Wellington, FL – January 7, 2013 – On Saturday night, the participants, parents and supporters of the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session gathered with the USET Foundation and Karen Lloyd, who graciously hosted a dinner at her lovely Palm Beach Polo home in Wellington, FL. This year’s riders participated in a five-day clinic at the Palm Beach International Equestrian center with former U.S. Chef d’Equipe George H. Morris. The 12 riders selected for the clinic included Gabrielle Bausano, Olivia Champ, Meg O’Mara, Jacob Pope, Dana Scott, Cathrine Tyree, Claudia Billups, Stephen Foran, Ana Forssell, Frances Land, Abigail McArdle and Kilian McGrath.
Following the dinner, USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie Jenkins congratulated the riders and their parents for earning their way into the session. “It is an incredible honor and you all have simply put yourself on the radar for great things in the future,” said Jenkins. “The USET Foundation’s mission is promoting international excellence, supporting athletes and building for the future. Clearly this week was building for the future. Certainly the future is very, very bright.”
Jenkins and Morris called on all the riders one by one and presented mementos from the USET Foundation to commemorate their experience.
“There is one person we must thank – Karen Lloyd,” said Jenkins. “Karen and her late husband Frank were great friends of the USET Foundation; he was our first Chairman of the Board. To have their granddaughter, Olivia Champ, participate is very special.”
Next, United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Director of Show Jumping High Performance Programs Lizzy Chesson spoke. She thanked all of the clinicians including Anne Kursinski, Dr. Deb Bennett, Tim Ober, Steve Stephens, Dean Pearson, Karen Golding, USEF’s Amy Serridge and Morris.
“Without all of you we couldn’t present the whole picture of horsemanship,” said Chesson. “Last but not least, I’d like to thank the participants – you have been a pleasure to work with and I’m impressed.”
Chesson then introduced USEF President-Elect, Chrystine Tauber. “I am very excited about the future of show jumping. I thanked you earlier, and I am going to continue to thank you all my life,” said Tauber to Morris.
“I want to thank you, Bonnie, and for all that the USET Foundation does,” continued Tauber. “I want to stress how critical this organization is to the funding and success of our High Performance athletes and programs. We could not do it without you. I am really excited about this program. I feel very strongly about developing depth and developing strength in the disciplines and we have to pony up at all times if we want to be a really strong contender in international competition. I want to thank you, your officers, your board, your wonderful donors and supporters for what you do.”
At the conclusion of Tauber’s remarks, Lloyd asked the group to gather around a cake appropriately decorated for the occasion that read, “What would GHM say?”
The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.
For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.
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