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Articles: Press Release
Theodore O'Connor Named Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2008
By Brian Sosby
Louisville, KY-Among the regalia of the United States Equestrian
Federation's (USEF) historic Horse of the Year Awards program and black
tie gala, eventing champion and newly-crowned star Theodore O'Connor was
named the 2007 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year at the Downtown
Marriott in Louisville, KY.
Bred by P. Wynn Norman and owned by Theodore O'Connor Syndicate, "Teddy"
as he is known, burst onto the international stage in a big way in 2007.
First, he caught the eventing world's attention at the 2007 Rolex
Kentucky Three-Day Event by take a third-place finish. However, it was
his incredible performance at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, that turned him into the breakout star of the 2007
competition year.
With 2007 Equestrian of the Year Karen O'Connor as his guide, the
Arabian/Thoroughbred/Shetland pony, standing a mere 14.1 hands against
his much more statuesque competition, rallied across three days of
challenging competition to carry his rider to a duo of Gold
medals-Individual and Team.
The pony-and-riders equestrian discipiline-eventing-is a three-phase
competition when dressage, cross-country and show jumping are combined
to test the pairing in a variety of skills.
"How about that pony!" said O'Connor. "This has been an incredible year.
He has displayed such confidence and belief in himself...he's an amazing
athlete with a incredible heart, work ethic and intelligence."
The venerable eventer had just taken one of the Federation's top honors
a night before in winning the 2007 Equestrian of the Year Award. This
truly made for a fitting end to an amazing year for the pair.
"There are so many people to thank, including Wynn Norman. She has been
breeding this line for 25 years," continued O'Connor. "I have to also
thank the first person who bought a share of the syndicate, Susan
Miles." The rider shared a long list of others to thank, including the
groom for all of her international mounts Max Corcoran, her farm manager
Sue Clark, the blacksmiths, vets and Federation staff that had worked to
get them to the Pan American Games.
USEF members, media and the USEF Board of Directors voted to select
Theodore O'Connor for the prestigious honor presented at the 2007
Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year gala. The trophy-a 39-inch bronze
sculpture on permanent display at the USEF headquarters in Kentucky-was
commissioned by well-known equine artist Alexa King. In addition,
Theodore O'Connor's image will be portrayed on the Platform Treat
packaging for a year and receive a years worth of Platform feed.
Replicas of the trophy were presented to the owners of the winning horse
and finalists. Other finalists for the award were Aequus+//, a
19-year-old Arabian park horse owned by Hazelbank Investments; Esteban,
a six-year-old Friesian owned by Deb Goldmann; Free Willy, a 14-year-old
Hackney owned by Blevins Farms; and Sapphire, a 12-year-old Belgian
Warmblood jumper owned by McLain Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock.
Equestrians from every Federation breed and discipline were on-hand to
accept their honors.
ENDS
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation(r) 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. This is based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of horses.
Embracing
this vision, the USEF strives to be the best national equestrian
federation in the world.
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