February 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN February 2023 Page 19 Following an expanded schedule for the 2022 horse show season that marked its busiest year ever, The Grooms Award, Ltd., has announced that it will cease operations as of January 1, 2023. With the recent estab- lishment of an International Grooms Association and new FEI recognition of the important role grooms play in the sport of show jumping, the Board of Directors of The Grooms Award, Ltd. feels that the 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization has achieved its ultimate goal of gaining recog- nition for grooms, and it voted to cease operations with the 2022 Las Vegas National Horse Show being its last event. The organization extends a heartfelt thank-you to all its sponsors, supporters and volunteers and will donate any leftover funds and assets to the Equestrian Aid Foundation. “This has been a labor of love for so many of us but with an important mission in mind,” said Andrea Mewhinney, Direc- tor of The Grooms Award, Ltd. “All of us who were involved believed strongly that grooms deserve to be recognized for the important role they play in our sport. Seeing each horse’s groom listed on the start orders at this year’s World Championships gave us all an incredible feeling and also made it clear that our dream was actually coming true. We’d like to think that we played The Grooms Award Ltd. Ceases Operations at least some role in bringing that about, and we thank every- one who helped and supported us along the way.” The Grooms Award, Ltd., was established by Andrea Mewhinney and Noel Glavin 25 years ago to honor the memo- ry of Moira McCaffarey (who passed away unexpectedly in 1997) and George Hennessy (transporter for the USET). They established The Grooms Award to recognize the many workers “behind the scenes” who devote themselves to keeping the horses in their care fit, healthy, and ready to compete. Friends of Moira donated a trophy for the first-ever grooms’ award at the Pennsylvania Na- tional Horse Show in Harrisburg where individuals and companies donated prizes to be given to the winning groom. The program expanded to providing gifts and awards to hundreds of grooms in select classes at a total of 11 horse shows on both coasts this year. As donations increased each year, it was decided that each of the Grand Prix grooms deserved a “Thank You” for their efforts and professionalism. A tote bag was awarded to each Grand Prix groom, filled with goodies and gift cards from generous spon- sors. The Grooms Award volun- teers devoted countless hours to collecting gifts for grooms, assembling them in bags, and handing them out in the stables no matter the weather and often without recognition. Leftover assets from The Grooms Award, Ltd., will go to the Equestrian Aid Foun- dation (EAF), which provides emergency financial grants to members of the equestrian community who are struggling to overcome catastrophic ill- ness, injury or other unforeseen crises. Since 1996, the EAF has provided over $3.2 million in grant support and the promise of hope to breeders, farriers, grooms, riders, trainers and other members of the equestrian community to overcome hard times and move forward with their lives. More information can be found at equestrianaid foundation.org . Wilson College Expands Equestrian Program, Appoints New Director Wilson College's intercol- legiate athletics program has added Western and English (hunt seat) riding teams to its varsity program and has appointed a new Director of Equestrian Teams, Cathy Woosley Luse, to oversee them. Both teams will transi- tion from college club teams to competing as varsity teams in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Asso- ciation (IHSA). "Our equestrian program is one of the signature experiences at Wilson," Wes- ley R. Fugate, Wilson College president, said. "By elevating our riding teams to varsity status, we are elevating our competitive riding programs to the level that properly reflects their importance to the college. We look forward to the success of both teams, a wonderful complement to our strong equine-related academic programs." A second-generation world champion horse trainer with over 30 years of experience training and coaching, Woosley Luse has coached numerous world champion riders and champion teams at the profes- sional and collegiate levels in Texas and Kentucky. A world champion at the National Rein- ing Horse Association Interme- diate Open Division level, she is a lifetime American Quarter Horse member, an American Quarter Horse Association rec- ognized Professional Horseman, a worldwide carded judge with the National Reining Horse Association and the American Stock Horse Association, and a winning Head IHSA Equestrian and Stock Horse Coach at North Central Texas College. She was molded as a youth by the respected professional, trainer, multi-breed carded judge, and National Reining Horse Associ- ation Hall of Fame Inductee, her father, Clayton Woosley. "I am very excited to be involved in building Wilson Col- lege's Western equestrian team. I love the challenge of accomplish- ing unexpected results," Woosley Luse said. "While coming in too late for the fall recruiting process, I am going to enjoy converting some of the brave [hunt seat] riders who are open to learning more about the art of Western riding." Woosley Luse will direct the Western and English teams and serve as head coach of the Western team. McKenna Debus will continue to coach the hunt seat team. Woosley Luse agreed to join the Wilson College ath- letics team after visiting "one of the most beautiful college campuses I've seen." She added, "I'd like to use my worldwide industry connections to expand Wilson's resources for both teams. I think in the very near future, Wilson equestrian team members will represent us successfully at a regional and national level." Email: eschfence@gmail.com - Fax: -- WHOLESALE & RETAIL Phone -- The news East Coast horse owners need to know Reserve your spot today! 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