrian world.  Specifically, the goal of this humanitarian honor is to spotlight and exalt the selfless dedication one individual or a group of individuals has made, whether on a regional or national scale. From improving the health and welfare of the horse to promoting and expanding the general public’s appreciation and respect of the diverse roles of horses, the recipient of this award will be someone who has devoted considerable personal time to making the lives and quality of life of our equine partners paramount.

“I am totally overwhelmed with this honor; especially being recognized by my peers,” said Cacchione. “To be acknowledged for what I have tried to do for the youth of the equestrian world with the creation and development of the IHSA is just incredibly meaningful.”

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12913

USEF Announces the 2010 USEF Horse of the Year Candidates; Voting Now Open!

Ravel, Horse of the Year in 2009. Photo by Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Lexington, KY – December 21 – To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport takes talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2010, five horses have shown the world those qualities and more. And on January 22, the United States Equestrian Federation will bestow just one of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse.

The five champions have earned their place on the elite list as USEF Horses of Honor, and each will be recognized at the USEF Horse of the Year Awards gala and dinner in January — part of the USEF Annual Meeting — at the Downtown Hyatt Regency in Lexington, KY.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12911

USEF Announces the 2010 Equestrian of the Year Nominees; Voting Now Open!

Steffen Peters, Equestrian of the Year in 2009. Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Lexington, KY – December 21, 2010 – And the winner is: up to you! Voting begins today for the coveted 2010 USEF Equestrian of the Year, which, following decades of tradition comes at the end of the 2010 competition year and is announced when the horse world meets at the United States Equestrian Federation’s annual Pegasus Awards celebration in January.

Known as the USEF Equestrians of Honor, eight stars of equestrian sport — across breed and discipline — each recently received a unique competitive trophy. These honors will be presented during the celebrated Pegasus Awards on January 22 at the Downtown Hyatt Regency in Lexington.

But now it is time to pick just of these Equestrians of Honor to win the distinguished grand prize: the 2010 USEF Equestrian of the Year. Here are the nominees, and the distinctive honors they have achieved:

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Kathryn Clapp Named USEF SmartPak Adult Amateur Hunter Leading Rider for 2010

Kathryn Clapp and Donnerkind. Photo by Al Cook.

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is proud to announce that the SmartPak Adult Amateur Hunter Leading Rider for 2010 is Kathryn Clapp of Charlottesville, VA. Clapp earned the honor aboard her equine partner Donnerkind, a 16.1-hand dark brown Hannoverian owned by Thomas Bishop’s The Barracks Farm also in Charlotteville.

Based on accumulative points during the 2010 competition year, the SmartPak Adult Amateur Hunter Ranking List, the award comes with a prize from the USEF and SmartPak. Clapp’s accumulation of 1,000 points earned her the prize by a wide margin.

Clapp, 24, said, “This past year has been one of the best opportunities of my life. He was a great horse and a lot of fun, and I want to thank all the people that helped me get there.”

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