Hillary Hoffman, 18, of Hastings, MN, has been named as the 2002 USA Junior Equestrian of the Year. The presentation of the Ruth O'Keefe Meredith Memorial Trophy will be made at the Pegasus Dinner, held during the USA Equestrian Annual Meeting, January 15-19, at the Marriott Griffin Gate in Lexington, KY.

The Ruth O'Keefe Meredith Memorial Trophy was established in 1985 to honor a junior individual who exemplifies "exceptional talent, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport" and has made "outstanding contributions to equestrian competition." A selection panel of six members, composed of representatives of the different breeds and disciplines recognized by USA Equestrian, is presented with a list of nominees and biographical information provided by the nominee. Previous winners included; Lindsey Phibbs (1997); Jill Prieto (1998); Emily Williams (1999); Sarah Willeman (2000) and Reese Richey (2001).

Hillary Hoffman; Arabian (Western and Reining/Stock Seat)

• This is her 3rd nomination for USA Junior Equestrian of the Year
• She is currently a freshman at St. Olaf College
• She has won every reining/stock seat equitation class shehas been eligible for as a youth
• She has also competed in pleasure classes, winning her first class this year

She won the following in 2002:

• 2002 IAHA National Champion
• Reining Seat Equitation JTR 14-17 Freestyle Reining JTR 14-17
• 2002 IAHA National Reserve Champion
• Arabian Western Side Saddle JTR 14-17
• Arabian Reining JTR 14-17
• 2002 IAHA Regional Champion
• Reining Seat Equitation JTR 14-17- Region VII
• Arabian Reining JTR 17 & Under- Region VII
• 2002 IAHA Regional Reserve Champion
• Arabian Western Pleasure JTR 14-17- Region X
• Arabian Western Pleasure JTR 17 & Under- Region XI
• She has been working with Kathy Meyer on the possibility of a USA Equestrian Youth Summit at our Annual Convention

She is very active within the IAHA in the following capacities:

• 2002-2003 International Arabian Horse Youth Association (IAHYA)
• Immediate Past Vice President of the IAHA
• IAHA Equitation Committee 19th delegate
• IAHA Working Western Committee 19th delegate
• IAHYA Equitation Committee Chair
• IAHYA Convention & Credentials Committee Chair
• Region X Youth Delegate

For more information, please contact Sarah Holt, Public Relations on (859) 225 6974 or via email at sholt@equestrian.org. USA Equestrian press releases are available on our web site - http://www.equestrian.org/ .

USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.

VISION STATEMENT
The vision of USA Equestrian is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian federation in the world.