Gladstone, N.J. – June 27, 2018 – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Jacqueline B. Mars International Competition Grants: Douglas Payne, Tamra Smith and Sharon White. The grant is awarded to eventing athletes who have been identified as having an impressive record and potential to represent the United States in future international competitions. These three riders will be traveling to to Eschede, Netherlands, to represent the United States during the Military Boekelo CCIO3*.
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Douglas Payne and Getaway. Photo By: Shannon Brinkman
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Payne of Aiken, South Carolina, has had a break-out spring season with the 11-year-old gelding Getaway, owned by Lisa Wall. The pair placed eighth at the Carolina International CIC3* and then went on to place sixth at The Fork CIC3* before winning the Advanced division at the Virginia Horse Trials. Most recently, the pair placed sixth at the Bromont International CCI3*. While Payne has already earned a great deal of individual success during his career, this opportunity will allow him to be part of a team and work closely with U.S. eventing Chef d’Équipe Erik Duvander, which will be critical in helping him take the next step forward in his career.
“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity provided to me by the USET Foundation and Jacqueline Mars,” noted Payne. “The support that the USET Foundation and its donors provide makes it going overseas to compete possible. This grant will allow for the much needed experience for me and Getaway, an exceptionally talented horse with a bright future, owned by Lisa and Bob Wall.”
Smith of Murrieta, California, boasts an extensive resume of accomplishments and has been named to the United States Eventing Developing Rider list, is consistently ranked among the top 10 on the United States Eventing Association’s (USEA) Lady Rider of the Year leaderboard and earned the Area VI Rider of the Year for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015. Smith has been widely recognized for her achievements in eventing.
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Tamra Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo By: Shannon Brinkman
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Fleeceworks Royal, a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Judith McSwain, most recently won the CIC3* at The Event at Rebecca Farm with Smith in the irons, leading after dressage and show jumping. In a solid effort during her first CCI3* last fall at Fair Hill International, Fleeceworks Royal and Smith added only time faults.
“I am so excited,” expressed Smith. “It really makes it feasible to be able to travel there. This has really provided that opportunity to travel and further my education in Europe. Fleeceworks Royal is a great horse for that trip. I am super grateful to Ms. Mars for supporting the team and all that she does for the sport.
“Fleeceworks Royal has become such a rideable horse,” continued Smith. “There was a point in time that I would have been a little nervous about taking her to Boekelo because she was such a bold, attacking cross country horse, but this year she has turned into a super rideable horse and I feel like this year she is ready for that challenge. Thank you to Ms. Mars, the USET Foundation, the selectors, my sponsors and Ms. McSwain – I couldn’t do this without all of the support.”
White of Summit Point, West Virginia, is part of the reserve list for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ with her 11-year-old gelding Cooley On Show. The pair has had solid, consistent CCI4* performances over the last 12 months and White has had a great deal of individual success throughout her career, The pair’s last competition was the CCI4* at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where they finished on their dressage score.
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Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo By: Shannon Brinkman
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“I am really grateful and appreciative of everything Ms. Mars does for the sport and the opportunity that the grant allows to go overseas is huge,” said White. “Cooley is a fabulous horse and the opportunity to take him overseas is an extremely important part of his long-term plan. And again, I think it’s very important to acknowledge everything that the USET Foundation and Ms. Mars do for the sport. As riders, we are very grateful for all of the opportunities that she enables us to have.”
The Military Boekelo CCIO3* is scheduled for Oct. 10-14, and has historically been a proving ground for U.S. team athletes and young horses. US Equestrian (USEF) and the USET Foundation believe that this is an exciting trio of athletes who are prepared to breakthrough to the highest level of the sport, while representing the United States on the world stage.
