Cast Your Vote! USEF Now Accepting Votes for 2005 Equestrian of the Year
Saturday, December 3, 2005
For Immediate Release December 2, 2005
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Lexington, KY--As the year comes to a close, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2005 Equestrians of Honor. Of these eight honorees, one will be selected as the 2005 USEF Equestrian of the Year. On-line voting begins today, and all members in good standing are invited to visit www.usef.org to cast their votes. Just click on the "Equestrian of the Year" icon on the right side of our homepage.
In a typical year, seven nominees are selected, one for each Equestrian of Honor trophy. This year however, due to a tie for the William C. Steinkraus trophy, there are eight finalists, as follows:
Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, NY, is one of two recipients of the William C. Steinkraus Trophy, awarded to an equestrian competing in the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing or show jumping. Madden was the anchor rider in six of eight Super League Nations Cup competitions this summer, leading the U.S. Show Jumping Team to overall victory in the 2005 Samsung Super League, arguably the one of the most prestigious series of show jumping competitions in the world. In addition, Madden was victorious at the 2005 $1,000,000 CN International Grand Prix and the prestigious 2005 $210,000 Queen Elizabeth Cup, both at Spruce Meadows in Canada, and won the 2005 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational Grand Prix in Tampa, FL.
The second recipient of the William C. Steinkraus trophy is George Williams, of Delaware, OH. Known for his precision-packed dressage performances, Williams was the winner of the 2005 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship. He also won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kur at Dressage at Devon, CDI 3*, as well as a number of other Grand Prix competitions throughout the year. In
addition, Williams represented the United States as a member of the Bronze medal-winning U.S. Dressage Team at CHIO Aachen, Germany during the 2005 World Equestrian Festival.
The Becky Grand Hart Trophy, given to an equestrian competing in international driving, endurance, Paralympics, reining or vaulting competitions, will go to vaulting stand-out Devon Maitozo, of Simi Valley, CA. The talented Maitozo once again claimed the championship title at the 2005 USEF/AVA Men's National Vaulting Championship. He also won the Men's Gold at Garrod's Spring Classic and took second place in the Men's Gold at CVI* Saratoga.
Raymond Shively, of Rockport, IN, will be awarded the Bill Robinson Trophy, given to an equestrian competing in harness or for driving performance in non-international competitions. An active Saddlebred and roadster competitor, Shively took home a number of championship titles at the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show this year, including World Grand Champion Roadster to Bike, Grand Champion Roadster to Wagon, and Champion Roadster to Bike Stallion/Gelding Stake.
The Emerson Burr Trophy, awarded to an equestrian competing in hunter classes over fences will go to Louise Serio of Kennett Square, PA. Serio won a number of Champion and Reserve Champion titles in 2005, turning the heads of judges and spectators alike. She was named Champion of the Regular Working Hunter at the Wellington Classic, Champion of the Green Working Hunter 1st Year at the Kilkenny Internationale, Champion of the Regular Working Hunter at Devon, Champion of the Regular Working Hunter at the Middleburg Classic and Champion of the Regular Working Hunter at the Capital Challenge. In addition, Serio claimed multiple Reserve Champion titles throughout the country.
Mike Goebig, of Kutztown, PA, topped the list in saddle seat performance sections and will receive the C.J. "June" Cronan, Jr. Trophy. A widely known Morgan competitor, Goebig claimed a number of titles this competition season, including Champion Morgan Park Saddle Junior Horse at the New England Morgan, East Coast Champion Morgan Park Saddle at the New England Morgan, Champion Park Saddle Mare & Gelding at Morgan Grand National and World Championship, World Champion Park Saddle at the Morgan Grand National and World Championship, Reserve Champion English Pleasure Junior Horse at the New England Morgan and Reserve Champion Park Saddle Stallion at Morgan Grand National and World Championship.
The Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy, awarded to an equestrian showing in a non-reining western discipline, will go to Garn Walker, of Auburn, CA. Another tough competitor to beat in the Morgan world, this year Walker claimed titles of Champion Western Pleasure Junior Horse at the Far West Region 8 Morgan Championship, Champion Western Pleasure Junior Horse at the Morgan Medallion Classic, Champion Western Pleasure Gelding 15.1 & Over at Morgan Grand National and World Championship, Champion Western Pleasure Mare at Morgan Grand National and World Championship and Reserve Champion Western Pleasure at the Far West Region 8 Morgan Championship.
And last but not least, Gregory Gallun, of Santa Ynez, CA, will be the recipient of the Norman K. Dunn Trophy, awarded to those competing in-hand or at halter. A top competitor in Arabians, Gallun won the following titles in 2005: Champion Arabian Breeding Junior Colt at the AHA Region II Championship, Champion Arabian Breeding Junior Filly at the AHA Region II Championship, Champion Half/Anglo-Arabian In-Hand Stock Hunter Type Gelding at the AHA Region II Championship, Champion Arabian In-Hand Gelding at the Region V Championship, Champion Arabian Breeding Stallion at the Region V Championship, Champion Pure Bred Stallion Breeding 6 & Over at the US Arabian and Half-Arabian Nationals, Champion Half/Anglo-Arabian Gelding In-Hand Stock Hunter at the US Arabian and Half-Arabian Nationals. In addition, he won the Reserve Champion Arabian Breeding Junior Colt at Scottsdale Arabian, Reserve Champion Arabian Breeding Show Stallion at the AHA Region II Championship and Reserve Champion Arabian Breeding Show Mare at the AHA Region II Championship.
Again, the 2005 Equestrians of Honor, Madden, Williams, Maitozo, Shively, Serio, Goebig, Walker and Gallun, are now finalists in the voting for 2005 Equestrian of the Year. Members are invited to cast their finals votes at http://www.usef.org/eoty/index.php
The Equestrian of the Year Award will be announced and awarded at the Pegasus Awards Dinner on January 13, 2006 during the USEF Annual Meeting at the Hilton Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, log onto www.usef.org/convention/2006/index.php
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