Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces that Maxance McManamy has been selected as the 2009 USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year. McManamy will be honored at the USEF’s Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2010 in Louisville, KY, as part of the Pegasus Awards held Saturday evening.

The Ruth O’Keefe Meredith Trophy was established in 1985 to honor a junior equestrian who has made outstanding contributions to equestrian competition while exemplifying exceptional talent, sportsmanship and dedication. After reviewing the many candidates nominated for one of the USEF's highest honors, the Awards Committee selected the young equestrian who exceeded the demanding qualification criteria.

McManamy, 18, from Templeton, CA, is bringing positive attention to competition in the sport of eventing. With consistent skill and maturity in the three disciplines of dressage, cross-county and show jumping, the numerous successes in her young career are quite notable. In 2009, at the Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, McManamy was the Individual Gold medalist in the CCI**, and she, along with her team from Area VI, won the CCI** Team Gold. This year, she also took home reserve honors in the Young Horse Event Series in the five-year-old division at Galway Downs.

Not only has McManamy excelled in equine sports, she is also a community leader and star in the classroom. She works as a volunteer for The Wellness Community, 2008 Inaugural Bike-a-thon Tour of California, The Justin Wine Society Golf Tournament, as well as acting as the team leader for the United Way Community Grant. McManamy also started a non-profit organization in which she will be retraining young, off-the-track Thoroughbreds for other meaningful performance careers while raising awareness in the breed. Also, in a venture that comes straight from her heart, McManamy hopes to pay tribute to her late father by establishing The Marcel Fortney Iron Horse Award in each of the USEA Areas. This award will be given to the highest placing Young Rider in each Area, and has already been implemented in Area VI. McManamy's parents taught her that riding is a luxury that she has to earn, and that she must maintain a 4.0 GPA to compete. So far, she has done just that.

McManamy is a well-rounded and vital member of the equestrian community, a born leader and role model and a rider that is most deserving of this year’s Junior Equestrian of the Year title.

To qualify for the Junior Equestrian of the Year award, a young equestrian must have competed at USEF-recognized shows over the past year while displaying good sportsmanship and integrity. The winner is also someone who has excelled and has willingly given back to their sport.

For tickets to the 2010 USEF Annual Meeting and Pegasus Awards in Louisville, KY, visit www.usef.org and click on "2010 Annual Meeting" on the right side of the homepage.

For more information about the Junior Equestrian of the Year, contact Melissa Davis, USEF’s Marketing Coordinator, at (859) 225-6944 or [email protected].