Harrisburg, PA – Brianne Goutal of New York, NY, defeated more than 200 of the nation’s top junior riders to win the 2005 Pessoa/USEF National Hunter Seat Medal Final, on Sunday, October 16, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. This marked the second largest field in history, with 279 riders vying for the title.

Goutal received a Pessoa saddle, Gold medal and a custom USEF cooler for the win, and will have her name added to the Adrian Van Sinderen Memorial Trophy, joining famous winners from the past, including: Victor Hugo-Vidal, George Morris, Katie Monahan-Prudent and Conrad Homfeld.

Goutal’s trainer, Frank Madden, was presented with the Leading Trainer Award.

Three rounds of competition were scored based on equitation and ability to ride with control, competency and compatibility, by judges Scott Hofstetter of Ocala, FL and Cynthia Hankins of Falls Church, VA, who incidentally, won the Medal Final herself in 1975.

The Pessoa/USEF National Hunter Seat Equitation Medal is a coveted USEF prize and proves to be a significant stepping stone for young riders, as nearly a third of past winners have gone on to represent the United States internationally. This year, more than a thousand Hunter Seat Equitation Medal qualifying classes took place at USEF recognized competitions throughout the country, resulting in the nearly record-breaking field 279 competitors.

The top ten finishers from the 2005 Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final:

1. Brianne Goutal, 17, Manhattan, NY
2. Sloane Coles, 16, The Plains, VA
3. Julie Welles, 17, West Simsbury, CT
4. Maria Schaub, 16, Holmdel, NJ
5. Blythe Marano, 17, Bedminster, NJ
6. Kimberly McCormack, 15, Clermont, NJ
7. Alex Maida, 17, Danville, CA
8. Emma Lipman, 15, Bedford, NY
9. Tatiana Dzavik, 15, of Toronto, Canada
10. Henry Pfeiffer, 16, of Temperance, MI
~~~For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager at (859) 225-6974 or via e-mail at [email protected]. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.