Brooke USA Announces Hannah Selleck as
Newest Ambassador
Wellington, Fla. – June 23, 2017 – Brooke USA is proud to announce international Grand Prix show jumper, Hannah Selleck, as their most recent ambassador. Daughter of Hollywood stars Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack, Hannah fell in love with horses at an early age and enjoyed life around the ranch where she grew up in southern California. Though her parents worked as renowned actors, Selleck found her own passion and decided the equestrian lifestyle was the path where she wanted to focus her career. 
  
Selleck began competing by the age of 10 and her success throughout the sport has continuously progressed ever since. During her junior career Selleck won the team silver medal at the 2005 Prix des States junior jumper national championship. In 2006, she won the team silver medal at the 2006 NAJYRC, and then was the reserve champion in the 2007 USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals. In addition, she won the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West as well as a team gold medal, individual gold medal and style of riding award at the FEI NAJYRC in 2008. 
Hannah Selleck and Belora de Walyro at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Miami, Florida. Photo by Ashley Neuhof. 
Currently, Selleck is showing at the grand prix level and running her Descanso Farm’s boutique breeding operation in California, focusing on producing top quality sport horses within the US. As a high-profile equestrian active in the international arena, Selleck hopes to raise awareness of Brooke USA’s charitable work and to make a difference in the lives of working equines. 
 
How did you first hear about Brooke USA?

I first learned about Brooke last year, when attending a Brooke USA fundraising event in Wellington. A friend of mine, Jessica Mendoza, is an ambassador for the European organization, Brooke. Once I heard about it, I immediately wanted to get involved. 

  Left to Right:  Caroline Curcio, Alexandra Crown, Brooke USA Ambassador Hannah Selleck, Carmen Barrera and Brooke Ambassador Jessica Mendoza at Nic Roldan’s 2nd Annual Sunset Polo & White Party in Wellington, Florida.
Why did you want to get involved with Brooke USA?

The equestrian world is such a small community. It’s great to be immersed in your sport, but you can also forget that there is a whole world around you where many people and animals need help. Brooke USA is an amazing organization because you’re not only helping to improve animal welfare, but you’re also assisting people in developing nations. It is a wonderful connection because by helping the animals, you help the people sustain themselves, as well as their families/communities.

What aspect of our organization are you most passionate about? The equines, the people, global impact? 

I am passionate about all aspects of Brooke USA because they are all so connected - by helping the working equines to a better quality of life with better health treatment and working conditions you in turn are helping the people. Many times the communities/people Brooke USA helps are dependent on their donkey, horse or mule to help transport living necessities like clean water into their communities. Also, these animals are their livelihood. The better care the donkey or horse receives, the longer it will be able to work for its owner, providing these people with a livelihood to sustain themselves, their families and communities.

What drew me to the sport is a love of horses; therefore I am naturally very passionate about the equines Brooke USA helps. Also, I have always been drawn to service in nonprofit organizations. When I was earning my Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies at Loyola Marymount University I emphasized my studies on nonprofit organizations. During these years studying at LMU I was able to work with different organizations that helped animals, the environment and people. With this service background I am also passionate about the humanitarian efforts Brooke USA provides with their programs.
Hannah Selleck and Barla at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Miami, Florida. Photo by Ashley Neuhof. 
What are your hopes for inspiring the younger generations to become involved with our organization?

I hope to make the younger generations, especially in the riding world, more aware about cultures, countries, and the way people live in different parts of the world. Sometimes, it is difficult, especially for younger people, to witness the hardships these working equines and their owners face daily. But by getting outside of one’s comfort zone it allows for a real impact to be made and hopefully creates a catalyst in these young people to get out there and use all the resources they have available to them to create a positive change in the world.

What are some of your most recent accomplishments?

Last year after WEF I went over to Europe and based in Valkenswaard with Darragh Kenny. This was my first time bringing my own horses to Europe to compete for an extended schedule and it was such a great experience. Not only did I learn so much abroad, but achieved some top placings including winning the CSI1* grand prix at Eindhoven, second-place finish the CSI2* at LGCT Madrid, winning the CSI2* small tour grand prix at Knokke, also winning in the CSI2* at St. Moritz and finishing second in the small tour grand prix there, along with top placings at Verbier CSI3* and Dinard CSI2*. 

Hannah Selleck and Belora de Walyro at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Photo by Ashley Neuhof. 
What are some of your goals for the future?

I’m looking forward to competing at the Spruce Meadows Summer Series tournaments on my newest mount Belora de Walyro, an 8-year-old mare by Eurocommerce Berlin, and my long time mount Barla, a 13-year-old mare by Baloubet du Rouet. I’m very excited about this new mare Belora - I‘ve been taking my time with her since I imported her during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Belora has so much quality and scope. I can’t wait for her to mature a little and move her into some ranking classes later in the summer. My main goal at the moment is to achieve consistent top placing at Spruce Meadows for this summer tour. I also have the breeding operation which is taking up more of my time now that the babies are becoming old enough to have in my training program full time. I really like working with the young horses, it is very rewarding. My goal is to have the youngsters ready to bring to WEF next year and start them in the young horse divisions. 

How has helping the greater good contributed to your growth as a rider and a well-rounded individual? Does it motivate you to win for a cause?

Mainly it gives me perspective. When I find myself getting overwhelmed or stressing about an issue in my life, I pause and think how lucky I am to be pursuing my passion in some of the most amazing cities/countries around the globe. It’s easy to take for granted all that we have, and helping the greater good has allowed me to have some perspective on situations where even though I may be disappointed, things could always be worse off, so it makes me grateful for all that I have. 

What do you hope to accomplish as an ambassador for Brooke USA?

I hope that I can inspire others, especially equestrians, to support this cause. I’m currently raising awareness through promoting their events, speaking to youth, and working on committees. Someday I would love to go on one of their trips and witness the relief first-hand. 
Horse Heroes

All funds raised by Brooke USA this year will contribute to the overall goal of raising one million dollars in memory of the American horses and mules who served, suffered, and died in World War 1. Brooke USA’s Horse Heroes campaign seeks to raise one dollar in memory of each of the one million American equine war heroes during this centennial of the U.S. entry into World War 1.   
About Brooke USA

Brooke USA supports the overseas work of Brooke, the largest international equine welfare charity with a long track record of successfully improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in impoverished regions of the globe. Brooke has been providing sustainable solutions to many equine welfare issues for 83 years. This year alone, Brooke reached an astounding 2 million equines, benefiting 12 million people in countries where many people earn less than a dollar a day.