The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is proud to announce that Brianne Goutal of New York City is this year’s winner of the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award. The USET Foundation awarded the rising young equestrian this honor because of her competitive record to date and because of her promise for the future.
The recipients of this award are chosen based on their potential to represent the United States in international competition. A Show Jumping Developing Rider is defined as a U.S. citizen who has not represented the United States in Olympic, Pan American or World Championship competition. Alternates for the Olympic, Pan American or World Equestrian Games, as well as riders who have competed in the Show Jumping World Cup Final, are still considered Show Jumping Developing Riders and are eligible for the award.
The Maxine Beard Award was established by friends of trainer Ronnie Beard in honor of Ronnie’s mother. It was developed to assist riders in their quest for equestrian excellence. Observing international competition is a crucial component in the education of an equestrian athlete.
Goutal has recorded one of the best junior careers in history. She won the team and individual Gold medals at the 2005 North American Junior/Young Rider Championships and was the first rider to ever win all four major equitation finals: the 2004 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East; the 2004 Washington International Equitation Classic Finals, the 2005 USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal Finals and the 2005 ASPCA Maclay National Championships.
At the Garden State Horse Show in 2005, Goutal rode in her first grand prix class. She returned to Garden State in 2006 to win her first grand prix with Onira. Goutal was awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy in 2005 by the USET Foundation and was named the 2006 Junior Equestrian of the Year by the United States Equestrian Federation. Goutal was also chosen to wear the shield and the collar to represent the United States Equestrian Team at the 2006 Nations’ Cup competition in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she helped the U.S. win the team Gold medal. Goutal trains with Max Amaya of Stonehenge Stables and said she owes much to Frank and Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables.
In her first year out of the junior ranks, Goutal has easily made the transition to the grand prix level and has had impressive results. She won multiple Acorn Hill 1.40m Speed Challenge classes with Mon Gamin and is currently second in the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Circuit Championship standings. She and Onira were seventh in the 2007 $50,000 Farr XTN Grand Prix of Palm Beach and fourth in the 2007 $100,000 Zada Enterprises Masters Cup. With Casar (DE), she was fifth in the 2007 $100,000 CN Wellington Open. She was one of the top 20 riders on the FTI Rider Challenge list during the 2007 WEF and is 17th on the money list for the 2007 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, qualifying her to compete in the prestigious event for the first time.
“It’s a huge honor and I’m flattered to win the Maxine Beard award,” Goutal said. “A lot of great riders have won this before me, and I don’t know if I can fill their footsteps, but I’ll try.”
By winning the Maxine Beard Award, Goutal gets the opportunity to travel to the 2006 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Las Vegas in April. She will walk the courses with U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris, who coached her in Argentina. “It’s amazing how much you can learn from George in a short time,” she expressed. “I wanted to go to the World Cup but wasn’t going to have a chance. Now I can go!”
Morris stated, “She’s a most cooperative, pleasant, polite and giving person, which is why her horses love her. She’s a real horseperson. I hope she develops her horsemanship and passion as she moves into