WELLINGTON, FL – January 29, 2026 – To pay tribute to members of the Gold Medal Club, the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation held a Gold Medal Club Cocktail Reception on Saturday night, January 28, in the exclusive 7th Chukker Club at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Gold Medal Club members are the USET Foundation’s most loyal and generous supporters who have been a vital and essential source of support for the U.S. Equestrian Teams that compete for our country internationally at events that include the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, and World Cup Championships. Jane Forbes Clark and Mason Phelps, Jr. hosted the event attended by 65 guests. Receiving special honors at the reception were those supporters who, in the year 2005, celebrated 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-year anniversaries as Gold Medal Club members.
Bonnie B. Jenkins, executive director of the USET Foundation, presented opening remarks for the awards ceremony. Jenkins extended the Foundation’s gratitude for the steadfast loyalty and generosity that the Gold Medal Club members have provided over the years and thanked them for their support. She noted that their support helped fund the chef d’equipes of the seven disciplines the Foundation supports, and that three of these very successful coaches were in attendance: George Morris, show jumping; Klaus Balkenhol, dressage; and Mark Phillips, eventing. Each of the coaches received a deserved round of applause from the appreciative audience. Jenkins also noted that several of the Team’s most accomplished riders were on hand for the occasion. International riders at the event included show jumping’s 2004 Athens Olympic Team Gold Medalist Beezie Madden; 2000 Sydney Olympian Lauren Hough; 2005 Samsung Super League rider Schuyler Riley, member of the winning U.S. team; and 2002 World Equestrian Games Team Gold eventer Kim Severson. Jenkins concluded her remarks by summarizing the successes of the past year and encouraging continued support for the upcoming 2006 World Equestrian Games.
Frank V. Lloyd, chairman of the board of the USET Foundation, was the keynote speaker for the evening. He noted that the athletes, both human and equine, that assemble each year at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington “represent the finest this country has to offer and some of the finest in the world.” Lloyd also pointed out that the young riders and children on ponies at WEF are the stars of the future. Lloyd recognized the Gold Medal Club members as World Champions as well and “the backbone of support for our United States Equestrian Teams.”
Lloyd described how the millions of dollars the Foundation raises help fund the country’s international programs including the Samsung Super League, FEI Dressage and Show Jumping World Cup Finals, World Equestrian Games, Olympic Games, the coaching program, and the developing rider programs. He noted that Gold Medal Club member support helped our Teams bring home five medals, including Team Gold, at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and that the U.S. victory in the 2005 Samsung Super League was the first in history for our country. “I thank you so much for what you have done and what I know you will continue to do to help us provide the opportunities to make this country the very best it can be in equestrian sport,” Lloyd stated.
Leading off the presentations, Lloyd began by honoring the reception’s hosts, Jane Forbes Clark and Mason Phelps, Jr. “You all know them well and how much they do, day in and day out, to help our athletes and coaches,” Lloyd said. Jenkins presented Ms. Clark and Mr. Phelps with silver trays engraved with: “In Appreciation United States Equestrian Team Foundation” and the Foundation’s logo.
The tributes and presentations of special gifts in recognition of the USET Foundation’s Gold Medal Club members celebrating anniversaries in 2005 followed. As Lloyd introduced them, each recipient that was present came to the podium to receive a gift presented by Jenkins and had a photograph taken commemorating the occasion.
10-year Awards – Accepting awards were Tim Hooker for Lake Placid Horse; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lindsay; Mrs. and Mrs. Gerald Parsky (Robin Parsky accepted); Cara Raether; and Wendy and Paul Raether (Cara accepted her gift and her parents’ gift). Honorees unable to attend were: Equestrian Events, Inc.; Dr. and Mrs. Armand Leone, Jr.; Elaine C. Ludwig; Jane C. Scott; Guenter Seidel; Mr. and Mrs. Henry R. Slack; Eric L. Straus; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore L. Weise; and James R. Wolf.
15-year Awards (honorees were unable to attend) – The Meek Foundation, and Scarlett and Don Hibner.
20-year Awards (honorees were unable to attend) – The W.J. Barney Foundation; Mr. and Mrs. L. E. MacElree; Mrs. Michael R. Matz; and Hedda Windisch von Goeben.
25-year Awards (honorees were unable to attend): John H. “Jack” Fritz; Helen J. Gordon; Helen K. Groves; and Mrs. Screven “Appy” Lorillard.
“The USET Foundation’s fundraising efforts on behalf of our athletes are in full swing and will continue to build well into the future,” concluded Lloyd, pointing out that the World Equestrian Games will be held this year in Aachen, Germany, and that in 2010 will be held in Lexington, Kentucky – the first time the WEG has ever been held in the U.S. “We must make sure that the excitement and momentum that we have built collectively – the athletes, the owners, the Foundation and the Federation – continue. We must seize the opportunities that are in front of us to make sure we have the best programs and best supported equestrians in the world.”
Guests at the USET Foundation Gold Medal Club Cocktail Reception included: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Aron; Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Bazaar; Susan E. B. Bloomberg; Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Burke; Carol Cohen; Brownlee O. Currey, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Dammerman; Bruce Duchossois; Lynn Coakley; Mr. and Mrs. Walter McPhail; Kathleen C. Moore; Mr. and Mrs. J. David Page; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patton, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. James F. Powers, Jr.; Peter Welles; Lars Petersen; Melissa Taylor; Rob Banner; Sarah Cavanaugh; Linda Hough; Frances Briggs; Stephanie Ingram; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Tribble; Laurie Fairhurst; Mr. and Mrs. Tim Hooker; Karen Lloyd; Rodrigo and Kerry Pessoa; and Nelson Pessoa.
The United States Equestrian Team Foundation supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing International High Performance horses and athletes in partnership with the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
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