Press Release
Ocala, Fla. – Dec. 9 – Berry Porter, who owns and operates Brookside Pine Farms in Conroe, TX, has had a milestone year. At the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final—East, he took Leading Trainer honors after coaching riders Eleanor Rudnicki and Emily Jurnovoy to the top two finishes; however, his accomplishments don’t end at the in-gate. Porter voluntarily serves on the USHJA Hunter Working Group and the Joint Equitation Task Force. At this year’s United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Evening for Equestrians, he was awarded the President’s Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the sport.
Established in 2006, the President’s Distinguished Service Award is bestowed upon USHJA members who “have gone beyond the call of duty to bring our sport to a new level and to benefit our membership.” Joe Dotoli, Michele Hollis, Hugh Kincannon, Faith McKay-Alicea, Megan Thiel, and Julie Williams were also honored recipients of this year’s award.
The Evening of Equestrians is an annual USHJA event that recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made a significant impact on the equestrian community through leadership, service, excellence in standards, and more.
“One of the greatest highlights of this job is having the opportunity to recognize individuals who go above and beyond, those who dedicate themselves to the USHJA, to the industry, and to the sport,” said USHJA President Britt McCormick in a press release. “It’s always an exciting and meaningful process to bring this list together each year, and truly one of the best parts of what I do.”
Of Porter, McCormick said, “Berry is a person that I’ve known for quite a while. I pushed him into getting involved as a volunteer because I saw in him somebody who was going to be a future leader in our group. I put him in probably the hardest task force there is, and that’s the Equitation Task Force. I have to say, he’s holding his own, and he’s really grown into the role, and I couldn’t be more proud to have him as a friend.”
Read more from Berry and listen to him on The Plaidcast here. To learn more about the 2025 USHJA Evening of Equestrians, click here.
