Keenan competes in the East Conference Junior division of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series aboard Londinium. The month of January was very successful for Keenan and her riding partner, as they earned a 3rd place finish at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival’s first week, a 1st place finish at the Festival’s second week, and a 4th place finish at the Festival’s third week.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series honors one rider each month as the Rider of the Month. The honor goes to the one rider who earns the most points on one horse in Series competition that month.
“We would like to congratulate Lillie Keenan on being our first Rider of the Month for 2013,” said George Morris, President of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. “Capturing the Rider of the Month for January sets a tone of excellence for Keenan, and we expect to see more success from her throughout the season continuing the impressive record she has compiled in recent years.”
Success on the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series is nothing new for Keenan as she won the Series’ $50,000 Year-End Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, KY in 2011. Keenan won that combined Junior/Amateur-Owner Championship on her mount, Vanhattan, besting a field of the nation’s top horses and riders who were invited to compete in the Championship based on their performances throughout the year.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series hosts separate divisions for junior and amateur-owner riders in two Conferences—the East Conference and the West Conference. Series standings are used to help determine junior and amateur-owner entries for the Alltech National Horse Show and Las Vegas National Horse Show.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, held under Grand Prix rules and specifications. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series is designed to give amateur-owner and junior riders an opportunity to compete at higher levels and serves as a proving ground for many riders who aspire to someday represent the United States in international competition. The series receives sponsor support from SmartPak, The National Horse Show Association of America, and Stadium Jumping, Inc.
Any horse show offering a class that meets all the criteria set forth in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series specifications and has prize money of at least $1,000 is eligible to be part of the Series.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Plaques honoring those who have been honored with induction into the Hall of Fame can be seen at the Horse Park's Rolex Stadium. Mementos and artifacts from the sport's history are on display as part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame collection at the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Wheeler Museum at the Horse Park.