Congratulations to Taylor Bradish

Taylor Bradish and Katydid Duchess

3 Time USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Champions

2022 and 2024 FEI Combined Driving World Championships Highest Placed US Pair

2025 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant Recipient

Taylor Bradish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2024

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA: The Aiken Horse Park Foundation and the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant Selection Committee are pleased to congratulate Taylor Bradish on being named the 2025 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant recipient.

Annie's father, Putter Goodwin, who has been integrally involved with the grant since it's inception commented:

“This is the second year of this grant in Annie’s memory. We continue to get quality applications from aspiring young professionals working hard to be successful in the horse business. It’s so important we do all that we can to give those most deserving a leg up. If we can continue to grow this fund, we will be able to make even more of an impact.”

This year's grant cycle received seventeen applicants from many different equestrian backgrounds including Polo, Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, Eventing, and Combined Driving. Bradish, a 10 year full time resident of Aiken, SC, stood out from the rest, not only with her impressive professional resume boasting accolades such as 3 Time USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Champions and the highest places US pair at the 2022 and 2024 FEI Combined Driving World Championships, but also her dedication to growing the sport here in Aiken.

Upon being awarded the 2025 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant, Bradish remarked:

"I am incredibly honored to have been chosen to receive the 2025 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet Annie. I have heard many great things about her lifelong dedication to her sport, which is something I think we would have had in common. Receiving this grant will be instrumental in helping me towards my goals of growing the sport of Combined Driving, as well as continuing to develop my training business and competing at the international level."

Not only did Bradish and Katydid Duchess again represent Team USA at the 2024 FEI Combined Driving World Championships in Le Haras Du Pin, France, placing 6th overall and being the highest placed US pair, but following their time abroad and training with coach Boyd Excell, Bradish sold her 2 time World Championship mare to the world number 1 as his new lead horse for his 4 in hand team. It is a familiar, monumental decision that so many young professionals are faced with in their early career of selling their top horse in order to focus on the next string of up and coming equine athletes and continue propelling their career forward.

The selection committee was deeply impressed by Bradish's commitment to do right by her horse and her own career, a choice Putter Goodwin shared Annie faced at one point with Bruno. The fact that the world number 1, Boyd Excell, thought so highly of this horse Bradish produced he added her to his own team, speaks so highly of Bradish's talent and skill as an equestrian and horsewoman. The story echoes that of another Boyd's partnership with another truly spectacular, self-produced horse, who also took a trip to France this past summer.

To learn more about Taylor Bradish and the sport of Combined Driving, you can visit her website goldencarriagedriving.com

Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant

Selection Committee

The selection committee is comprised of a cross section of equestrian industry professionals, a member of Annie Goodwin’s Family, members of the board of directors and staff of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation.

Boyd Martin, Olympic Eventing Rider/Professional
Daniel Geitner, Professional Hunter/Jumper Rider
Eugene Kneece Jr., Professional Polo Player
Catherine Stumberg, Amateur Hunter/Jumper Rider
Caitlin Silliman, Professional Eventing Rider
Putter Goodwin, Annie Goodwin’s Father
Robert Stevenson, FEI Judge
Tara Bostwick, CEO - Aiken Horse Park Foundation
Kate Boggan, Director of Marketing and Communications - Aiken Horse Park Foundation

MORE INFO

Your Gifts At Work

Pictured above, the 2024 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant recipient, Isabelle Bosley, being presented with a check for $20,000 by Putter Goodwin at the 2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce's Field, presented by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

Thank you to all of Annie's friends and family who have already donated to the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund. To date, we have received $197,034.22.

Please continue to donate to this fund in Annie's memory so that more aspiring young professionals may experience the impact of Annie's gift.

DONATE NOW

The Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund Donors

(12.20.2024)

Anonymous (14)

Garland Alban

Margaret Baker

Amy Barton

Emily Beshear

David Bliss

The Boe Family Charitable Fund

Amy Borun

Charlie and Tara Bostwick

Jennie Brannigan

Janet Briggs

Rebecca Brown

Warren Byrne

Holly Caravella

Kelly Carter

Cary Chavis

Alison Chubb

Michael Conlon

Derrick and Amy Cooper

Max Corcoran

Chris Corley

Patrick Cox

Katie Craig

Sharer Dale

Aileen Daly

Katie Dawson

Shawna Dietrich

Jim and Nancy Door

Lauren Eckardt

Melissa Faught

Lindsay Forrester

Janie and Zach Foster

Edward Glenn

Pam Gleason

Michelle Gluck

Nancy Goodwin

Putter Goodwin

Beatrice Gordon

Gillian Grant

Alexandra Green

Krissy Greenleaf

William Gutfarb

Emily Hamel

Kristin Hair

Lisa Handy

Mary Carol Harsch

Andrea Hastings

Alison Head

Jimeale Hede

Jill Hunt

Hilary and Ralph Goodwin Foundation

Christine Hodde

Hester Hodde

Jane and Bobby Hottensen

Josie Irish

Jane Jennings

Jessica Johnson

Susie Johnson

Leslie and Louisa Johnston

Ann Jones

Barbara Jones

Eric and Dee Karlen

Frank and Barbara Keith

John Kelsey

Kris King

Mike Koether

Michelle and John Koppin

Daniel Kreer

Anne Laver

Amber Lee

Ray Licata

Ashley Macvaugh

Dana and Ray Massey

Emily Marsh

Steve and Theresa McConnell

Luann McElduff

Jack Meyerhoff

Heidi Mickelson

Allison Mills

Jane Mount

Risa Moon

Marguerite Munger

Michael Newland

Linda Nicks

Leslie O'Keefe

Oak Manor Saddlery LLC

Shelley Onderdonk

Renee Padgett

Carol Parker

Molly Pellegrini

Beth Perkins

Whitney Pierpont

Kristy Pigeon

Ziggy Poplin

Janel Prescott

Laurie Price

Steven and Adrienne Remmer

Nancy Richter

Bernadette Riley

Shannon Riley

Margaret Russell

Nan Sammataro

Dixie Sansom

Jessica Schultz

Torney and Kris Smith

Marsha Song

Harrison Spence

Allison Springer

Spur Community Foundation

Robert Stevenson

Catherine Stumberg

Eric, Keri, & Ericson Stumberg

Louis Stumberg Jr.

Patrick Stumberg

Lars Swanson

Carol M Swig

Cindy Szokol

Mary Anne Taggart

Debbie Taussig-Boehner

Kathleen Taylor

The Denver Foundation

Joyce Tyrrell

Kenli Urruty

Deirdre and Michel Vaillancourt

Amanda Waddle

Sandra Wallop

Christopher Warren

Georganna Weatherholtz

Carolyn Wehle

Brian White

Lauren White

Carrie Whitmell

Sherry Williams

Addison Wilson

Gretchen and George Wintersteen

Mike Winton

Karen Yampolsky

Established in 2013 by the late R. Bruce Duchossois, the Aiken Horse Park Foundation received its IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in November 2014, with a mission to promote Aiken’s equestrian way of life and to encourage the community’s civic, educational, and charitable endeavors

Board of Directors

John Stephens, Chair

Jack Wetzel, President

Tara Bostwick, Vice President

Robert Hottensen, Treasurer

R. Scot Evans, Secretary

Amy Boran, Director

Craig J. Duchossois, Director

Shallan Duchossois Hazlewood, Director

Daniel Geitner, Director

Gordon Lawson, Director

Craig Phillips, Director