Lillie Carmichael Keenan (born 4 October 1996) is an American show jumping rider. As a junior rider she won the ASPCA Maclay Finals, the USEF Medal Finals, and the Washington International Horse Show Equitation championship, as well as the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and double gold at the North American Young Rider Championship.[1]
| Lillie Keenan | |
|---|---|
 Lillie Keenan riding Londinium | |
| Personal information | |
| Nationality | American |
| Discipline | Show Jumping |
| Born | October 4, 1996 (age 28) |
| Home town | New York, NY (USA) |
As a professional, Keenan has been part of many Nations Cup teams for the United States, most notably at the Dublin Horse Show where the Aga Khan Trophy was won by an all female team for the first time.[2]
Early life
editKeenan began riding at the age of six after discovering photos of her mother who rode as a junior. She first rode at a small stable in New York City called Claremont Stables, and moved to train at Heritage Farm and worked under the guidance of Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith where she began competing.[3] Keenan trained with Heritage for the entirety of her junior career.
After moving her training to Heritage Farm, Keenan quickly began showing. She spent a few months competing in the children's pony hunters before moving up to the regular pony hunters. At her first attendance at the USEF Pony Finals in 2005, Keenan and the small pony, Dreamworks, were reserve champion in the regular small division, while in 2006 she was reserve champion in the Washington International Horse Show Pony Equitation Final.[4] In 2007, Keenan won all the championships in the regular pony hunter divisions at Pony Finals, winning the small championship on Blackberry, the medium championship and overall grand championship on Enchanted Forest, and the large championship and overall reserve grand championship on Vanity Fair.[5] The following year, Keenan won five out of the six championships at Pony Finals, taking championships home in every division except the regular small pony hunters. She claimed overall grand champion on Neverland, and overall green grand champion on Sparkle Plenty. She was also reserve champion in the USEF Pony Medal Finals on High Cotton.[6]
She graduated from Harvard College in 2019.[7]
Junior career
editAfter a successful year at Pony Finals, Keenan moved to competing on horses. In her second year competing in the equitation, Keenan won the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Finals at the age of 13, and she did so on Uno, a horse she'd ridden for two weeks beforehand due to her horse coming up with an injury shortly before the finals.[8] In 2011, at Junior Hunter Finals, she won in the small junior hunters on Confidential and in the large junior hunters on Madison, also claiming the grand overall champion and reserve on the two horses, respectively.[9] Keenan topped the professional riders to win the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship on C Coast Z at 14 years old.[10] She was also champion with C Coast Z at both The National Horse Show and the Washington International Horse Show and won classes in the High Junior Jumpers at The National Horse Show on Vanhattan.[11]
In 2012, Keenan was part of the Zone 2 team to the gold medal in the junior division at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championship.[12] That year, she also won the North American Equitation Championship at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, and was reserve champion at both the USEF Medal Finals and the ASPCA Maclay Finals, all on Clearway.[13][14][15]
In 2013, Keenan rode Londinium to both team and individual gold at the North American Young Riders Championship, and she followed it up with individual gold at the USEF National Junior Jumper Championship.[16][17] In the equitation, Keenan topped both the USEF Medal Finals and the ASPCA Maclay Finals, once again on Clearway, giving her championship honors in three out of the four major equitation finals.[18][19] She also won the USHJA Hunterdon Equitation Cup.[20] Keenan also won the Grand Junior Hunter Championship at The Devon Horse Show aboard Walk The Line, and won championships at the Pennsylvania National on Walk The Line and Brodeur. She won style awards for her riding at both horse shows.[21][22] Keenan was awarded Junior Equestrian of the Year by the USEF.[23]
Professional career
editIn 2014, she was given the opportunity to jump her first Nations Cup at the age of 17 at competitions in Ascona (SUI) and Bratislava (SVK).[3] That year she also jumped at major shows such as world cup qualifier events and The Hampton Classic. In 2015, while a freshman at Harvard University, Keenan declared as a professional rider, and also moved her training to Cian O'Connor's Karlswood Stables. O'Connor was brought on to help Keenan learn the European system, how to train horses up and manage her own stable. She was awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hèrmes Trophy, given to a young rider in an Olympic discipline that exhibits sportsmanship and horsemanship, in 2015, as well as the Maxine Beard award in 2016, an award given to a rider that shows great potential to represent the United States in international competition.[1]
In 2017, Fibonacci 17 was added to Keenan's stable. That year, Keenan was also part of the team that won the Aga Khan Trophy at The Dublin Horse Show, the first time an all-female team had won the event.[24] In 2018, Keenan rode for the New York Empire, a Global Champions League team. That spring she was shortlisted for the World Equestrian Games.[1] In September, following the World Equestrian Games, Keenan moved her training to McLain Ward's Castle Hill Farm.[25]
In 2019, Keenan had top placings at The Devon Horse Show. In 2020, she had several top finishes in Wellington, Florida before the shows were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]
Her current horses include Fasther, Cazaan, Skyhorse, Agana Van Het Gerendal Z, Be Gentle, Chaccolette, and Super Sox.[27]
She resides in Wellington, Florida.
Major Results
edit| Year | Place | Horse | Event | Rating | Show | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | Fasther | Douglas Elliman Grand Prix | CSI5* | Winter Equestrian Festival | Wellington, FL (USA) |
| 2020 | 1 | Fasther | Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider | CSI2* | Winter Equestrian Festival | Wellington, FL (USA) |
| 2019 | 2 | Skyhorse | Friends of the Meadow Cup | CSI5* | Spruce Meadows Pan American | Calgary (CAN) |
| 2018 | 1 | Fibonacci 17 | Champion Sentower Grand Prix | CSI2* | Opglabbeek | Opglabbeek (BEL) |
| 2018 | 2 | Super Sox | Great American $1 million Grand Prix | NAT | HITS Saugerties | Saugerties, NY (USA) |
| 2017 | 1 | Fibonacci 17 | Nations Cup of Spruce Meadows | CSIO5* | Spruce Meadows Masters | Calgary (CAN) |
| 2017 | 1 | Super Sox | Nations Cup of Dublin | CSIO5* | Dublin Horse Show | Dublin (IRL) |
| 2017 | 1 | Super Sox | Lotto Hessen-Preis 1.50m | CSI4* | Wiesbaden | Wiesbaden (GER) |
| 2017 | Bronze | Super Sox | FEI Nations Cup Final | CSIO5* | Nations Cup Final | Barcelona (ESP) |
| 2016 | 3 | Super Sox | King George V Cup | CSIO5* | Hickstead | Hickstead (GBR) |
| Year | Place | Horse | Event | Show | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | Clearway | ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals | The National Horse Show | Lexington, KY |
| 2013 | 1 | Clearway | USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals | Pennsylvania National Horse Show | Harrisburg, PA |
| 2013 | 1 | Clearway | USHJA Hunterdon Cup | USEF Junior Hunter Finals | Saugerties, NY |
| 2013 | 1 | Pumped Up Kicks | $125,000 Purina Grand Prix | HITS Saugerties | Saugerties, NY |
| 2013 | Gold | Londinium | Young Riders - Team & Individual | North American Young Riders Championship | Lexington, KY |
| 2013 | Gold | Londinium | Junior Jumper Championship - Individual | Pennsylvania National Horse Show | Harrisburg, PA |
| 2013 | 1 | Walk The Line | Grand Junior Hunter Champion | The Devon Horse Show | Devon, PA |
| 2012 | Gold | Vanhattan | Junior Rider - Team | North American Junior Riders Championship | Lexington, KY |
| 2012 | 1 | Clearway | North American Equitation Championship | Capital Challenge Horse Show | Upper Marlboro, MD |
| 2011 | 1 | C Coast Z | $100,000 USHJA International Derby Finals | International Derby Finals | Lexington, KY |
| 2011 | Champion | Confidential | Grand Junior Hunter Champion | USEF Junior Hunter Finals | Saugerties, NY |
| 2011 | Reserve | Madison | Reserve Grand Junior Hunter Champion | USEF Junior Hunter Finals | Saugerties, NY |
| 2010 | 1 | Uno | WIHS Equitation Finals | Washington International Horse Show | Washington, D.C. |
| 2008 | Champion | Neverland | Grand Pony Hunter Champion | USEF Pony Finals | Lexington, KY |
| 2008 | Champion | Sparkle Plenty | Grand Green Pony Hunter Champion | USEF Pony Finals | Lexington, KY |
| 2007 | Champion | Enchanted Forest | Grand Pony Hunter Champion | USEF Pony Finals | Lexington, KY |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Lillie Keenan :: The Hampton Classic". www.hamptonclassic.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- ^ Field, The Irish. "NEWS: Girl Power as USA lift the Aga Khan trophy at the RDS". www.theirishfield.ie. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- ^ a b Showjumping, www worldofshowjumping com, World of. "Lillie Keenan: "It is about learning life" | World of Showjumping". www.worldofshowjumping.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Print. "Keenan Realizes A Dream At USEF Pony Finals". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Pony rider makes history with clutch of wins | Horsetalk - International equestrian news". www.horsetalk.co.nz. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ Print. "Keenan Continues Her Winning Streak At Pony Finals". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ https://www.usef.org/team-usa/athletes/lillie_keenan
- ^ Westmark, Jan (February 2011). "On Course With Junior Rider Lillie Keenan" (PDF). Sidelines Magazine.
- ^ "Lillie Keenan and Kristen Lutz Dominate 2011 USEF National Junior Hunter Championship - East Coast | Horses Daily". horsesdaily.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Lillie Keenan and C Coast Z Win the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show". US Equestrian. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Lillie Keenan and Vanhattan Ride to the Top of the Show Jumpers Hall of Fame Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show". US Equestrian. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Zone 2 Wins Show Jumping Gold in Junior and Young Riders | Horses Daily". horsesdaily.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Lillie Keenan Wins North American Junior Equitation Championship at Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend". US Equestrian. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Jacob Pope Wins 2012 ASPCA Maclay National Championship Title at Alltech National Horse Show". US Equestrian. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ Print. "2012 Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals Commentary". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Keenan and Garza Perez Win Jumping Medals at 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North". US Equestrian. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Lillie Keenan Wins Randolph College/ USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Championship at Pennsylvania National Horse Show | Horses Daily". horsesdaily.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Keenan Earns Impressive Victory in 2013 Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College". US Equestrian. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ Print. "Keenan Completes The Coveted Double By Claiming The ASPCA Maclay". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Lillie Keenan Wins USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Equitation Cup at US Junior Hunter National Championship - East Coast".
- ^ "Devon - Juniors Wrap It Up". archive.constantcontact.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Junior Hunter Champions Crowned at Pennsylvania National Horse Show | Horses Daily". horsesdaily.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ Print. "USEF Announces Pegasus Awards Honorees". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Girl Power: US Team claims the world-famous Aga Khan Trophy – Nations Cup in a historic win". Ismailimail. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ Showjumping, www worldofshowjumping com, World of. "A new chapter for Lillie Keenan at Castle Hill Farm | World of Showjumping". www.worldofshowjumping.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Athlete Performance - Lillie Keenan".
- ^ "FEI - Lillie Keenan Horses".