Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
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Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2008

By Stacey Meier and Melissa Davis

Lexington, KY- As the year comes to a close, the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2008 Equestrians of Honor. Of these seven honorees, one will be selected as the 2008 USEF Equestrian of the Year, one of USEF's most prestigious awards. All of the Equestrians of Honor will be recognized during the Annual Pegasus Awards Dinner at the USEF Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 17. The Annual Meeting will be held January 14-18 at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about the Annual Meeting, visit www.usef.org and click on the "2009 Annual Meeting" link near the bottom of the homepage.

Any USEF member can vote for the USEF Equestrian of the Year. Simply visit www.usef.org and scroll down to the end of the page where there will be a Horse of the Year voting link on the bottom left corner of the homepage. Voting for Horse of the Year will close on January 9, 2009 at 5 p.m. EST.

William C. Steinkraus Trophy

Steffen Peters (Dressage) San Diego, California

Leading up to his impressive (and frustratingly close) individual fourth place finish at the 2008 Olympic Games Steffen Peters and the Dutch Warmblood gelding, Ravel, had been invincible in 2008 winning in every outing in the 2008 season. Debuting at the World Cup qualifier in Burbank this February, Peters and Ravel swept the grand prix divisions at the next CDI*** at Burbank in March and the CDI*** Del Mar in April, thereby also qualifying for the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. After two consecutive weekends, this talented pair finished with a remarkable overall score of 79.500% to be named champions of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship and USEF Selection Trials for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in dressage.

This victory made Peters the National Grand Prix Champion for the third consecutive year, on three different horses, while Ravel accumulated a total of eight grand prix victories by July 1. During the 2008 Olympic Games, he defined sportsmanship watching every single ride of both other disciplines and staying long after dressage was over to cheer on his teammates in show jumping. Steffen Peters handled himself with extraordinary composure and class after the disappointment of barely missing a medal.

2008 Accomplishments: * Member of U.S. Dressage Team, 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong - Individual Fourth Place Finish with Ravel

* Champion of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship and USEF Selection Trials for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in dressage, riding Ravel; also rode Lombardi to overall fifth-place finish. This victory made Steffen Peters the USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Champion for the third consecutive year on three different horses.

* Winner, CDI*** Burbank, CA (March), grand prix and fFreestyle with Ravel

* Winner, CDI*** Del Mar, CA (March), grand prix and special with Ravel, freestyle with Prince

* Winner, CDI-W Burbank, CA (February), Grand Prix and Special with Ravel, second-place freestyle with Lombardi 11

* 2nd place, CDI*** Del Mar, CA (April), grand prix and freestyle with Lombardi 11

Prior Accomplishments:

2007

* Member, U.S. Dressage Team, CDIO*** Aachen, Germany with Lombardi 11

* Champion of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship with Lombardi 11

* FEI World Cup(tm) Dressage Final, Las Vegas, NV, second place - grand prix, third place - freestyle with Floriano

* CDI-W Del Mar, CA (November), Grand Prix and Freestyle with Lombardi 11

* CDI-W Del Mar, CA (April), grand prix and special with Lombardi 11

* Winner, CDI-W Burbank, CA (March), grand prix (for freestyle) and freestyle with Floriano, grand prix (for special) & special with Lombardi 11 2006

* Team Bronze Medal as member of U.S. Dressage Team, FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen, Germany, with Floriano

* Champion of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship with Floriano

* CDI*** Del Mar, CA (April), Winner - Grand Prix, second place - Freestyle with Floriano

* Winner, CDI*** Burbank, CA (March), grand prix and special with Floriano

Becky Grand Hart Trophy

Chester Weber (Driving) Ocala, Florida

Chester Weber, the winner of the Becky Grand Hart trophy, is a winner at the highest level of the sport, an avid promoter, an educator, a selfless volunteer and a valued colleague. In addition to his outstanding competition accomplishments, Weber is active on several USEF committees and is a prime mover in the organization of three combined driving events, including the best of the best, CAI-A Live Oak International.

2008 has been a banner year for Weber. His successful summer campaign in Europe earned him an Individual Silver medal in the Four-in-Hand World Driving Championships in The Netherlands. In addition to competing in Europe, Weber won his sixth consecutive national championship title at the Budweiser Live Oak International Combined Driving Competition in Ocala, Florida. These accomplishments and many more make Weber most deserving of the Becky Grand Hart Trophy.

2008 Accomplishments:

* Individual Silver medal, World Four-In-Hand Championships

* Winner of dressage at World Four-In-Hand Championships

* Winner of CAI-A Riesenbeck

* Winner of dressage at CAI-A Riesenbeck

* Winner of German International Driving Derby

* Winner of dressage at German International Driving Derby

* 3rd at CAIO Aachen

* Winner of dressage at CAIO Aachen

* USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion

* Winner of every USEF Selection Trial

Prior Accomplishments:

* Team Silver medal, World Equestrian Games, Jerez, Spain, 2002

* Competed in World Championships in 2004, 2006 (WEG Aachen), 2008

* USEF National Champion in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

* Won the German International Driving Derby, 2004

Bill Robinson Trophy

Harry Sebring (Morgans) Richmond, Massachusetts

Harry Sebring has been a professional Morgan horseperson since 1975. He helped develop the Morgan Judge's School curriculum, serves on the Morgan USEF Committee and has trained numerous World Champions, including R Bar B Lord Spence, Petalbrook Nicholas, Rapidan Georgian, Matter of Time and Larelledge Renegade.

Most recently at the 2008 Morgan World Championship Show, Sebring trained and showed CBMF Crown Prince to a Grand National and World Championship in the three-year-old park harness division. He also trained Indiancreek American Girl to a Grand National Championship and a World Championship in the three-year-old futurity park harness, winning all three-year-old park harness classes offered at the World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Additionally, he trained and showed a two-year-old, Tara's Brind 'Amour, to a World Championship in the two-year-old futurity pleasure driving and Prindle's Mere Mortal, a horse owned and shown by Ann Hailey. Mere Mortal won the Master's Classic Pleasure Driving World Championship and the Grand National qualifying class. This is the fifth year in a row that Mere Mortal has won a world title.

2008 Accomplishments:

2008 UPHA Spring Premiere

* Morgan Park Harness Open Champion

* Morgan Pleasure Driving Open Reserve Champion

2008 Southern States Morgan

* Park Harness Junior Horse Reserve Champion

* Southern States Park Harness Reserve Champion

2008 Massachusetts Morgan

* Park Harness Champion

2008 Morgan World Championship Show

* Three-year-old Park Harness Grand National and World Champion

* Three-year-old Futurity Park Harness Grand National Champion

* Two-year-old Futurity Pleasure Driving World Champion

Prior Accomplishments:

2007 Vermont Spring Classic Morgan

* Morgan Pleasure Driving Open Junior Champion

* Morgan Park Harness Open Champion

2007 Connecticut Morgan

* Morgan Park Harness Open Champion

* Morgan United Professional Horseman's Association Classic Pleasure Driving Champion

2007 Morgan World Championship Show

* Pleasure Driving Mare Grand National Champion

Emerson Burr Trophy

Scott Stewart (Hunter) Wellington, Florida

Accepting the Emerson Burr Trophy for outstanding achievement in the hunter division is becoming a routine for Scott Stewart. Stewart first won the award in 2003 and then again last year in 2007. Once again, 2008 was a successful year for Stewart. With victories across the country at prestigious shows such as Devon, where he was named Green Conformation Hunter Champion and Grand Hunter Champion, and the Capitol Challenge where he was named Second Year Green Champion. Leading up to the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) where he was named Second Year Green Working Hunter Champion, Green Conformation Hunter Champion and tied for Grand Hunter Champion on his horse Ovation. Aboard another one of his mounts, World Time, Stewart was First Year Green Working Hunter Champion. To top everything off, he was also Leading Hunter Rider for the fourth time at WIHS.

2008 Accomplishments:

2007 Emerson Burr Award Winner

Washington International Horse Show

* Second Year Green Working Hunter Champion

* Green Conformation Hunter Champion

* Tied for Grand Hunter Champion

* First Year Green Working Hunter Champion

* Leading Hunter Rider for the fourth time at WIHS

CN Winter Equestrian Festival

* First Year Green Working Hunter Champion

Capital Challenge Horse Show

* Second Year Green Champion

Devon

* Green Conformation Hunter Champion

* Grand Hunter Champion

Hampton Classic

* Regular Working Hunter Champion

* First Year Green Hunter Champion

* Second Year Green Hunter Champion

* Regular Conformation Hunter Champion

Prior Accomplishments:

2007

Wellington Classic

* Regular Working Hunter Champion

Kilkenny International

* Champion and Reserve Champion Green Conformation Hunter

Wellington Masters

* Regular Working Hunter Champion

* Champion and Reserve Champion Green Conformation Hunter

Tournament of Champions

* Green Conformation Hunter Champion

Devon

* First Year Green Working Hunter Champion

* Regular Conformation Hunter Champion

Hampton Classic

* Champion and Reserve Champion First Year Green Hunter

* Champion and Reserve Champion Green Conformation Hunter

Capitol Challenge

* Conformation Hunter Champion

C.J. "June" Cronan, Jr. Trophy

Jim Stachowski (Arabian) Mantua, Ohio

Hard work, honesty, integrity and dedication to the Arabian and Half-Arabian breeds have made Jim Stachowski a leader within the industry. Adding to his already impressive résumé, Stachowski made an impressive mark on the 2008 show season. At the Scottsdale Arabian Show with MD Aquarius, he took home the Arabian Park Horse Championship along with the Half Arabian Adult Amateur Park Horse Championship aboard Polkapalooza. With numerous wins throughout the year, this horseman from Ohio, who has operated a training facility with his brother for more than 30 years, wrapped up the show season in style winning one U.S. National Championship and four U.S. Reserve National Championships.

2008 Accomplishments:

2008 Scottsdale Arabian

* Arabian Park Horse Champion

* HA/AA Park Horse Champion

* Arabian English Pleasure Reserve Champion

2008 Medallion II

* 1st place- HA/AA English Please Junior Horse

* 1st place- HA/AA Country Pleasure Driving Open

2008 Region XIV Silverama

* 1st place- Region 14 Arabian Country English Pleasure- Junior Horse

* Pleasure Driving Champion

2008 U.S. Nationals

* 2008 U.S. National HA/AA Park Horse Champion

* 2008 Unanimous U.S. National HA/AA English Pleasure Junior Horse Reserve Champion

* 2008 Unanimous U.S. National Arabian English Pleasure Reserve Champion

* 2008 U.S. National HA/AA English Pleasure Reserve Champion

* 2008 U.S. National Arabian Country Pleasure Driving Reserve Champion

Prior Accomplishments:

2007

Scottsdale Arabian

* Arabian Country Pleasure Driving Champion

* HA/AA English Pleasure Junior Horse Champion

* 1st place, HA/AA Park Horses, Open

Michigan All Arabian Horse Show

* 1st place, HA/AA English Pleasure

Region XIV Silverama

* 1st place, Arabian English Pleasure

* HA/AA English Pleasure Champion

* HA/AA English Pleasure Junior Horse Champion

Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy

Brett Becker (Arabian) Grass Valley, CA

Brett Becker's winning ways have helped establish him in an industry of greats. As a result, his farm, located in Grass Valley, California, has been transformed into a home of numerous National Champion horses. Over the years Brett has accumulated countless National Championships through his hard work, consistency and honest approach. 2008 was no different for Becker as his Western horses took home top honors at U.S. Arabian Nationals. Becker had three National Championship wins, in the Half Arabian Western Pleasure Open, Half Arabian Western Pleasure Futurity, and Western Pleasure Futurity. In a year filled with hard work and championship, it is understandable that Becker is this year's recipient of the Barbara Worth Oakford trophy.

2008 Accomplishments:

Scottsdale Arabian

* Arabian Western Pleasure Champion

* 1st place Arabian Western Pleasure Novice Horses

* 1st place Half Arabian Adult Amateur Pleasure Futurity Classic

AHANC All Arabian and Half Arabian

* 1st place Arabian Western Pleasure Junior Horses

* 1st place HA/AA Western Pleasure, Junior Horses

* 1st place HA/AA Western Pleasure, Limit Horses

Region I Championship

* Arabian Western Pleasure Champion

* 1st place Arabian Western Pleasure Open

* Half Arabian Adult Amateur Western Pleasure Junior Horse Champion

US Nationals

* National Champion Half Arabian Western Pleasure Open

* National Champion Half Arabian Western Pleasure Futurity

* National Champion Western Pleasure Futurity

* Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Open

Prior Accomplishments: 2007 Whittier Host Lions Club Annual Arabian

* Arabian Western Pleasure Champion, Junior Horses

* Arabian Western Pleasure Champion

Scottsdale Arabian

* 1st place Arabian western Pleasure, Gentlemen to Ride

* 1st place Arabian Western Pleasure Junior Horses

* 1st place Arabian Western Pleasure, Gelding

* 1st place Half Arabian Adult Amateur Western Pleasure Futurity

* 1st place Half Arabian Adult Amateur Western Pleasure Junior Horses- 3 & 4 years

* HA/AA Western Pleasure Champion, Junior Horses

Region 1 Championship Arabian

* Arabian Western Pleasure Junior Horse Champion

* Half Arabian Adult Amateur Western Pleasure Champion

* Region 4 Arabian Western Pleasure Open Champion

* Region 4 Arabian Western Pleasure Futurity Champion

* Region 2 Half Arabian Adult Amateur Western Pleasure Junior Horse, Champion

US National Arabian & Half Arabian National Championship

* Arabian Western Pleasure Champion, Junior Horse

* HA/AA Western Pleasure Reserve Champion

* 1st place, Half Arabian Adult Amateur Western Pleasure Futurity Classic

Norman K. Dunn Trophy Joan Lurie (American Saddlebred, Morgan) Simpsonsville, Kentucky

>From a young age, Joan Lurie worked in many states with many breeds until she became completely absorbed with Morgans. Lurie won many top in-hand titles with such Morgan greats as World Champion stallion Century Free Spirit, World Champion stallion Tug Hill Whamunition and World Champion mare Liberation Starbrite. However, in 1981, when she moved to Kentucky and opened the renowned Willowbank Farm, she broadened her operation to include American Saddlebreds. Over the years, Lurie has trained more than 25 in-hand Saddlebred World's Champions. In 1999, her youngsters went "three for three" winning World's Championship titles at the Kentucky State Fair in both the Kentucky yearling and weanling futurities and the weanling breeders class.

2008 was no different for Lurie, and her ability to spot and prepare "the best of the best" shone after winning the World's Championship ASR Futurity of Kentucky Weanling with I'm in Heaven and the World's Championship ASR Futurity of Kentucky Yearling class with Nutorious at the Kentucky State Fair. In addition, Lurie went back to her early Morgan roots at the Oklahoma City World Championships and her entry, Brenda Starr, won the Grand National Four-Year-Old Mare title.

2008 Accomplishments:

Kentucky State Fair World's Championships

* World's Champion ASR Futurity of Kentucky Weanling

* World's Champion ASR Futurity of Kentucky Yearling

Grand National and World Championship Morgan

* Grand National Four-Year-Old Mare

Prior Accomplishments:

Has trained more than 25 in-hand World's Champions, including:

2007 Kentucky State Fair World's Championships

* World's Champion ASR Futurity of Kentucky Weanling

* World's Champion Weanling Breeders

2006 Kentucky State Fair World's Championships * World's Champion Weanling Breeders

For more information, please contact Melissa Davis, USEF Marketing Coordinator, at mdavis@usef.org or (859) 225-6944.

ENDS

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation® is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes.