Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the winners of the Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program which was held at The Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show on June 26-30, 2007, in Westport, CT. With pony riders competing to win in each age division, the winners were: Charlotte Caccamise in the 8 and under group; Devon Konley won the 9-11 age group and Katie Drake won the 12-14 age group.

The Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards program was created in 2002 by friends and family of the late Emerson Burr to promote and perpetuate good horsemanship in younger equestrians. In the past, the awards competition had been held solely at the USEF Pony Finals National Championships until 2006, when the program was expanded to include the Fairfield June Show.

The program was administered by USEF’s Assistant Director of Hunter/Jumpers Lauren E. Chapman along with show steward Maryann DiStefano and show committee volunteer Deborah Ward. The program consisted of two tests— a written test and a hands-on horsemanship test. The young equestrians in each of the four age groups who score the highest on the written test moved on to the hands-on horsemanship test. The best child in each age group received a $500 monetary grant for furthering their education or offsetting equestrian-related costs.

The next Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards program will take place at the USEF Pony Finals National Championships August 15-19, 2007 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information, please contact Marion Maybank, USEF Director of Hunter and Collegiate Activities, at (859) 225-2033 or via email at [email protected].

ENDS