David O'Connor, Otis Brown and DiAnn Langer among those honored at USHJA Annual Dinner (2)
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December 11, 2024
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By Staff Writers
TUCSON, Ariz.--David O'Connor, Otis Brown, DiAnn Langer and Robin Greenwood were among those honored for their achievements during the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association's Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10 during the Evening of Equestrians.
David O'Connor
USHJA President Britt McCormick and Master of Ceremonies Charlotte Skinner-Robson honored outstanding members for their invaluable contributions to the sport.
David O’Connor of The Plains, Va., was presented with the William J. Moroney Visionary Award which honors an individual, group, organization, or corporation deemed inspirational, influential, and integral to furthering the Hunter and Jumper disciplines.
"David is one of those people that is constantly looking for opportunity out there. This organization and all the people who have ever been involved in it and all the people that have been members of it, he is the one that made this happen," said Moroney. "If anything, he is the father of USHJA. He is the guy that made it happen."
"It's been a great experience all the way through,"said O'Connor. "I think every time you do one of these things, you end up learning more than you expect because of the people you get to work with. You always end up getting more out of all of the experiences and all of the people and all of the situations that you end up in. And this is such an unusual thing because it's the horse, so we all get to wrap our lives around the horse, and we have to make sure that we never put the economics over the ethics over the care of the horse. And the elation and the disappointments of competition can't overrun our basic love for what we do. And we all have to remember why we did it in the first place."
Otis Brown of Ocala, Fla., and DiAnn Langer of Johnston, N.C., were awarded the USHJA Lifetime Achievement Award, which was established in 2008 to recognize members whose enduring commitment to the sport and to the USHJA has made a significant impact on the industry.
AS AN INTEGRAL member of the group that convened to establish the USHJA, Brown has been a key contributor to the development of the association and has served on several committees.
He has judged major horse shows across the country and developed riders for the top of the sport.
"I really feel it's an honor. I've been devoted to the horse industry for all my life basically," said Brown. "That's why we do it because we love the animals, and I've been so fortunate to have the great ones that I've had. I really think I owe my career to Patty Stovel, the horses I've been lucky enough to have, and the people who helped me along the way."
Langer for years was a top competitor, then she shifted her focus to breeding and fostering the development of future top riders.
"I want to dedicate this award to the past generation of horsemen who taught me," said Langer. "Who also worked so hard to establish horse shows. I also want to push it forward to the current generation of horsemen who now took that show and made it into horse sport. And pass it forward to the youth who will redefine it and become the guardians. But most of all, I want to give a shout out to all of us that have come through our life, touched our hearts, and especially that first one who grabbed ahold of us and said, 'Come on, you're now a horse family.'"
Robin Greenwood, of Southern Pines, N.C., was this year's recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award.
As vice chair of the USHJA Pony Task Force,Greenwood has helped shape programs that nurture the development of pony riders nationwide.
"She's worked tirelessly for as long as I can remember," said McCormick. "Managing the Pony Task Force. Making sure that Pony Finals came off without a hitch. Giving hours and hours of her time and dedication to every little kid that ever wanted to ride a pony."
The President's Distinguished Service Award was developed to recognize and honor the dedication and service of members and volunteers to the USHJA and our sport, and this year's recipients were Leea Bridgeman, Joe Dotoli, Steve Hankin, Rachel Kennedy, Cheryl Rubenstein and Andrea Wells.
Bridgeman, of Prospect, Ky., is a member of the USHJA Board of Directors and an active Amateur competitor with a strong commitment to the sport.
Dotoli, of Chepachet, R. Is. has an extensive history in the Hunter/Jumper sport as a judge and trainer and as chair of the USHJA Safety Committee.
Hankin, of Los Angeles, Calif., is president and CEO of the Desert International Horse Park, and his commitment to enhancing the exhibitor experience has transformed the landscape of West Coast competition.
Kennedy, of Brookeville, Md., is a respected rider, trainer, and judge out of her own ESP Farm, and she serves on the Judge's Task Force and the International Hunter Derby and Incentive Task Force, where she recently stepped into a key leadership role.
Rubenstein, of Memphis, Tenn., is a dedicated volunteer and an integral part of USHJA. who serves on several committees, including the Board of Directors, the Hunter Working Group, and the Joint Owners Task Force, among others.
Wells, of Ocala, Fla., is an active member, serving on the Officials Education Committee, Judges Task Force, and Joint Equitation Task Force, and she has led numerous webinars for licensed officials and members.
The renovation by Wordley Martin includes multiple show rings spanning nearly six acres in what is a multi-phase plan for the venue.
This win was 10 years after her first $1,000,000 grand prix win at the Desert International Horse Park.
Neuwirth is a renowned fine jewelry designer with flagship boutiques in Los Angeles and New York City and Bond will now have a beautiful necklace made to immortalize an animal of her choosing.
