Wyeth, Jim and Penny Coulter with George H. Morris, Saer Coulter and Ronnie Beard at the Maxine Beard Award Presentation. (V.Valenti - The Book LLC)

Tampa, FL -  The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that 21-year-old Saer Coulter of San Francisco, CA, has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Rider Award. Coulter was presented with the Maxine Beard Award trophy at the American Invitational on April 6, 2013, at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

The selection was based on Coulter's competitive record and potential to represent the United States in international competition. In 2012, Coulter advanced to the highest levels of the sport, competing in the 2012 Olympic Selection Trials and also in multiple World Cup Qualifiers and Global Champions Tour events. The award provides Coulter the opportunity to be credentialed and travel with the U.S. delegation to the 2013 FEI World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, from April 24 - April 28. She will observe the operations of an international championship, including the stabling area, veterinary inspections and schooling, and will walk the courses with the U.S. Show Jumping Coach, Robert Ridland.

"It's a really big honor to receive this award," expressed Coulter. "Looking at the people that have won it in the past, it encourages you to keep continuing jumping at a high level and try and make the upper levels of the computer list and the senior teams. I tried to qualify for World Cup Finals and I just missed it, so it's really exciting to be able to go and be a part of the team."  
  
Coulter's international success began in 2010 when she and Chalan were on the team that represented the United States bringing home a victory at the CSIO Buenos Aires in Argentina. In 2011, Coulter placed second in the $50,000 HITS World Cup Qualifier in California aboard her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Springtime, and also placed second in the $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic II Grand Prix.

After finishing 10th in the Olympic Selection Trials and being named to the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Coulter and Springtime finished third in the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar. Throughout the summer she traveled to Europe to compete in the Global Champions Tour (GCT).

Coulter continued, "The Trials were an unbelievable experience. I think being able to jump a championship format against those riders was a great opportunity. It taught me a lot about riding my horse through different rounds, and how he starts and how he feels by the last day. I also got a lot of experience this summer getting to jump in the GCT events."

The Stanford University senior rides out of her family's Copernicus Stables, while training with Markus and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum. Coulter recently added new mounts to her string including Don V.H.P. Z, Carmena Z and Graciella 50.

"Last year, the focus was on gaining experience at the 1.60m level, and now I am focused on staying more consistent at that level," explained Coulter. "One of my main goals is to get my new horses jumping consistently at the 1.60m level. I'll do the GCT this summer, and I hope to make a few more second rounds and get a few good ribbons. I'd love to be a part of the World Equestrian Games process next year, whatever that may be, and maybe the 2016 process for Rio a few years from now. I just hope to continue getting the right experience in order to be a part of those events."

"Saer is a talented and hardworking rider who truly deserves this honor as she was a top placer in the World Cup West Coast League, just narrowly missing out on competing herself at the Championship this year. I fully expect we will see Saer on more United States teams and at international championships. She has a very bright future in this sport", commented George H. Morris.

With the talent, drive, and determination to be a top-notch competitor, Coulter has proven that she will be a part of the future for show jumping in the United States.

Previous Recipients of the Maxine Beard Award:

2012 - Katie Dinan
2011 - Ali Wolff
2010 - Nick Dello Joio
2009 - Ashlee Bond and Michelle Spadone
2008 - Hillary Dobbs
2007 - Brianne Goutal
2006 - Charlie Jayne
2005 - Cayce Harrison
2004 - Georgina Bloomberg
2003 - Michael Morrissey and Paige Johnson
2002 - Molly Warmington
2001 - Kent Farrington and Richard Rinehart
2000 - Kate Levy and Marilyn Little
1999 - Kate Levy and Emily Williams
1998 - Jamie Schmidt and Heather Caristo