Edited Press Release
Lexington, KY – September 3, 2023 – Olivia Sweetnam of Wellington, FL, was awarded the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award at the 2024 Hampton Classic Horse Show. The Style of Riding Award is presented to the Junior Jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation, as modeled by Show Jumping Hall of Famers such as Conrad Homfeld and Joe Fargis.
The recipient of the annual Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award exemplifies a true sportsman’s respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner. Sweetnam was selected for this year’s award by the Hampton Classic’s jumper judges and other key personnel as the Junior Jumper rider most deserving of the award.
“It’s such an honor to join such a prestigious list of riders such as Sophie Simpson, Lucy Deslauriers and Brianne Goutal. They are all so amazing,” said Sweetnam, who was the Leading Junior Rider in the 2023 SJHOF Jumper Classic Series’ East Conference presented by Rood & Riddle. “They all have incredible careers right now, and I’m so honored to have been chosen. That somebody thought that my name should join theirs on that list really means a lot to me.”
Sweetnam, who trains with her parents Ali and Shane Sweetnam at their Sweet Oak Farm in Wellington, completed a successful stay at the Hampton Classic to round out her summer. She rode HDB Quality to first place in the $10,000 Lugano Diamonds Junior/Amateur Welcome Stake, second place in the $25,000 Agneta & Brownlee Curry Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic presented by FarmVet and the Currey family, and fourth place in the $5,000 1.40m Junior/Amateur Jumper presented by Cedar Fox LLC. Sweetnam was also crowned the horse show’s 1.40m Junior Jumper Champion.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award has been awarded to an impressive list of riders who have gone on to have highly successful careers. Previous winners include: Aimee Aron (2004), Brianne Goutal (2005), Julie Welles (2006), Beacon Hill Partners (2007), Victoria Birdsall (2008), Michael Hughes (2009), Karen Polle (2010), Samantha Schaefer (2011), Meg O’Mara (2012), Katherine Strauss (2013), Lucy Deslauriers (2014), Sophie Simpson (2015 & 2016), Coco Fath (2017), Tanner Korotkin (2018), Ned Cunniffe (2019), Zayna Rizvi (2021), Ella Kraut (2022), and Taylor Cawley (2023).
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Plaques honoring those who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame can be seen at the Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium. Mementos and artifacts from the sport’s history are on display as part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame collection at the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Wheeler Museum at the Horse Park.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series with classes at nearly 80 horse shows each year. The Series hosts classes for junior and amateur riders in two Conferences – the East Conference presented by Rood & Riddle and the West Conference presented by LEG Colorado Horse Shows. Additionally, the Series recognizes each conference’s Leading Rider and Leading Horse as part of its year-end awards. The East Conference Leading Rider Award is sponsored by LAURACEA, and the West Conference Leading Rider Award is sponsored by Palm Beach International Academy. The winner of each award receives an engraved Tiffany crystal trophy and complimentary admission to the Hall of Fame’s annual Induction Ceremony and Awards Gala.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is sponsored by Blenheim EquiSports, Charles Ancona, CMJ Sporthorse, Hampton Classic Horse Show, Kentucky Horse Park, LAURACEA, LEG Colorado Horse Shows, Markel, Palm Beach International Academy, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), Washington International Horse Show and Wellington International.
For more information about the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, including the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, please visit the Show Jumping Hall of Fame website at www.ShowJumpingHallofFame.net.
