2025 Equestrian Awards Contest Winners
2025 Contest Winner - Erin Connelly
Photographed is 8-year-old German Riding Pony, "Worth the Wait," and his kids Talia and Gannen Connelly. Worthy and Talia earned Grand Champion in the Green division at Bridge Acres Stable. Teammates since Worthy was three and Talia 11, they have enjoyed learning and growing together in everything from rated hunter shows, clinics and have also earned their D3 rating through the United State Pony Club. Although Worthy is young, he has stepped up to fill the roll of leadline mount and lunge line extraordinaire to help Gannen learn to ride. They earned Grand Champion in the Shady Dell Stables show series. The prize money will be put into savings and eventually used toward the purchase of Gannen's own pony. Photographed by Worthy, Talia and Gannen's mom, Erin Connelly.
2025 Honorable Mention - Ke Coleman
Zoë and Domino with their ribbons won for competing in over fences and flat at an IEA show. He is the sweetest boy! The moment was captured by her Mom.
2025 Honorable Mention - Brigitte Wehrs
This photo features sisters Ava Wehrs and Sophia Wehrs, members of the De La Brooke Pony Club in the Maryland Region. They were members of the First Place, Blue Ribbon, De La Brooke Team at the Maryland Region Show Jump Rally in June 2024 at Morven Park. The team earned an overall blue on the score that combined their riding and horse management scores. Ava was riding her pony, Lyric and Sophia was the Stable Manager for the team. Other team members included Charlotte Eskeland, Sephie Pavis, and Kendell Bean, with Asta Repenning coaching. Photo by Brigitte Wehrs.
2025 Honorable Mention - Chriss Nichols
Geri Campbell, Chriss Nichols and her daughter Kennedy (6) are three generations of equestrians with a combined 100 years of riding experience. The trio currently shows in several virtual horse show circuits.
Chriss and her horse Bacchus finished 3rd overall in the 2023 national Open Horse Show Association, including overall Champions of the WT Hunt Seat and WTC Hunt Seat Divisions. Kennedy and her horse Hamilton Beignet (pictured) received Lead Line Champions of the 2024 OHSA World Show. Geralyn started riding and showing in 4-H as a 13-year-old and has never stopped. Now at the age of 74, Geralyn shows dressage with her horse Chantilly.
Since 2022, their family horse farm in Georgia hosts the Fox Run Farm Hooves and Heels Challenge, where equestrians from around the country participate. Fox Run Farm Events offers monthly online challenges open to all ages, levels and disciplines. They also host the Little Heels Virtual Horse Show open to riders 10 years and under. You can learn more at VisitFoxRunFarm.com
2025 Honorable Mention - Margo Brown
Acilla is an 18-year-old KWPN mare with the winning ribbon at PSG from the Sue Curry Memorial Dressage show at Fairwind Farm.
“Allie” has helped her amateur owner get to PSG! She’s been the best girl! Thank you, Hodges, for the option for the wildflower ribbons. They were chosen as a tribute to Sue Curry who was our trainer, mentor, cheerleader and friend, The prize money will go towards treats for the model and she will share some with her barn mates. Photographed by Kelly Keneally.
2025 Honorable Mention - Maverick Wright
Maverick Wright and Welsh Pony Windstar Flash have put in the effort consistently showing throughout the northwest to perfect their dressage tests. Consistently moving up the levels this pair represented USDF region 6 at the USEF Festival of Champions in 2024 and plan a return in 2025. Participating in a wide range of disciplines including working equitation, roping and jumping in addition to dressage this pair is consistently working on building their partnership.
Keep an eye out for them in 2025 and beyond sporting more beautiful Hodges crafted ribbons. Photographed by Kenton Wright of The WoW. #ridethewrightway.
2024 Honorable Mention - Kenton Wright
Photographed (from left to right) is father and son duo Maverick and Kenton Wright plus friend Luke House, with their ribbons from the first WAWE international event in the USA as well as Western Zone Championships for Working Equitation. Maverick and Kenton Wright participated in the first ever WAWE competition in the USA with Maverick showing two horses: including a Lusitano stallion and a Welsh Cob pony. The trio also competed in the USAWE Western Zone Championships riding a total of 7 horses to many top finishes among the nations leaderboard.
Keep an eye out for them in future years sporting more beautiful Hodges crafted ribbons to display in their barns. Photographed by Tiffany Wright of The WoW. #ridethewrightway
2025 Honorable Mention - Anney Kelly
Pictured is 24-year-old Quarter Horse, Fawkes with his owner and rider, Anney. This picture shows them with their High Point Champion ribbon from a combined show, as well as their Reserve High Point Champion ribbon for hunter flat classes.
Looking at the skinny and temperamental horse sitting in her pasture, Anney would have never dreamed that Fawkes could be anything more than an unrideable pasture pet. He was purchased from an auction house, so very little was known about his past...but his future seemed to be far from bright. Everyone told Anney that he would never amount to anything and that she should just sell him, but she knew he had so much more to offer.
After many years of hard work and training, they began to train in hunter under saddle, going on to win the State Fair in equitation, and placing runner-up in hunter-under-saddle. After the State Fair, they began training in dressage. Together, they had a very successful dressage career, frequently placing top-three and winning High-Point Champion at Brownland Farms, and High-Point Champion at a combined horse show.
While Fawkes is now retired from showing, he still loves to work on dressage and proves that he is worth his weight in gold.
Photo Credit to Backroads and Blooms Photography.
Instagram: @backroads.and.blooms
2025 Honorable Mention - Kim Betros
Photographed is 22-year-old Quarter Horse Rescue, "Austin's Painted Eeyore", and rider/owner Kim, with their Ranch Grand Champion and Western Hight Point ribbons from Hartwig Farms 2024 Summer Horse Show Series. Kim and Austin have been partners for over a decade and are very active in the show ring, competing in Ranch, Western, Western Dressage and Trail.
When not showing, they enjoy just spending time together and sharing donuts and peppermints! Some of the prize money will definitely be used for those! Thank you, Hodges, for the distinguished recognition that tops off a very successful show season. Photographed by Kim's husband and Horse Show Squire, Robert Millar.
2025 Honorable Mention - Valerie Parent
Wilbur is a 10-year-old donkey, owned by Valerie Parent of Bradford, Maine. He was pulled out of an auction by Double D Donkey Rescue and transported to Maine in 2020. Wilbur happily adapted to being ridden and pulling a cart. Wilbur rides western and does trail and obstacles. He is displaying his Championship ribbon that he received at Ellis River Riders in Andover, Maine in a carting game show. His award will go towards getting him a fitted custom harness.
2025 Honorable Mention - Roxanne Ellingsworth
Pictured is Mr. P (Peanut), a 14-year-old Haflinger pony, with his owner and rider, Roxanne Ellingsworth. They are shown with their 1st place ribbon and awards for Champion of the Rescue Horse Challenge for Dressage Shows Online. Partners for the past year, Peanut knew nothing of Dressage; he was a rescue from the slaughter pipeline. He picked it up naturally. He just wants to please his rider. The sweetest boy ever. Thank you, Hodges, for recognizing what a special boy he is! I see a new show halter with his name on it with the prize money. Photograph taken by Bryan Middleton Horse show Husband.
2025 Honorable Mention - Anika Sadler
Photographed is “Roush” with rider/owner Anika and their Idaho Dressage & Eventing Association Year-End Neck Sashes. Together, they won Champion at Beginner Novice Eventing as well as First Level Freestyle Champion and First Level Reserve Champion in Dressage.
Anika and Roush had only been together for a year, with Roush having no previous experience in dressage or jumping. But with his incredible work ethic, he is able to take on whatever challenge he is pointed at and prove himself against seasoned sport horses.
The pair would like to thank Hodges Badge Company for creating such wonderful awards and choosing their picture. They hope to continue showing the world that dressage and eventing can be for any horse, regardless of breed or background, and plan on using their prize money toward future show entry fees.
