Gladstone, NJ – January 28, 2014 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that reigning Show Jumping World Cup Champion Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, is the recipient of the 2013 Whitney Stone Cup. The award is presented annually to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition and high standards of sportsmanlike conduct while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport. This marks the third year that Madden has received the prestigious honor after an incredible year that included her victory at the 2013 FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals aboard Abigail Wexner’s Simon in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

Madden was presented with the award during the USET Foundation Gala on January 24th, in Wellington, Florida.   “It’s always an honor to win this award and be an ambassador for the sport,” she stated. “This year has been amazing, and winning the World Cup was a huge accomplishment. All of the horses contributed, with Simon at World Cup and Cortes winning a qualifier at WEF last year and helping the teams qualify at the Nations Cups. It has been a huge team effort.”

The 2013 World Cup Finals were a dream came true for Madden, a staple on the U.S. Show Jumping Team, who has won countless grand prix honors and competed all over the world.  She and her talented mount Simon took home a title that had eluded her previously: World Cup Finals Champion. A brilliant clear round gave them an early lead and helped them get to the nail-biting jump-off, where Madden and Simon managed to best the reigning Olympic champions with a brilliant round and take home the coveted title.

“The Foundation has been great help to me and the U.S. Team,” concluded Madden. “They fund our entire trip to WEG, and we owe a lot to them and the Foundation’s contributors. WEG is the most important goal this year, and I think both horses will be ready.”