Beezie Madden
Cazenovia, N.Y.
Show Jumping
Beezie Madden (Jon Stroud)
In 2014, Beezie Madden extended her legacy with a remarkable campaign that saw her collect victories throughout North America and Europe. Her season began with multiple top placings at FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival before claiming her third American Invitational title in Miami and a win in the Gran Premio Veracruz at CSIO4* Coapexpan. In May, Madden suffered a broken collarbone that forced her out of the saddle, but the steely veteran returned on remarkable form, helping the U.S. to Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup victories at CSIO5*s Hickstead and Dublin. In addition to producing a double clear in Hickstead’s Nation Cup, she made history two days later as the first women to ever win the The Longines King George V Gold Cup. Madden closed out the summer by anchoring the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team to Team Bronze at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where she also added Individual Bronze to her medal haul. Her season came to a conclusion with strong performances jumping at indoors, including scoring a remarkable win in the CP World Cup Qualifier at the National Horse Show.
This is the fourth time Madden has been awarded the William C. Steinkraus Trophy.
Diane Kastama
Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Para-Equestrian Driving
Diane Kastama (Pat Kastama)
Para-equestrian driver Diane Kastama enjoyed an outstanding season in 2014, which saw her top Advanced CDE competition and earn a World Championship Bronze medal. Following a car accident in 1991, Kastama was paralyzed, but a year later she was back in the saddle, and by 1994 she had taken up driving. After 20 years in the sport, the Grade I driver experienced a banner year as she won the Single Horse divisions at the Arizona CDE and the Vineyard Classic CDE in preparation for the 2014 FEI Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles. At the championships in Sandringham, England, Kastama delivered a clutch performance in the cones, producing one of only four clears to earn a third-place finish in the phase and secure a Team Bronze for the United States. Additionally, Kastama continued to work to advance the sport of para-driving and level the playing field for competitors in her role as Vice President of the United States Driving for the Disabled and working as a member of the USEF Para-Equestrian Technical Committee, while working with the USEF and American Driving Society on rules and procedures.
This is the first time Kastama has been awarded the Becky Grand Hart Trophy.
Gareth Selwood
Youngstown, N.Y.
Friesian
Gareth Selwood (Jon Mcarthy Photography)
Gareth Selwood scored numerous victories in driving classes with Lorick Stables’ string of Friesians in 2014. At the Buckeye Baroque Summer Jubilee, he earned three wins and six second-place finishes with two horses. Selwood claimed first place in the Friesian Carriage, Country, and Show Pleasure Driving Open classes at the ERAHC Classic Andalusian/Lusitano Show. Next up was the Midwest Baroque Horse Regionals Championship Show and four Regional Champion Friesian Driving titles for Selwood. He continued his winning ways at the Baroque Horse Regional Championship. In addition to Friesian Carriage and Country Pleasure Driving Open classes, Selwood took top honors for Friesian Carriage Pleasure Driving Turnout and Reinsmanship in the Open division. He brought his season to a close at the IFSHA Friesian World & Grand National Championship Horse Show. Selwood claimed a World Champion title and four World Reserve Champion titles, in addition to guiding his students to several top placings. A longtime member of both IFSHA and IALHA, Selwood also judged the 2014 IALHA Andalusian/Lusitano National Show.
This is the first time Selwood has been awarded the Bill Robinson Trophy. He was also previously awarded the Norman K. Dunn Trophy.
Liza Boyd
Camden, S.C.
Hunter
Liza Boyd (Shawn McMillen)
Liza Boyd has long been regarded as one of the top hunter professionals in the industry, having won 28 USHJA International Hunter Derbies, including back-to-back wins in the 2013 and 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships. With her win in the 2014 Derby Championships, Boyd made history as the first rider to ever claim victory in the prestigious class twice. Making the feat even more impressive, she had only recently returned to the saddle after giving birth to her daughter, Adeline, two-and-a-half months earlier. Boyd also took home Performance Working – 3’6” and Pre-Green Hunter 3’ Division Championships at the Charleston Summer Classic, as well as the Performance Working – 3’3” Championship at the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. She rounded out the year with wins in the Performance Hunter 3’6” Championship at the Kentucky National, and in the Green Conformation Hunter Championship at the Atlanta Fall Classic.
This is the second consecutive year Boyd has been awarded the Emerson Burr Trophy.
Mary Gaylord McClean
Simpsonville, Ky.
American Saddlebred
Mary Gaylord McClean (Howard Schatzberg)
Mary Gaylord McClean enjoyed a standout year in 2014, starting with a win in the Five-Gaited Limit Horse-Amateur Rider class at the Kentucky Spring Premier Horse Show in April. Her most successful outing was the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show, where she won all but one of the 11 classes in which she competed, including the Amateur Harness Pony, Roadster Pony, Ladies Three-Gaited and Ladies Five-Gaited Championships. Just a month later, McClean earned the Amateur Harness Pony, Ladies Three-Gaited, Ladies Five-Gated, and the Kentucky County Fair Harness Pony Championships at the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show. She closed out her year again winning all but one of the four classes in which she competed at the Kentucky Fall Classic.
This is the first time McClean has been awarded the C.J. “June” Cronan Trophy.
Jacques Van Niekerk
Knoxville, Tenn.
Friesians
Jacques Van Niekerk (Howard Schatzberg)
Jacques Van Niekerk completed an outstanding 2014 campaign, garnering multiple championships with an array of horses in the Saddleseat division. While the bulk of Van Niekerk’s titles came with Friesian horses, he showed breadth of talent competing in Saddlebred competition as well. The South African native, earned multiple titles throughout the year in the IFHSA/USEF competition at the regional and World Championship level. For his achievements in 2014, Van Niekerk was awarded the Horse World Magazine People’s Choice Friesian Under Saddle Award, as well as the United Professional Horseman’s Association Chapter 8 Horseman of the Year title, becoming the first trainer in the region to be honored for his success in Saddleseat competition with Friesians.
This is the first time Van Niekerk has been award the C.J. “June” Cronan Trophy.
Bruce Griffin
Gretna, Va.
Friesian
Bruce Griffin (Howard Schatzberg)
Versatile horseman Bruce Griffin had a banner year in 2014, finding particular success in western pleasure classes. Beginning his season at the IFSHA Region 1 Horse Show, Griffin took home Region1 Champion honors in Friesian Western Pleasure – Open and Friesian Trail Under Saddle. He was named the Region 5 Reserve Champion for Friesian Western Pleasure – Open at the Buckeye Baroque Summer Jubilee. Next up for Griffin was the Baroque Horse Regional Championship where he was the Region 2 Friesian Western Pleasure – Open Reserve Champion. He ended the year at the IFSHA Friesian World & Grand National Championship Horse Show, racking up numerous top placings. In the western discipline classes, Griffin claimed World Champion titles in Friesian Western Pleasure Jr. Horse and Friesian Western Pleasure – Open and World Reserve Champion titles in Friesian Western Pleasure, Mares & Geldings and Part Bred Friesian Western Pleasure – Open. In addition to these honors, he also won the USEF Western Dressage Hack – Open OTAB and USEF Western Pleasure – Open OTAB.
This is the first time Griffin has been awarded for the Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy. He has also twice been awarded the Norman K. Dunn Trophy.
Howard Peet (Provided by Howard Peet)
Mira Loma, Calif.
Andalusian/Lusitano
The Norman K. Dunn Trophy is presented to the equestrian competing at halter or in-hand.
Howard Peet celebrated a successful year, as he earned accolades at the IALHA National Championship. He took home three National Grand Championships, comprising of the Andalusian/Lusitano Colts Two-Years-Old & Under, Andalusian/Lusitano Jr. Mares Three- & Four-Years-Old, and Andalusian Sr. Mares Five-Years and Over. He also won eight National Championships, including the Andalusian Pleasure Driving Open, Andalusian Country Pleasure Driving Open, and the Andalusian Carriage Pleasure Driving Working Open titles.
This is the first time Peet has been awarded the Norman K. Dunn Trophy.
Larry Hoffman
Hastings, Minn.
Arabian
Larry Hoffman (Ferrara)
Larry Hoffman has numerous top results to his name and 2014 was no different. His year began with several top placings aboard his Arabian and Half-Arabian mounts, before the championship season came about. At the Region 10 Arabian Championship Show, Hoffman scored the Reserve Champion titles for Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse, Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open, and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian (HA/AA) Hunter Pleasure Open, as well as being in the Top 5 of the HA/AA Show Hack Open. Next up for Hoffman was the Region 11 Arabian Championship Show where he was named the HA/AA Hunter Pleasure Open Champion and the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open Reserve Champion. He ended the year with strong performances at the U.S. National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show, being in the Top 10 in the HA/AA Hunter Pleasure and English Show Hack Championships.
This is the first time Hoffman has been awarded for the Vaughn Smith Trophy.