United States Eventing Association

New Orleans, La.—Dec. 14—After a busy and productive couple of days attending meetings and discussions about the future of the sport, United States Eventing Association (USEA) members from all over the country gathered on Saturday night for the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Year-End Awards Ceremony.

The evening’s ceremony was led by longtime Master of Ceremonies Jim Wolf and recognized riders, horses, and game-changers in the sport of eventing with multiple awards and grants.

Wolf began the celebrations by welcoming newly appointed USEA President Molly Pellegrini as co-presenter.

Wolf then started with the annual USEA Classic Series drawings. All four winners will receive Assisi Loops provided by PulseVet.

The Training and Beginner Novice Three-Day division winners received a custom-fitted Stackhouse saddle from sponsor DG Stackhouse and Ellis Saddles.

The Training Three-Day winner was Taylor McFall, and the Beginner Novice Three-Day winner was Brielle Rainsberg.

The Novice and Modified 3-day divisions were sponsored by the USEA and received a gift certificate. Jocelyn Hawe was the Modified Three-Day winner, and Joe Lethbridge was the Novice Three-Day winner.

Wolf then announced the 2025 USEA Leaderboard winners from Starter through Advanced, presented by Nunn Finer. Each winner received a keeper trophy and a ribbon.

The USEA is always honored to recognize the achievements of these hardworking riders and horses. Click here for the complete leaderboards or view the gallery below to see photos of this year's leaderboard winners who were able to attend convention.

Wolf moved on to the overall leaderboard champions next.

First up was the USEA Volunteer of the Year award, which was given to Jim Moyer, of Gig Harbor, Washington.

This award is given to the volunteer who tops the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) leaderboard by accumulating the most volunteer hours over the course of the competition year. The winner receives a cash prize of $1,000, a custom “USEA Volunteer of the Year” embroidered backpack, and a memorial ribbon and trophy.

Moyer provided just over 499 hours of volunteer service in 2025, which also gave him enough hours to achieve his gold medal, which is awarded to volunteers who have logged over 2,000 hours of service.

Next up was the Revitavet USEA Young Rider of the Year award and the Linda Moore Trophy, which was presented to Meg Pellegrini (Malvern, Pennsylvania). She received $1,000, a RevitaVet Therapy System and a Schneiders embroidered show cooler.

The Col. Allen D. Smith Memorial Trophy and USEA Adult Amateur Rider of the Year was awarded next to Katie Lichten (Hamilton, Massachusetts). She received $1,000, a Schneiders embroidered show cooler, and a custom embroidered USEA Adult Amateur of the Year backpack.

FR's Citadel, owned and ridden by Kyle Carter (Sparr, Florida), was the recipient of the Windfall Trophy. His prizes include the Windfall Trophy, $1,000, and a SmartEquine Stallion of the Year embroidered rug.

FR’s Citadel is a 7-year-old Holsteiner (Caligula II x Elena T). He and Carter had a fantastic season consisting of winning the Preliminary Division at Ocala International Festival of Eventing (Florida) as well taking home another podium finish later in the year in the Preliminary division at Ocala Summer Horse Trials (Florida).

Next up, Wolf gave the award from the SmartEquine USEA Pony of the Year to Kimberlake Jophiel, owned and ridden by Molly Smith (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania). Smith was presented with the Theodore O’Connor Trophy, $1,000, and a SmartEquine Pony of the Year embroidered rug.

Kimberlake Jophiel is an 11-year-old Fell Pony gelding by Kimberlake Gabriel. Along with several first-place finishes, he took home the win at Hunt Club Farms (Berryville, Virginia) in the Beginner Novice division. He also placed second in the Beginner Novice Classic Three-Day Event at Waredaca Farm Horse Trials (Laytonsville, Maryland) in October.

Hannah Diebold from Bates Saddles joined Pellegrini on stage next to present the Bates USEA Mare of the Year with the Frolicsome Trophy, $1,000, a Schnieders cooler, and a Bates saddle.

Freedom GS, owned and ridden by Jessica Phoenix (Canada) and bred by Charlotte Schickedanz of Galten Farms, was the winner. Freedom GS is a 12-year-old Trakehner mare (Humble GS x Friedel GS).

Her successful season began with winning The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (Myakka City, Florida) in March and well as placing third in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S (Kentucky) in April. She would then go on to win the CCI4*-S at Bromont (Canada).

Next, Wolf recognized the Standlee USEA Horse of the Year, who receives the Caser Trophy, $1,000, a Schneiders embroidered show cooler, and a Standlee prize pack.

Commando 3, owned by Yankee Creek Ranch and ridden by Boyd Martin, was the winner. “Connor” is a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Connor 48 x R-Adelgunde). He’s rapidly ascended to become one of the top horses on the U.S. team demonstrating consistency, resilience, and top-level performance.

In April, he and Martin achieved the highest national honor by securing the Defender/USEF CCI5*‑L Eventing National Championship at the Defender Kentucky Three‑Day Event as the highest‑placed U.S. combination.

Following their Kentucky success, Connor was selected to represent the United States at the CHIO Aachen Nations Cup in Germany. His fifth-place individual finish helped secure a silver medal for the team. He rounded out his standout season with a top-3 finish at the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill (Elkton, Maryland).

Next, Wolf named Tamie Smith (Murrieta, California) the Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year. As Lady Rider of the Year, Smith will be awarded the Essie Perkins Trophy, along with $1,000, a Schneiders embroidered show cooler, and a Bates saddle.

Smith’s year gained momentum aboard Lillet 3, owned by Molly Duda, capturing the CCI4*-L victory at The Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana) in July. Close behind in the same competitive division, Kynan, owned by the Kynan Syndicate, delivered an impressive fourth-place finish.

This season also marked a poignant milestone with the celebrated retirement of her U.S. Eventing Team and five-star partner, Mai Baum, owned by Eric Markell, and Ellen and Alexandra Ahearn. Fittingly, he concluded his storied career in winning fashion, claiming the CCI4*-S title at Rebecca Farm. Smith’s year culminated in continued success at The Eventing Championships at Galways Downs (Temecula, California), where she secured the CCI3*-L win with Jump To Day D owned by Jeanne Shigo.

The final overall leaderboard award to announce was the World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year. The winner of this award, Boyd Martin, was presented with the Windy Acres Farm trophy and received $1,000, a Schneiders embroidered show cooler, and a World Equestrian Brands prize pack, including a Vespucci Figure 8 bridle and rubber reins.

Martin (Cochranville, Pennsylvania) won the award for the ninth time with an unprecedented 510 points, more than 200 points ahead of his fellow riders.

Martin was crowned the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Champion at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event with Commando 3, where he also finished second, sixth, and seventh overall internationally. The results helped propel Martin to become World No. 1 in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings for the first time in his career — making him the first U.S. rider to top the eventing world rankings in over 20 years.

Earlier in the season, Martin secured victories with 19 total podium finishes and over 40 FEI completions, five of them being at the five-star level.

Martin was unable to attend but shared an acceptance speech video.

Joanie Morris took to the stage next on behalf of the USET Foundation to present the Connaught Grant.

The grant is designed for a horse competing at the CCI2* or CCI3* level who shows potential to one day be on the U.S. team and is presented in memory of Bruce Duchossois. The USET Foundation awarded the 2025 Connaught Grant to Isabelle Bosley and Conner.

Sharyn Antico and Gale Fox came on stage next on behalf of the American Horse Trials Foundation to present the “Chasing The Gold” Grant.

This grant was donated on behalf of the American Horse Trials Foundation. It is the Foundation’s mission to strengthen and directly impact the United States’ ability to win medals at international competitions, and the aim is to financially support a specific rider and horse combination who has the attainable goal to successfully compete on the world stage. The grant will cover $25,000 of competition related expenses with an emphasis on European competition and/or training.

The first grant was presented to Cosby Green and the second grant was presented to Mia Farley.

Next, Wolf introduced Chair of the USEA Foundation Board Hilary Miskoe, as she took the stage to present the Foundation Grant recipients.

New this year, the Full Moon Farm Eventing Foundation grant strives to promote good horsemanship, prevent marginalization, and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. This grant of $1,000 is aimed to help eventers at all levels of the sport chase their goals and keep learning and developing as athletes.

The inaugural recipient was Ifa Simmons.

Next, the Mike Huber Award was awarded to Chris Donovan and the Area II Young Rider Program. This grant was established by friends of Huber to celebrate a young rider coach who best exemplifies Huber’s enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and dedication to the youth of the sport.

The recipient of this award is able to identify a USEA Area Young Rider program to receive a $1000 donation from the USEA Foundation.

The Kim Meier “Kick On” Memorial grant is given in honor of the late Kim Meier, a top-level eventing athlete who made it to the highest levels of the sport through her own grit and determination.

This grant is intended to assist riders struggling financially to compete with their own horses at the upper levels and who have passed beyond the funding available for juniors and young adults.

Margo Goldfarb was this year’s winner.

Established in memory of the late Roger and Ann Haller, the Haller Scholarships for the Education of Eventing Officials provide financial assistance of $5,000 to licensed officials working towards promotion to their large “R”, and “S” licenses, or their FEI licenses. This year’s recipient was Christel Carlson.

For the last decade, the Seema Sonnad Junior Rider Grant has honored the memory of Seema Sonnad—an exceptional rider, volunteer, “r” technical delegate, and visionary whose ideas, including the Volunteer Incentive Program, continue to shape the sport. A professor with a PhD in Health Services Research, Sonnad brought her brilliance to both eventing and healthcare before her passing in 2015.

This is the final year of the grant, and it was fully funded through an act of community cooperation: after USEA member Valarie Rodgers passed away, her husband, Bob Alt, worked with the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association to donate Rodgers’ extensive tack collection, which volunteers cataloged, organized, and sold.

Proceeds from sales at Eric Dierks’ farm and the Silverwood Horse Trials (Camp Lake, Wisconsin) ensured one last young rider would receive the grant of $5,000, a fitting tribute to Sonnad’s legacy and the Midwest eventing community’s generous spirit.

The final recipient was Anya Ostrovsky.

Joanie Morris returned to the stage to present the Richard Picken Memorial Grant, in memory of her late husband. The grant was established to fund the intensive training of riders aged 25 years and younger competing at the FEI CCI2* level or higher.

Meg Pellegrini received the $5,000 prize.

The Broussard family stepped onto the stage next to present the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust Going Forward grants.

Three USEA Eventing Coaches Program Certification grants of $3,000, were presented to Emily Poulin, Emily Rosenbaum, and Skylar Rowan.

The Horsemanship Immersion Program grant of $5,000, was presented to Emily Scott.

Three Eventing Licensed Officials Training Program grant of $5,000, were presented to Cyra Carlson, Wisti Nelson, and Anni Grandia-Dodson.

The Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant awards $15,000 for the educational development of a national quality rider based on competition in eventing on the national stage. The recipient of the grant is selected by the grant committee based on performance record, interview, and involvement with the eventing community.

This year’s Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant recipient was Meg Pellegrini.

The Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant awards $50,000 for the educational development of an international quality rider based on competition in eventing on the global stage. The recipient of the grant is based on performance record, interview, and involvement with the eventing community.

This year’s Broussard International Developing Rider Grant recipient was Allison Springer.

In 2017 David and Cheryl Lenaburg established the Wilton Fair Grant in the memory of their great event horse by the same name. Wilton Fair helped jump start the career of Olympic gold medalist David O’Connor.

David died in 2022, but the Wilton Fair Grant is given in his honor. This grant is given to riders who are 29 years or younger to gain further education internationally.

The first Wilton Fair Grant recipient, being awarded $30,000 for continued educational development, was Colin Gaffney.

The second Wilton Fair Grant recipient, being awarded with $70,000, was Maya Clarkson.

Next, Wolf presented the Eventing Riders Association of North America awards.

The first award to be presented went to an event personnel member who devotes themselves behind the scenes and goes above and beyond for our sport. Rick Dunkerton was the winner of the Above and Beyond Event Personnel Award.

The next award went to an adult amateur who embodies a dedication to the sport of eventing and shares outstanding sportsmanship. The Amateur Impact Award was presented to Joan Hilsman.

The next award recognized the outstanding owners who have had exceptional influences on the careers of our riders and horses. The 2025 As You Like It Owner’s Award was presented to Ruth Bley.

The Liz Cochran Memorial Groom’s Award salutes the individuals responsible for the wellbeing of our horses. Working tirelessly behind the scenes, grooms are indispensable to both the competitor and above all, the horses.

The 2025 Liz Cochran Memorial Groom Award went to Kate Servais.

The USEA Freelance Groom Award is a new honor created to celebrate the outstanding contributions of freelance grooms within the sport of eventing. Donated by the Duda Family, this award recognizes the unique value freelance grooms bring to the eventing community by sharing their expertise across a variety of riders and programs as they travel from event to event.

The inaugural USEA Freelance Groom Award was presented to Katie Strickland.

Next, Wolf recognized the Courtney C. Reeves Memorial Trophy winner. This is presented to young individuals who exemplify sportsmanship and the spirit of the sport and who give back to the community.

This year’s recipients were Izzy Lenk and Katelyn Smith.

The Cornerstone Instructor’s Award acknowledges the importance of the lower-level instructors for their dedication to the fundamentals of educating good horsemanship skills and the love of the sport to the next generation of eventers.

This year there were four recipients: Earl McFall, Laura Backus, Megan Pappler, and Kathleen Russell.

The Sue Hershey Award is presented in honor of Sue Hershey for her time and dedicated efforts to the development of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program. The award recognizes an ECP Coach who exemplifies the values and commitment of the program as well as inspiring students to achieve their goals.

This year’s winner was Liz Tukey.

The Ironmaster Trophy is presented to an individual that has exemplified extreme fortitude and courage. It is awarded to a person who has continually given back to the sport of eventing despite any hardship.

This year’s recipient was Louis Blankenship.

The final award of the night was the Wofford Cup. When selecting the Wofford Cup recipient, the USEA identifies those who have given so much to this sport that they rise to the very top. They dedicate their life to the betterment of eventing.

Our 2025 recipient is not only someone who fits that description but defines it—Max Corcoran.

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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 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Dec. 11—14. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

The USEA would like to thank the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Sponsors: Adequan, ARMA, Bates Saddles, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horse & Country, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, PulseVet, Rebecca Farm, RevitaVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee, and World Equestrian Brands.