Lexington, KY – Becker College, with campuses in Worcester and Leicester, MA, has joined title sponsor Pessoa, as one of the major sponsors of the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. As the presenting sponsor, Becker College will receive national exposure in the equestrian world. The annual October event will now be known as the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Becker College.

“It is an honor for Becker College to be associated with the USEF, and the prestigious Hunter Seat Medal Finals is the perfect opportunity for Becker to reach young equestrians,” said Ken Zirkle, Becker College president. “In keeping with our mission of providing innovative, career-focused education, we have a new, state-of-the-art equine center where students can study riding instruction, equine science and equestrian facilities management.”

The finals, held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania since 1968, is one of the most prestigious and oldest medal finals in the country dating back to 1937 and represents the top level of competition for junior riders. The 2005 event marked the second largest in history with 279 riders vying for the title and was featured in the recent Animal Planet series, “Horse Power: Road to the Maclay.” The riders are scored based on equitation and the ability to ride with control, competency and compatibility.

The USEF Hunter Seat Medal and the accompanying Van Sinderen trophy is a coveted USEF honor and has proven to be a significant stepping stone for young riders, as nearly a third of past winners have gone on to represent the United States internationally. In 2005 young riders across the nation competed in more than a thousand USEF Hunter Seat Equitation Medal qualifying classes at USEF recognized competitions throughout the country.
~~~For more information, please contact Jeannie Putney, National Marketing Manager, at (859) 225-6974, or via e-mail at [email protected].