Coulter Lauded by USET

By Staff Report April 7, 2013

Saer Coulter, 21, received the USET’s Maxine Beard Show Jumping Rider Award on April 6 at the American Invitational  in Tampa, FL.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation selected Coulter based on her “competitive record and potential to represent the United States in international competition.”

In 2012, the San Francisco-based Coulter advanced to the highest levels of the sport, competing in the 2012 Olympic Selection Trials and also in multiple World Cup Qualifiers and Global Champions Tour events.

The award provides Coulter the opportunity to be credentialed and travel with the U.S. delegation to the 2013 FEI World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, from April 24 -April 28 where in addition to observing the operation of an international championship ─including the stabling area, veterinary inspections and schooling, and a course-walk with U.S. show jumping chef d’equipe Robert Ridland ─ she will get to watch boyfriend Charlie Jayne, 27, compete on behalf of the U.S.

Coulter distinguished herself this winter on the HITS Desert Circuit this winter, where she placed fourth in line for three  Western League slots for the World Cup Finals.

“It’s a really big honor to receive this award,” said Coulter, receiving the trophy as her family looked on at the Raymond James Stadium.  “Looking at the people that have won it in the past, it encourages you to keep continuing jumping at a high level and try and make the upper levels of the computer list and the senior teams.”

Coulter’s international success began in 2010 when she and Chalan were on the team that represented the United States bringing home a victory at the CSIO Buenos Aires in Argentina. After finishing 10th in the Olympic Selection Trials and being named to the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Coulter and Springtime finished third in the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar. Throughout the summer she traveled to Europe to compete in the Global Champions Tour (GCT).

“The Olympic Trials were an unbelievable experience,” Coulter continued. “Being able to jump a championship format against those riders taught me a lot about riding my horse through different rounds, how he starts and how he feels by the last day.”

While Coulter’s 2012 focus was on gaining experience at the 1.60m level, this year she is concentrating on consistency at that level.   “One of my main goals is to get my new horses jumping consistently at the 1.60m level. I’ll do the Global Champions Tour this summer, and I hope to make a few more second rounds and get a few good ribbons. I’d love to be a part of the World Equestrian Games process next year, whatever that may be, and maybe the 2016 process for Rio a few years from now. I just hope to continue getting the right experience in order to be a part of those events.”

Currently a senior at Stanford University, Coulter rides out of her family’s Copernicus Stables and trains  with Markus and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum. In addition to her proven partner Springtime, Coulter has a deep bench of equine talent. Mounts added to her string this past year include the stallion Don V.H.P. Z, and mares Carmena Z and Graciella 50.

“Saer is a talented and hardworking rider who truly deserves this honor as she was a top placer in the World Cup West Coast League, just narrowly missing out on competing herself at the Championship this year. I fully expect we will see Saer on more United States teams and at international championships. She has a very bright future in this sport”, commented George H. Morris, who was U.S. show jumping chef through 2012 and worked with Coulter through the Olympic Trials process.

The USET is the non-profit fundraising arm that works in conjunction with the United States Equestrian Federation to support the needs of America’s elite and developing high-performance horses and riders, including training, coaching and travel to competition domestically and abroad.

Previous Recipients of the Maxine Beard Award:

2012 – Katie Dinan
2011 – Ali Wolff
2010 – Nick Dello Joio
2009 – Ashlee Bond and Michelle Spadone
2008 – Hillary Dobbs
2007 – Brianne Goutal
2006 – Charlie Jayne
2005 – Cayce Harrison
2004 – Georgina Bloomberg
2003 – Michael Morrissey and Paige Johnson
2002 – Molly Warmington
2001 – Kent Farrington and Richard Rinehart
2000 – Kate Levy and Marilyn Little
1999 – Kate Levy and Emily Williams
1998 – Jamie Schmidt and Heather Caristo

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