Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the winners of the 2008 Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program for Zone 1 and Zone 3, which were recently held at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, CT, and the Deep Run Horse Show in Manakin-Sabot, VA.

At the Fairfield County Hunt Club, winners of the Zone 1 Emerson Burr Award were Savanna Hajdasz, Lillie Keenan, Dana Koebbe and Kate Tarbell-Littman. The written portion of the test was administered by Lynn Coakley and the hands-on portion of the test was administered by Maryann Di Stefano.

In Zone 3 at the Deep Run Horse Show, the winners of the Emerson Burr Award were Trinity Hammerschmidt, Kelsi Okun, Peyton Smith and Jessica Reber. The written portion of the test was administered by Gayle Presson and the hands-on portion of the test was administered by Wayne Eubank.

The Emerson Burr program consisted of two tests— a written test and a hands-on horsemanship test. The young equestrians who score the highest on the written test moved on to the hands-on horsemanship test. Each winner receives a $100 monetary grant to further their education or offset equestrian-related costs.

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. The program is offered in each of the 1-10 continental zones and also at the 2008 USEF Pony Finals National Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in August. The next test will be July 24-27 for Zone 2 at the Chemung County Classic Horse Show in Horseheads, NY.

As the sponsor of the 2008 Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program as well as the Official Equine Hospital of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital is a full-service equine hospital established in 1986 as a referral center for horses requiring specialized medical and surgical care. Today Rood & Riddle is known and respected throughout the world for innovative and highly skilled treatment of horses. Rood and Riddle’s reputation stems from their unwavering commitment to quality, both in the care of horses and in their relationship with clients and community.

For more information, including horse shows who are interested in offering the program or making a donation, please contact Marion Maybank, USEF Director of Hunter and Collegiate Activities, at (859) 225-2033 or via email at [email protected].