United States Eventing Association

Meet the 2020 Year-End Award Winners

It has been a year unlike any other for the eventing community due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Year-End Awards Ceremony, typically held in person at the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Annual Meeting & Convention, will instead be held virtually via Zoom this year on Friday, January 8, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. Despite the strangeness of the year, we want to take a moment to come together and celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our members. As in years past, the ceremony will be led by Master of Ceremonies Jim Wofford and give eventers the opportunity to celebrate their successes with their family and friends.

The USEA Leaderboard of Champions presented by Nunn Finer recognizes many divisions within the levels from Beginner Novice through Advanced. Each winner of the rider categories will receive a ribbon and a beautiful keeper trophy and winners of the horse categories will receive a ribbon and 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.

Beginner Novice

• Junior Rider - Riley Jones
• Intercollegiate Rider - Jessica Wymbs
• Young Adult Rider - Ansleigh Craven and Morgan Scudder
• Adult Amateur Rider - Jennifer Brown
• Adult Rider - Casey Locklear
• Master Amateur Rider - Ann Schliemann and Heather Sinclair
• Master Rider - Brenda Hutton
• Horse - Señor Santana

Novice

• Junior Rider - Tessa Geven
• Intercollegiate Rider - Paige Ansaldi
• Young Adult Rider - Paige Ansaldi
• Adult Amateur Rider - Lily Barlow
• Adult Rider - Megan Edwards
• Master Amateur Rider - Brooke Kahl
• Master Rider - Alison Eastman-Lawler
• Horse - Lexington III

Training

• Junior Rider - Carlin Keefe
• Intercollegiate Rider - Mikayla Kearney
• Young Adult Rider - Lea Adams-Blackmore
• Adult Amateur Rider - Skylar Rowen
• Adult Rider - Heidi Crowell
• Master Amateur Rider - Natalie Epstein
• Master Rider - Beth Murphy
• Horse - Herr Winzig

Modified

• Junior Rider - Ella Kay Lane
• Intercollegiate Rider - Kaley Crosby
• Young Adult Rider - Kaley Crosby
• Adult Amateur Rider - Kelsey Hoiness
• Adult Rider - Kelly Ransom
• Master Amateur Rider - Micheline Jordan
• Master Rider - Carolyn Wehle
• Horse - Shirseen Ice

Preliminary

• Junior Rider - Katarina Midgley
• Intercollegiate Rider - Ryan Keefe and Audrey Sanborn
• Young Adult Rider - Camryn Holcomb
• Adult Amateur Rider - Arden Wildasin
• Adult Rider - Caroline Martin
• Master Amateur Rider - Pedro Gutierrez
• Master Rider - Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp
• Horse - Maryville Sir Henry
• 6-Year-Old Horse - Vandyke

Intermediate

• Young Rider - Katie Lichten
• Intercollegiate Rider - Katie Lichten
• Adult Amateur Rider - Marley Stone Bourke
• Adult Rider - Boyd Martin
• Master Amateur Rider - Asia Vedder
• Horse - Lady Chatterley
• 7-Year-Old Horse - Cooley Stormwater

Advanced

• Young Adult Rider - Madison Temkin
• Adult Amateur Rider - Ashlynn Meuchel
• Adult Rider - Boyd Martin
• Master Amateur Rider - Kevin Keane
• Horse - Luke 140

Overall Awards

The USEA Classic Series drawing sponsored by D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles was presented this year to the lowest scoring rider at the Waredaca Classic Series Training Three-Day, Ema Klugman (Clarksburg, Maryland). Klugman was awarded a custom fitted D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis saddle.

The 2020 Sunsprite Warmbloods Volunteer of the Year is James Newman (Charlottesville, Virginia). Newman logged 292.51 volunteer hours at USEA recognized events this year and received $1,000, a “2020 Volunteer of the Year” embroidered jacket, and a trophy.

The Linda Moore Trophy was presented to the 2020 RevitaVet USEA Young Rider of the Year Benjamin Noonan (Ballwin, Missouri). Noonan received a check for $1,000 and a RevitaVet system.

The 2020 USEA Adult Amateur of the Year award went to Arden Wildasin (Aiken, South Carolina). She was presented the Col. Allen D. Smith Memorial Trophy and $1,000.

The Essie Perkins Trophy went to the 2020 Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Ocala, Florida). Halliday-Sharp received $1,000 and a voucher for a Bates saddle.

Stephen Brown and Lesley Grant-Law's Lady Chatterley was the recipient of the 2020 Bates USEA Mare of the Year award and received the Frolicsome Trophy, $1,000, and a voucher for a Bates saddle. Lady Chatterley (Connor x Jucy) is a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Stephen Brown and Lesley Grant-Law and ridden by Leslie Law.

The 2020 SmartPak USEA Stallion of the Year, presented with The Windfall Trophy, $1,000, and an embroidered show cooler provided by SmartPak, was M Crème De La Crème SE (Clair de Lune SE x Zathalida SE), an 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Rose Sullivan and ridden by Alexis Helffrich.

The Theodore O’Connor Trophy, $1,000, and an embroidered show cooler provided by SmartPak was awarded to the 2020 SmartPak USEA Pony of the Year, Señor Santana, a 15-year-old Quarter Pony gelding owned and ridden by Riley Jones.

The Luke 140 Syndicate's Luke 140 (Landos x Omega IV), a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, was named the 2020 Standlee Premium Western Forage USEA Horse of the Year, receiving The Caser Trophy and $1,000. In 2020, Luke 140 was fourth in the Advanced at Pine Top, first in the Advanced at Horse Park of New Jersey, first in the CCI3*-S at the Virginia Horse Trials, 18th in the CCI4*-S at Great Meadow International, second in the Advanced at Morven Park, and first in the CCI4*-L at Galway Downs International.

The 2020 World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year and recipient of the Windy Acres Farm Trophy was Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Ocala, Florida). Halliday-Sharp is the first female rider to win this award in 39 years, and one of only six riders to do so in the history of the award. She earned $1,000, a set of four Equilibrium Impact Cross-Country Boots, and a pair of Amerigo Safety Stirrups.

Special Awards

Rachael Livermore (Aldie, Virginia) was awarded the 2020 USEA Groom of the Year, 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. Livermore grooms for Sharon White.

The Vintage Cup is awarded to members 60 years of age and over who are competing at any level in recognized USEA competitions and who show good sportsmanship. This year, the Vintage Cup was presented to Lorilee Hanson (Issaquah, Washington).

The Cornerstone Instructor’s Award recognizes lower level instructors for their dedication to the fundamentals of educating well-rounded eventers. This year’s Cornerstone Instructor’s Awards went to Elizabeth Tuckey (Snohomish, Washington), Stephanie Baer (Weston, Massachusetts), and Brad Hall (Galena, Illinois).

New this year is the Instructors' Certification Program Sue Hershey Award. The award honors an ICP certified instructor who exemplifies the values, commitment, and character of the ICP program and who has inspired students in the sport of eventing, with their instruction, encouragement, and long-term dedication to teaching correct horsemanship and stable management skills. Sue Hershey dedicated over 20 years to the development and continued progression of the Instructors' Certification Program. The award was presented this year to John Camlin (Onalaska, Washington.)

This year's recipient of the Ironmaster Trophy is Lynn Klisavage (Parker, Colorado). The Ironmaster Trophy is presented to the individual that exemplifies fortitude and courage. Read more about Lynn Klisavage's story here.

Jonathan Elliott (Yelm, Washington) was the recipient of the Andrew H. Popiel Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the role of event organizers and their commitment to the sport. Elliott is the organizer of the Aspen Farms Horse Trials in Yelm, Washington.

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 Ben Ascani (Scottsdale, Arizona), Jean and James Moyer (Gig Harbor, Washington), and Dr. Mark Hart (Lake Oswego, Oregon).

In partnership with the USEA Foundation, the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust and the Broussard Family formed the 2020 Broussard Going Forward Educational Grants to reward deserving candidates 18 years old and above who are passionate about moving their commitment to the sport forward in three areas: Horsemanship Immersion Program, Instructors' Certification Program, and Eventing Officials “r” Training Program. Those recipients are as follows:

Horse Immersion Program

• Patricia "Peaches" Cava (Enumclaw, Washington)

Instructors' Certification Program

• Laura Vello (Shreveport, Louisiana)
• Gina Pletch (Lafayette, Indiana)
• Michael Graham (Brighton, Colorado)

Eventing Officials "r" Training Program

• Jeanie Clarke (Anthony, Florida)
• Jennifer Rousseau (Barrington Hills, Illinois)
• John Meriwether (Portland, Oregon)

The Virtual Year-End Awards Ceremony celebrating all of the 2020 USEA Leaderboard winners from Beginner Novice to Advanced as well as our overall and special award winners will take place on Friday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time via Zoom. Stay tuned for details on how to watch the Year-End Awards Ceremony coming soon!

Miss any of the 2020 Virtual USEA Annual Meeting & Convention action last week? Check out all the live sessions and educational content on demand here!

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! Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

The USEA would like to thank the USEA Corporate Partners and Annual Meeting Sponsors for making this year's virtual meeting possible: Nutrena Feeds, Standlee Hay, SmartPak Equine, Mountain Horse, Bates Saddles, Parker Equine Insurance, Adequan, and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.