The Rolex One to Watch – November 2012
9 November 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for November 2012 is awarded to Saer Coulter (USA), who trains at Copernicus Stables LLC, California (USA). During the month of September, the 21-year-old jumped from 294th to 209th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 85 places.
Coulter was born in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), although she was brought up in San Francisco, CA where she lives. She is currently enrolled at Stanford University, CA (USA) where she is Majoring in Art History. Riding is a family affair with Coulter’s younger sister, Audrey, also actively competing in the Jumper ring. The sisters are currently trained by Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and her husband, Markus Beerbaum.
Rolex Testimonee, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, commented, “Markus and I have trained Saer since January 2011, and her progress has been phenomenal. She has become very consistent at the top level, which was evident this year on the Global Champions Tour circuit. She has had a lot of clear rounds and nice ribbons, and with her current string of horses I have no doubt that there is a lot more to come from her.”
Michaels-Beerbaum continued, “Saer is an incredibly hard-working, dedicated and diligent student, and she is an absolute pleasure to work with. As Saer’s trainers, Markus and I are very proud that she has received this commendation.”
Coulter showed tremendous promise as a junior jumper, riding to top finishes in many classes, which consequently helped her to make a smooth transition to the Grand Prix stage. Coulter first represented Team USA at the CSIO Buenos Aires (ARG) in November 2010. Partnered by Holsteiner stallion, Chalan, Coulter and her three team members – Lucy Davis, John McConnell and Megan Edrick – scored a convincing win over their Canadian and Argentinian rivals, who finished second and third respectively.
2011 proved to be a very successful year for Coulter and the Dutch Warmblood bay gelding, Springtime. At the beginning of March, the pair was second in the $50,000 HITS World Cup Qualifier in California (USA). The following month they picked up another second place finish in the $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic II Grand Prix.
2012 has been an exciting year for Coulter, with her finishing 10th aboard Springtime in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Selections Trials. The pair had a double clear round in trial two. For their performance, Coulter and Springtime were named to the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The U.S. rider’s successes continued in April in the 2012 U.S. Show Jumping Observation Event at the Del Mar National Horse Show, California (USA), where Coulter and Springtime finished third in the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar.
Coulter’s notable results during October 2012 include a third place finish in the $55,000 Land Rover Grand Prix of Sacramento aboard Springtime where the pair went double clear, and a second place finish aboard grey mare, Victory DA in the $35,000 Welcome Grand Prix, with both results coming at the CSI2* Sacramento International Horse Show, California (USA). Coulter and Victory DA also recorded a fourth place finish in the $35,000 ShowBiz Magazine Welcome Stake at the CSI2* Del Mar Fall Festival II, California (USA). Most recently, Coulter and Springtime finished fourth in the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix at the CSI4*-W Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky (USA) behind accomplished riders including Mclain Ward and Candice King.
The Rolex One to Watch is an initiative which identifies the rider who has made the biggest jump within or into the Top 250 of the Rolex Rankings the previous month.
December’s Rolex One to Watch will be announced at the beginning of December 2012.
To view the Rolex Rankings online, please click here.
• Steve Guerdat (SUI) is currently ranked number one in the Rolex Rankings and therefore holds the Green & Gold armband which bears the words “Number 1, Rolex Rankings”.
• Steve Guerdat shall wear the Green & Gold in all competitions whilst he is the Number 1 ranked rider in the Rolex Rankings.
• The Rolex Rankings are the only official guide to excellence in Jumping recognised by the FEI, and the Green & Gold has been devised for equestrian fans at events, and for those watching on TV internationally, to instantly recognise the world’s best/leading rider.
• The Rolex Rankings are updated monthly and issued at the start of each calendar month. For more information on the Rolex Rankings and to download the latest standings please visit the Jumping section of the FEI website at www.fei.org.
For further information please contact:
Rod Kohler, Revolution Sports
Email: rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
