WELLINGTON, Fla.--The United States Equestrian Team Foundation presented the organization’s three most prestigious awards to Boyd Martin, Brian Moggre and Abigail Wexner on Jan.17 at the “Take Me To Tokyo” gala in Wellington.
William Weeks (left) and James McNerney (right) presented the 2020 Whitney Stone Cup to eventer Boyd Martin. (Photo by Jump Media)The 2020 Whitney Stone Cup was awarded to Olympic eventer Boyd Martin of Cochranville, Pa., identifying him as an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition, as well as exemplifying high standards of sportsmanlike conduct, while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport.
“It’s an absolute privilege and honor to receive the Whitney Stone Cup this year,” said Martin, who operates his training business, Windurra LLC, alongside his wife Silva, a grand prix dressage rider. “Winning this award is one of my proudest achievements. To be recognized alongside some of the past winners is truly a humbling feeling. The USET Foundation has given me every chance and every opportunity to allow me to be the best I can be and to achieve all the success I had in 2019.”
MARTIN is one of today’s leading event riders, having enjoyed success at the highest level of the sport and every major eventing competition in the world.
He has consistently been ranked top 10 in the world since leaving Australia in 2007 and has competed on every U.S. Championship team since changing his citizenship in 2010.
Martin has represented the U.S. at two Olympic Games, three FEI World Equestrian Games, and two Pan American Games.
He has twice been the highest-placed U.S. rider at the FEI World Equestrian Games and led the U.S. to team gold at both Pan American Games appearances.
At the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Martin finished second with Tsetserleg, owned by Christine Turner, to win the USEF CCI5*-L National Championship.
This result landed Martin and Tsetserleg on the Pan American Games team for Lima, where the team had to win gold or silver to qualify the U.S. for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Martin delivered under pressure to win individual gold – the first individual medal of his career – and secure team gold and Tokyo qualification.
“I really feel like I’m starting to hit top gear coming into 2020, and I’m so proud to be an American, representing the stars and stripes,” said Martin. “I can’t wait to get out there and see what this year brings.”
BRIAN MOGGRE, 19, of Flower Mound, Texas, was awarded the 2020 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, presented annually to a junior/young rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who demonstrates the team’s values of sportsmanship and horsemanship.
Brian Moggre (pictured second from right) was presented as the 2020 recipient of the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy by (from left to right) Leah Rogers Meirfeld of Hermès, USET Foundation Vice President William Weeks, and USET Foundation Chairman, President, and CEO James McNerney. (Photo by Jump Media)Riders who are awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy are identified as athletes with great potential, and the list of winners who have received the award is a “who’s who” of the U.S. Equestrian Team in the Olympic disciplines – to which Moggre now adds his name.
“I am awestruck to be receiving this award,” said Moggre, who has made a name for himself as a rising show jumping star to watch after winning the both the 2019 $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Ocala CSI3*-W at Live Oak International and the $225,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Lexington CSI4*-W at only 18 years of age.
“It takes a huge team to make all of this happen, and that’s really what I’m thankful for,” said Moggre. “I’m so thankful to Gianna Aycock, Mike McCormick, and Tracy Fenney and my current team of Emily Smith and Ken Smith as well as my parents and Lesley Leeman, who takes care of my horses.
"I’m very honored to now have my name on a trophy with the best riders in the entire world, and it means so much to me.”
Included on the list of past winners of this award inscribed on the perpetual trophy are such notable names as Greg Best, Chris Kappler, McLain Ward, and Buck Davidson, among many others.
ABIGAIL WEXNER was presented with the 2020 R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award, recognizing her distinguished service to the USET Foundation Board of Trustees.
Beezie Madden (pictured second from left) accepted the R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award on behalf of Abigail Wexner from presenters (from left to right) Bill Weeks, Kim Duchossois, and James McNerney. (Photo by Jump Media)Wexner has been a member of the board for 12 years, and she has been one of the lead donors to the Campaign for Achieving Competitive Excellence, the Campaign for Continuing Our Competitive Excellence, and she is now chairing, along with Jim McNerney and Jacqueline B. Mars, the Raising the Bar Campaign.
As part of the campaign, Wexner has established the Wexner Olympic Endowment as a source of support for U.S. athletes and teams in Olympic years.
Wexner is a long-time horse owner and has been partnered with top jumper rider Beezie Madden for more than 15 years.
Madden has ridden Wexner’s horses on numerous Nations Cup teams, along with the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.
This partnership has produced for the United States two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals in Olympic and World Championships, two World Cup Finals victories, and been a part of 18 winning Nations Cup teams.
A true ambassador of the sport, Wexner’s distinguished service through excellence in leadership, philanthropy, and character has positively impacted the Foundation’s mission of supporting athletes, promoting international excellence, and building for the future.
The presentation of the USET Foundation’s three distinguished awards and this year’s Take Me To Tokyo gala, hosted by honorary chairmen Lou and Joan Jacobs and chairs Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, were made possible thanks to the USET Foundation’s generous donors and sponsors.
