United States Eventing Association

2018 Year End Awards Ceremony Recognizes Member Achievements

Every year at the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Annual Meeting & Convention we celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our members at the Year End Awards Ceremony. Led by our Master of Ceremonies the legendary Jim Wofford, the awards ceremony is one of the most anticipated events of Convention and gives eventers the opportunity to celebrate their successes with their family, friends, and the entire eventing community.

The afternoon’s presentation began with the USEA Classic Series drawing sponsored by DG Stackhouse and Ellis Saddles. USEA President Carol Kozlowski presented the prize to the winner of the drawing, Mindy Kutzner-Shannon (Stevensville, Michigan) riding Tristan. Kutzner-Shannon was awarded a custom fitted Stackhouse and Ellis saddle.

Kozlowski then presented the Charles Owen Technical Merit Awards. Created to encourage safe and appropriate cross-country riding, the Charles Owen Technical Merit Awards are presented to one junior and one adult amateur rider at the Training level at one event in each of the 10 USEA Areas during the year. The highest scoring junior and highest scoring adult amateur at each event are awarded a Charles Owen Body Protector and a helmet bag, and the overall highest scoring junior and adult amateur from all 10 events of the year each receive a voucher towards a Charles Owen helmet. The highest scoring adult amateur was Annika Weisjahn (Hugo, Minnesota) riding The Flying Iris and the highest scoring junior was McKayla Mattison (Spring Valley, Wisconsin) riding A Sky Full of Starz.

Wofford next introduced USEA Leaderboard of Champions, presented by Nunn Finer. The leaderboard recognizes many divisions within the levels from Beginner Novice through Advanced. Each winner of the rider categories will receive a beautiful keeper trophy and winners of the horse categories will receive an original champion stall plaque, commissioned by Indian Creek Farm of Spring Branch, Texas. The USEA is always honored to recognize the achievements of these hardworking riders and horses. Click here for the complete leaderboards.

Barb Crabo, a RevitaVet sponsored rider, presented The Linda Moore Trophy to the 2018 RevitaVet USEA Young Rider of the Year Cornelia Dorr (Manchester, Massachusetts) riding her own Sir Patico MH and Louis M. As Dorr was the winner of the 2017 USEA Young Rider of the Year award, she has graciously decided to pass her prize of a RevitaVet system to the second-placed Young Rider of the Year, Ryan Keefe. Dorr received a check for $1,000.

Andrew Harris and Antoine Aubriot from Devoucoux presented The Essie Perkins Trophy to the 2018 Devoucoux USEA Lady Rider of the Year, Caroline Martin (Riegelsville, Pennsylvania) Martin received $1,000 and a Devoucoux Chiberta custom saddle.

Raylyn Farm’s RF Scandalous was the recipient of the 2018 Devoucoux USEA Mare of the Year award and the Frolicsome Trophy and received $1,000 and a full outfit of tack from Devoucoux, presented by Harris and Aubriot. RF Scandalous (Carry Gold x Richardia), a 13-year-old Oldenburg, is ridden by Marilyn Little and owned by Raylyn Farms, Inc.

The 2018 DJ Stackhouse and Ellis USEA Adult Amateur of the Year award went to Frankie Thieriot Stutes (Occidental, California) riding The Chatwin Group’s Chatwin. She received the Col. Allen D. Smith Memorial Trophy and $1,000 provided by DJ Stackhouse and Ellis Saddles.

The 2018 Smartpak USEA Stallion of the Year, presented with The Windfall Trophy and $1,000 provided by Smartpak, was Sandro’s Star (Sagnol x Poetic Patter), a 9-year-old Oldenburg owned by Hannah Salazar and ridden by Chris Talley.

The Theodore O’Connor Trophy was awarded to the 2018 USEA Pony of the Year, Deal Me In, a 12-year-old Paint gelding owned and ridden by Mary Clare (Williamsburg, Virginia). As Ganymede’s owner, Clare received $1,000.

The 2018 Sunsprite Warmbloods Volunteer of the Year is Vicki Reynolds (Aberdeen, North Carolina). Vicki logged 330 volunteer hours at USEA recognized events this year and received $1,000, a “2018 Volunteer of the Year” polo shirt, and a trophy.

The 2018 World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year and recipient of the Windy Acres Farm Trophy was Boyd Martin (Unionville, Pennsylvania). World Equestrian Brands presented Martin with $1,000, a Vespucci Figure-8 Bridle, Vespucci rubber reins, a set of 4 Equilibrium Allsports boots.

The Long Island T Syndicate’s Long Island T (Ludwig von Bayern x Highlight), a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding, ridden by Boyd Martin, was named the 2018 USEA Horse of the Year, receiving The Casar Trophy and $1,000. In 2018, Long Island T won the Jersey Fresh International CCI3* and was second in the Fair Hill International CCI3*. He finished outside the top five only once this year at the Advanced/three-star level.

The Ironmaster Trophy was presented by Helen Ayer on behalf of Neil Ayer and his mount Ironmaster to acknowledge the individual that exemplifies fortitude and courage in the sport of eventing. This year’s recipient of the Ironmaster Trophy is Deeda Randle (Cheyenne, Wyoming), recognizing for her dedication to the eventing community while acting as the primary caregiver to her husband for nearly 30 years.

The Cornerstone Instructor’s Award recognizes lower level instructors for their dedications to the fundamentals of educating well-rounded eventers. This year’s Cornerstone Instructor’s Award went to Jessica Halliday (Stow, Massachusetts) and Regis Webb (Benton, Louisiana).

Joannah Hall Glass (Aiken, South Carolina) was the recipient of the Andrew H. Popiel Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the role of event organizers and their commitment to the sport. Johanna is the owner and organizer of the Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials.

The Concour Complet Trophy is awarded to an individual who performs an extraordinary act of courage. Susan Friend-LeTourneur (Sylmar, California) received the award in honor of all the brave individuals who helped the horse community during the 2017 California fires. That she had the strength of will to ensure the safety of all 19 horses while battling smoke and flying debris showed her dedication to the animals and the depth of her character.

The Posthole Digger Award is given to a cross-country builder in recognition of their talent and dedication to their craft. Tommy Neneman (Ocala, Florida) was this year’s recipient. Tommy has worked all over the country at national horse trials and international competitions and worked under many acclaimed course designers.

Shannon Kinsley (Ocala, Florida) was awarded the Christine E. Stafford Eventing Groom Award, which salutes the individuals responsible for the well-being of our horses. Working tirelessly behind the scenes, the groom is indispensable to both the competitor and above all, the horse. Kinsley grooms for Lauren Kieffer.

The Governor’s Cup honors those individuals who labor tirelessly behind the scenes at the many jobs associated with running the sport and whose services have contributed significantly to eventing. This year’s recipients are Sue Clarke (The Plains, Virginia), Gary Snyder (Texas), Diane Snow (Milwaukie, Oregon), Helen Sproat (Springboro, Ohio), and Ann and Jim Troppmann (Tryon, North Carolina).

Now in its 19th year, the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarship Program continues to provide financial assistance for young adult amateurs and adult amateurs to hone their horsemanship skills training with the country’s top competitors in the sport. This scholarship is generously sponsored by Joan Iversen Goswell, in tribute to her champion horse, “Worth the Trust”. The 2019 Young Adult Amateur Scholarship recipient is Kaley Sapper (Ramona, California), the recipient of the 2019 Adult Amateur Scholarship is Greta Hallgren (Fort Worth, Texas), and the recipient of the 2019 Adult Amateur Sports Psychology Scholarship is Krista Wilson (Dunedin, Florida).

This year's recipient of the Wofford Cup was Marilyn Payne (Califon, New Jersey). Jim Wofford presents this award to an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to the sport.

Carol Kozlowski presented the USEA President's Lifetime Achievement Award to Mike Winter (Mooresville, Indiana).

The Connaught Grant, now in its third year is designed for a horse competing at the CCI1* or CCI2* level who shows potential to one day be on the U.S. Team and is presented in memory of Bruce Duchossois. Jim Wolf from the USET Foundation presented $12,500 each to Big Berry (Road To Happiness x Boney Kelly), an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexa Gartenberg and ridden by Matt Brown, and Fury H (San Remo x Miss Marple), an 8-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Sally Cox and ridden by Alexander O'Neal.

Former USEA President Diane Pitts presented the USEA Foundation Grants. The $10,000 Essex Grant was awarded to Zoe Crawford (Reddick, Florida), the $5,000 Amy Tryon Grant went to Abby Dubrawski (Duxbury, Massachusetts) and McKinsey Wickman (Prosper, Texas) was awarded the $5,000 Seema Sonnad Grant. The $5,000 Roger Haller Course Designer's Grant was awarded to Marc Grandia (Sultan, Washington) and the $5,000 Roger Haller Judge's Grant was awarded to Wendy Wergeles (Los Alamos, California). Ryan Wood (West Grove, Pennsylvania) was awarded the inaugural Captain Mendivil-Yucupicio Award for $5,000.

The Wilton Fair Grant is donated by David and Cheryl Lenaburg with the goal of supporting U.S. developing riders. The Fund allows up to $100,000 in grants to be given each year for a variety of educational opportunities for riders 29 and under who have not yet ridden for a senior team. Three Wilton Fair Grants were presented this year. Two grants for $6,000 each were presented to Mia Farley (San Juan Capistrano, California) and Madison Temkin (Sebastopol, California). The $45,000 2019 Wilton Fair Grant was presented to Savannah Fulton (Ocala, Florida).

Sarah and Rebecca Broussard presented Andrea Baxter (Paso Robles, California) with the $10,000 Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant and Frankie Thieriot Stutes (Occidental, California) with the $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant.

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About the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention
The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2018 Annual Meeting & Convention will take place at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 6-9, 2018. Visit the 2018 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention page to stay up to date on news, announcements, and details.

The USEA would like to thank Adequan, Devoucoux, Nutrena, Charles Owen, Standlee Hay, Merck Animal Health, SmartPak, Mountain Horse, Parker Equine Insurance, Rebecca Farm, Auburn Laboratories, Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, Bit of Britain, World Equestrian Brands, Gallops Saddlery, Revitavet, CWD, H.E. Tex Sutton Forwarding Company, Trio Safety CPR + AED Solutions, and Hylofit for sponsoring the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.