Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Breyer Animal Creations® as the title sponsor of the 2008 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. This partnership supports the effort to continue to expand the base of young people contributing to the leadership and promotion of equestrian sports through this awards program.

The Youth Sportsman’s Award recognizes youths who are members of both the USEF and their USEF-recognized national affiliate and demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to both organizations by serving as a role model for their peers and through the promotion of the horse. The program’s goal is to develop youths to become leaders in the equine industry from all breeds and disciplines. This program provides an opportunity for the USEF and Breyer to give back to outstanding young equestrians and recognize them for their achievements.

“Breyer's leadership role in supporting the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award program exemplifies the type of leadership that the program instills in its youth participants, including recognition of effort within the industry, stepping forward at the right time and place, proactively steering toward the future while maintaining a very healthy regard of the past,” said Karen Homer-Brown, USEF’s Managing Director of National Affiliates. “At USEF, we believe that our efforts to engage young equestrians in the sport are partly contingent upon our ability to recognize and reward their individual passion for the sport, which is a vital step in sustaining a bright future for equine sport everywhere.”

Breyer recognizes that participating in horse sports helps to develop invaluable life skills that enable young people to succeed in all areas of life.

“As we move into the 21st century, many challenges face our industry and sport,” said Kathleen Fallon, Breyer’s Marketing Communications Director. “We believe that programs such as the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award will help develop equestrians with these important skills, who are able to articulate how they’ve benefitted from involvement with horse sports, serve as role models and leaders, and help to ensure that the love of horses and participation in horse sports remains a relevant part of our cultural heritage.”

Founded in 1950, Breyer Animal Creations’® mission is to celebrate the horse. Acquired by privately-held Reeves International, Inc. in 1984, Breyer® dominates the model horse market in volume, sales, distribution, innovation and quality. Breyer creates approximately 300 unique horses, animals and accessories each year as well as plush, resin and porcelain models. An integral part of the equestrian lifestyle, Breyer strives to bring the love of horses to the public through its portrait models of champion horses.

Nominations are still open for the 2008 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. Full nomination criteria and application can be found at http://www.usef.org/contentPage2.aspx?id=youthcouncil. The award will be presented at the USEF Annual Meeting January, 2009.

For more information on the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award, please contact Karen Homer-Brown, USEF’s Managing Director of National Affiliates, at (859) 225-6958 or via e-mail at [email protected]


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