Wellington, FL – February 7, 2013 – The National Horse Show Association of America was recognized recently for ten years of continued contributions to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at a Gold Medal cocktail reception at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club Golf House in Wellington, Florida. The reception was to honor the long-time donors for their steadfast generosity.
National Horse Show Association President, Mason Phelps, Jr. noted that the United States Equestrian Team Foundation is one of the association’s most important charities. “What could be more important than supporting the long term goals of the USET Foundation?” he asked. “We are proud that we have been a part of the Gold Medal Club for ten straight years now. We look forward to many, many more years of supporting all of our world-class equestrians.”
Reed Kessler was awarded the 2013 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy by the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG
Wellington, FL – January 28, 2013 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2013 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy is the talented show jumping rider Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY. Each year this award is presented to a young rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who exemplifies both sportsmanship and horsemanship. In 2012, Kessler advanced to the highest levels of the sport, competing during the Olympic Trials and winning the USEF Show Jumping National Championship. After her stellar performance throughout the Observation Events, Kessler and her top mount Cylana were selected to represent the United States at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Kessler, an 18-year-old graduate of the Professional Children’s School, was presented with this prestigious award at the USET Foundation Reception on January 25th, in Wellington, Florida.
“The list of riders who have stood in this exact place giving this same speech is a truly exceptional group, and I am honored to join their ranks,” stated Kessler. “One year ago, I sat in this audience, wondering how my first Florida show season, free from all the age restrictions, would go. I sat wondering if I would be ready for the approaching Olympic Trials, and most of all, who would make up the team that we would send to London. It did not cross my mind that one year later I would stand here, having been a member of that team. It did not occur to me that my new horse, Cylana, which we were still so unfamiliar with, would carry me to those Games. It is truly amazing what can happen in a year, and when I look back, this will probably be one of the best of my life.”
The USET Foundation presented Rich Fellers with the Whitney Stone Cup. Photo By: Susan J. Stickle
Wellington, FL – January 28, 2013 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that reigning Show Jumping World Cup Champion Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, OR, is the recipient of the 2013 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. Fellers was the winner of the 2012 FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals aboard Mollie and Harry Chapman’s Flexible in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. The pair then went on to be the highest placed American competitors at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Fellers was unable to be present the USET Foundation Reception on January 25th, in Wellington, Florida. Accepting this award was his friend and U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, who also read Fellers’ acceptance speech.
The "Salute to Driving" will take place March 1-3, 2013. Photo By: Vicki Long
Windsor, SC – January 25, 2013 – The Third Annual Salute to Driving fundraising event is pleased to announce that it will once again be held in Windsor, SC, March 1-3, 2013. Each year, this event benefits the country’s High Performance Driving programs for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. The exciting weekend will feature a beautiful dinner and auction on Saturday evening, multiple driving clinics with some of the world’s top trainers, and a Combined Test Competition for any drivers Preliminary-Advanced on Sunday. The Salute to Driving event is being held to help raise awareness and educate different audiences about the discipline of driving.
Salute to Driving will kick off its festivities on Friday, March 1, 2013, with dressage clinics by Michael Freund and Sterling Graburn at Chateau Log and Courage to Lead Farms. Auditing these clinics is free, and Freund will lead the USEF long listed drivers while Graburn teaches the developing drivers. Other special events include a hazard demonstration and clinic, harnessing demonstrations farrier demonstration, and a carriage exhibit.
The USET Foundation and Karen Lloyd hosted the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session dinner. Photo By: Carrie Wirth/PMG
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.”
Connor Husain is the recipient of the 2012 Amanda Warrington Grant from the USET Foundation. Photo By: Shannon Brinkman
Gladstone, NJ – December 11, 2012 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded the 2012 Amanda Warrington Grant to Eventing rider Connor Husain of The Plains, VA, the first male rider to win this prestigious grant. The Amanda Warrington Grant is awarded through the USET Foundation Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund. Earlier this year, Husain won the North American Young Rider Championship and the Fair Hill CCI** with his talented mount Piece of Hope.
The Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund was established by Amanda’s family in her memory with the purpose of helping provide financial assistance to a developing event rider who has been identified as a rider with great talent and ability to represent the United States in the future.
The Grant Committee recommends a recipient that they believe will benefit from the opportunity of continuing their training with top coaches and competing against the world’s best horse and rider combinations in eventing, one of three Olympic equestrian disciplines, and it is then ratified by the USET Foundation Executive Committee.
Robin Parsky and George H. Morris spoke on behalf of the USET Foundation at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo By: Carrie Wirth/PMG
Lexington, KY – November 9, 2012 – On November 3, 2012, the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition, hosted a special benefit night for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at the Alltech Arena in Lexington, KY where crowds gathered to watch the nation’s top horses and riders compete during the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix CSI-W. Before the exciting action got underway, the show took time to recognize the important mission of the USET Foundation and its supporters to help the horses and riders of our nation compete at world-class competitions through the year, including World Cup Finals and the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
USET Foundation Trustee Robin Parsky, joined by USET Foundation Trustee and U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George H. Morris, gave the evening’s speech. She spoke of the USET Foundation’s mission to help provide funding for the High Performance competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing athletes and horses in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation. She also mentioned the exciting events the Team will be participating in over the coming years, including the 2014 Alltech World Equestrian Fames in Normandy, France and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The USET Foundation honored Legends Frank Chapot, George Morris and William Steinkraus at Hamilton Farm Courtyard Dedication. Photo By: Parker/Russell - The Book LLC
Gladstone, NJ – October 8, 2012 – On Saturday, October 6, 2012, the country’s leading riders, trainers, owners, and equestrian supporters gathered at the USET Foundation’s Hamilton Farm Stable for a historic day in equestrian sport: the dedication and naming of the courtyard in honor of Frank D. Chapot, George H. Morris and William C. Steinkraus, and their Team Silver Medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. The courtyard is now called “The 1960 Courtyard.” The dedication and naming was made possible through a generous gift made to the Gladstone Fund by Jane Forbes Clark, USET Foundation President & CEO.
Clark led the dedication ceremony by recognizing the important contributions made to the sport by Chapot, Morris and Steinkraus, as well as the history at Hamilton Farm. “Since 1952, when the cavalry was disbanded and civilians first fielded our U.S. Equestrian Team, these men have ridden on, coached or been Chef d’Equipe for every U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team,” she stated. “Their leadership and influence has been at the forefront of this country’s show jumping program and our United States Equestrian Teams. There is no one of you here today whose riding these men have not impacted.”
Greenwich Park, England – July 31, 2012 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that the NBC Olympic Zone will be showing a special feature on U.S. Dressage competitors Jan Ebeling and Rafalca. The presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT and can be seen at http://www.nbcolympics.com. Ebeling and Rafalca will begin competing at the 2012 London Olympics in Greenwich Park on Thursday, August 2, 2012. The pair has recently shown the spotlight on Dressage while Rafalca’s co-owner Ann Romney’s husband Mitt makes a bid for the Presidency.
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.
Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386 pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Caroline Roffman and Pie at the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions (SusanJStickle.com)
Lexington, KY – The success of the USEF Dressage Developing Clinics was on full display in June at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions held at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, with participants scoring top honors in Intermediaire I and Young Adult “Brentina Cup” competition. Over the past seven months the rising stars in the sport of dressage have had the opportunity to hone their skills and prepare for future success at the highest level.
Due to a generous multi-year gift to the USET Foundation from Trustee Akiko Yamazaki, the program expanded in 2012, allowing more riders from throughout the country to participate. Select individuals were invited to take part in training sessions held throughout the year in Florida, New Jersey, and California under the guidance of USEF Developing Coach, Debbie McDonald.
At the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, McDonald worked closely with riders and their trainers to produce top placings.
