The 2024 Whitney Stone Cup was awarded to five-time show jumping Olympian and Olympic gold and silver medalist McLain Ward, identifying him as an active competitor whose consistent excellence in international competition and whose standard for sportsmanlike conduct and contributions as an ambassador for the sport and for the USET Foundation exemplify the U.S. Equestrian Team’s highest ideals and traditions.

Photo – USET Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President William H. Weeks (left) and USET Foundation President, Chairman, and CEO W. James McNerney, Jr. (right) presented the 2024 Whitney Stone Cup to McLain Ward (center). (Luxeciné)

One of the world’s top-ranked jumping athletes, Ward of Brewster, New York, has amassed an impressive international record throughout his career. In 2023, Ward was a member of the winning Nations Cup team at the CSIO5* San Juan Capistrano (USA), which helped the team secure a spot at the CSIO5* Longines Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, Ward’s commitment and strong performances as the lead-off rider at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, helped the team secure the gold medal and the Olympic Games qualification. He also earned the individual bronze medal at the same competition riding Contagious.

Excellence

“I’d like to thank the USET Foundation, its officers, and its supporters for honoring me with this wonderful award,” stated Ward. “The Whitney Stone Cup recognizes something that I aim for tirelessly: excellence in equestrian sport. It’s not possible to achieve such goals without the unwavering support of my family. In addition, Lee McKeever and his family have been by my side for the past 35 years. Their contributions to our achievements and what we’ve built with our horses are monumental.

“It goes without saying I’ve had the wonderful benefit of great teammates,” continued Ward. “We also owe many of our successes to our owners and sponsors. I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported the USET Foundation and believed in its vision of achieving excellence at the highest levels of the sport and have given of yourselves diligently. I also want to recognize all of our professional grooms and veterinarians past and present. Finally, to our partners, the horses. Without their reins, we could not fly and none of this would be possible. Cheers to all of the wonderful equines that have represented our country.”

Given in Honor

The Whitney Stone Cup, which was presented to the Team by the Officers and Directors of the USET Foundation, is given in honor of the late Whitney Stone. Stone served as President and Chairman of the Board of the USET and was instrumental in the creation of a civilian team when the Army retired from competitive horse sports after 1948.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is a non-profit organization that 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 United States Equestrian Federation.

Learn more at www.uset.org.