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Telluride Farm’s Caitie Hope Wins William R. "Bill" Fitch Sportsmanship Award

Stephanie Pearson Takes Top Ribbons in Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers at Tampa Equestrian Festival

April 7, 2008

Tampa, FL --- On Saturday, April 5, Caitie Hope of Telluride Farm was presented the William R. “Bill” Fitch Sportsmanship Award at the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational. Under the lights of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, Hope was recognized with the sportsmanship award in a ceremony held before the start of the grand prix. Sixteen-year-old Hope is a student at Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois. She rides with trainer Diane Carney of Telluride Farm.

Hope currently competes with two of the best junior hunters in the country: Lyle, owned by Stephanie Keen and trained by Don Stewart Jr., and Caped Crusader, owned by North Run and Missy Clark. She and Lyle were Small Junior 16-17 Hunter circuit champions at the 2008 HITS Ocala Winter circuit, and she and Caped Crusader are currently second in the nation in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters standings.

Over the past two weeks, Hope earned top ribbons with Lyle in the junior hunters, coming home with the Tampa Equestrian Festival Circuit Championship. She also accrued impressive ribbons in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers aboard La Paz.

“I’m always proud of my students when they are perceived by other exhibitors as having manners and sportsmanship,” commented Carney, Hope’s trainer. “I think it’s a huge part of the sport, and there’s always room for more of it. I am very proud of Caitie, and I’m thrilled that she was recognized for having sportsmanship. It’s one of the highest compliments that can be paid in any sport.”

“Empathy, compassion and humility are so important with riding,” she added. “To have your student presented with such a prestigious and valuable award at such a class as the American Invitational, it is truly an honor and a dream come true for any trainer.”

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