The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the names of five equestrians who have been selected to receive the year's most coveted honors. Awarded by the USEF, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Junior Equestrian of the Year, and the Pegasus Medals of Honor will be presented during the Pegasus Awards gala on Friday, January 10, at The Hyatt Regency Lexington in Lexington, Ky. The winner of the Equestrian of the Year Award will be announced at the Pegasus Awards. More information is available here: http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2014USEFAnnualMeeting/

Lillie Keenan (©alcookphoto.com)

Lexington, Ky. - At just 17 years old, Lillie Keenan is already epitomizing the dedication, skill, poise, and sportsmanship that are required to reach the top of equestrian sport. A junior at the Spence School in New York, N.Y., Keenan actively participates in hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. For her talent, integrity, and contributions to the equestrian world, Keenan will be awarded the Ruth O’Keefe Meredith Memorial Trophy as the 2013 Junior Equestrian of the Year.

With her unprecedented success over the last 12 months, Keenan now stands among the most decorated junior riders in history. In the hunter ranks, she was named the Grand Junior Hunter Champion at the Devon Horse Show, in addition to earning Reserve Champion honors at the US Junior Hunter National Championships – East. Keenan also made a huge splash in the jumping ranks, winning many of the most coveted titles offered annually in the United States. In July, she earned Team and Individual Gold medals at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North before capturing Team Silver and Individual Gold at the Randolph College/USEF Junior Jumper Championships. She also earned her first Grand Prix victory in June by topping the $125,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix presented by Zoetis. Keenan showcased her exemplary riding style throughout the year by claiming the Shalanno Style of Riding Award at the Devon Horse Show and the William C. Steinkraus Style of Riding Award at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. She closed out her 2013 campaign by topping the fields in the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Finals, adding two of the most prestigious equitation titles to her resume.

In addition to excelling on the field of play, she also shines in the classroom, maintaining an A average while taking a full course load which includes Calculus, Biology, Spanish V, English, and Art History. Keenan, who’s most meaningful victory to date came in the 2011 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, also gives back to the sport she loves as a member of the USHJA Equitation Task Force and by helping other riders who also train out of Heritage Farm.