Event College “Professor” Biographies
Allison Springer
A consummate athlete and compassionate rider, Allison is one of eventing’s brightest stars. Known for her
dedication and consistency, Allison has been recognized as a rider to watch by some of the biggest names in
the sport across the globe. She’s been named multiple times on multiple horses to the United States
Equestrian Team’s Training List, a proven training ground for national team riders. A veteran four-star event
rider, trainer and coach, Allison aspires to represent the United States in Olympic competition, and is well on
her way, finishing 3rd in the HSBC FEI Classics Series for 2012 (the highest placing ever by an American)
following a second place finish at the Rolex CCI4* and 6th place finish at the Burghley CCI4*. Allison actively
competes across the country, trains and shows horses for clients, and teaches professional and amateur
riders. She is a founding member of the Professional Riders Organization (PRO) and sits on the board for
multiple eventing committees, including the USEA Board of Governors, bettering the sport she loves. To learn
more about Allison Springer, please visit www.allisonspringer.com.
Sinead Halpin
Sinead grew up riding and taking care of horses at her family farm in South Carolina. By the time she was in
high school, she spent her summers in Middleburg, VA working for and training with Canadian Olympian,
Stuart Black. Under his watchful eye, Sinead made her Three Star debut at the age of 19 on her horse, Killian.
During that competition, she caught the eyes of legends David O’Connor and Mark Phillips, later leading her
to High Acre, home to the O’Connor Event Team (OCET). Sinead later earned the opportunity to move to the
UK with Sandy and Mark Phillips, riding for British team member and European Champion, Zara Phillips, and
later working for William Fox-Pitt in southern England. Sinead and her mount Manoir De Carneville finished in
3rd place at the Rolex CCI4* in 2011, and later that year placed 15th at the Burghley CCI4*. Sinead spent 2012
preparing for the Olympic team, where she was named first alternate, rerouting the pair back to Burghley
again, and placing 2nd. In 2014, Sinead returned to the Rolex CCI4*, placing 4th and then went on to represent
the USA at the World Equestrian Games as an individual. She is an ICP certified trainer with the USEA and is
one of the original board members of Professional Riders Organization (PRO). To learn more about Sinead,
please visit www.sineadhalpin.com.
Hawley Bennett-Awad
Hawley Bennett grew up in Langley British Columbia involved with 4-H and Pony Club throughout her
childhood. Years later, following a 4th place finish at the North American Young Riders’ Championship at just
21 years old, Hawley and her Canadian Thoroughbred Livingstone were named to the Canadian Eventing
Team Long List. In 2002, Hawley rode Livingstone to a Team Silver Medal finish at the 2003 Pan American
games, which then led to her first Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Hawley and Livingstone competed at
Rolex four times before she moved her business to Temecula, CA, where she then brought along a string of
horses including Gin & Juice, FiveO’ClockSomewhere, SplendoroftheSun, Miracle Save, Canadian Spy, and
Amstel. Hawley and Gin & Juice became a staple for Canadian Eventing after winning several CCI3* events, as
well as proving themselves on the world stage at both the Badminton and Burghley CCI4* competitions. In
2010, Gin & Juice was named the USEA Mare of the Year, and Hawley and the mare were on the silver medal
Canadian World Equestrian Games (WEG) Team. The pair went on to represent Canada at the 2012 Olympics
in London. Last year, in 2014, Hawley and Gin & Juice were shortlisted for the Canadian National Eventing
Team for the 5th time, and completed their 8th CCI4* competition together, placing 16th at the Rolex CCI4*. To
learn more about Hawley, please visit www.hawleybennett.com.
Jennifer McFall
Jennifer started her riding career in Pony Club and showed her family’s Morgan horses on a regional and
national level, winning multiple National and World titles in Hunter Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Dressage and
Jumping. Her early years as a trainer/instructor earned her recognition on the national level, and most
recently the Morgan Horse Association honored her for her influence on the Morgan breed, particularly in
the area of eventing. Jennifer has always loved eventing, tracing back to her Pony Club roots. Currently,
Jennifer is having much success with her Holsteiner gelding, High Times, who she has brought through the
levels herself, from the USEA Young Event Horse Series, to the CCI4* level. The pair have finished in the top
ten at multiple CIC3* and CCI3* events, and in 2014, the pair successfully completed their first CCI4* together
at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. They were then honored by being named the recipient of the
Rebecca Broussard Developing National Rider Grant at the end of the year. Jennifer gives back to the sport
she loves, and currently serves as a member of the USEA Future Event Horse Committee. To learn more
about Jennifer, please visit www.dragonfiresporthorses.com.
Cathy Wieschhoff
Over the years, Cathy Wieschhoff has carved out her indisputable place in the world of Three-Day Eventing.
Her positive personality and dedication make her an outstanding spokesperson for riders everywhere. Cathy
has successfully participated in the furthering of the sport through her teaching, training, and competing
both nationally and internationally. She has ridden at Rolex CCI4*, Burghley CCI4* and given clinics in
England. She is an ICP certified level IV instructor, and holds an “r” course design license. In the past, Cathy
has served on the USEA Board of Governors as well as serving as the USEA Secretary, and she now serves on
the USEF Licensed Officials Committee. Cathy still teaches clinics here in the U.S. and remains a journeyman
clinician for the O’Connor Camp series. The CW Event Team is located in the heart of the bluegrass state at
Carriage Station Farm, in Lexington, Kentucky. To learn more about the CW Event Team, please visit
www.cwevent.com.
Hannah Sue Burnett
A young Kentucky native rider, Hannah Sue Burnett quickly excelled through the levels of Eventing,
completing her first Preliminary level event at 13 years of age. Eventually, she found a place under the
watchful eyes of Eventing legends David and Karen O’Connor, who she still trains with today. Hannah has
been named to the USEF High Performance Training lists multiple times on multiple horses, earned herself
Individual Silver and Team Gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2011, and in 2012 she won the USEF
National Championship title at the Fair Hill CCI3*. Hannah completed her first CCI4* event at Rolex Kentucky
in 2007, aboard Keep The Faith. She then came back to Rolex in 2011 aboard St. Barths, and won 8th place.
Last year, Hannah competed Harbour Pilot at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event and went on to compete at
the 2014 World Equestrian Games with him as a United States Team Alternate. To learn more about Hannah,
please visit www.hsbeventing.com.
Lauren Kieffer
Born and raised in a rural community in Southern Illinois, Lauren grew up competing in local hunter/jumper
and 4-H shows for many years. In 2005, at the age of 18, Lauren’s talent and commitment to her sport earned
her an opportunity to begin training and working for Karen and David O’Connor, after attending the
O’Connor Camp that summer. Throughout her time with the O’Connor Event Team (OCET), Lauren matured
into a fantastic horseman, trainer and competitor. Over the last 6 years, she has gone from working student,
to paid employee, to now running and operating her own business. She has been selected three times for the
United States Equestrian Team Developing Rider List, and has earned 2 North American Young Rider
Championship medals. In 2009, she was selected to the USEF High Perfomance Training list, and completed
the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* the next year on her Anglo Arab, Snooze Alarm. She was a member of the 2013 USA
Nations Cup Team at Boekelo, and went on to place 2nd at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* with Veronica,
earning her the Title of 2014 USEF National CCI4* Champion. This year, Lauren has already won numerous
Adequan USEA Gold Cup divisions at the CIC3* and Advanced Levels, and has been named to the 2015 World
Class Training List. To learn more about Lauren, please visit www.laurenkieffer.com.
Max Corcoran
Best known as one of today’s top international Eventing grooms and horsewomen, Max Corcoran grew up in
the Hamilton, Massachusetts area and started her career as Bobby Costello’s first working student. After
college at Northeastern University, Max ran Marc Donovan’s and Mike Plumb’s barn. She worked in
downtown Boston in the financial district for five years, but the horses kept drawing her back. She managed
Jim Stamets’ farm in Massachusetts. She came to the O’Connor Event Team after Jim’s untimely death in
2001, originally to get Bally Mar settled in, but over time became Karen’s head groom. Max took great care of
Karen’s competition horse’s management for over 10 years. Max enjoyed the opportunity for exposure to the
sport’s top vets and farriers, as well as the opportunity for continuing education. She retired from full time
grooming after the 2012 Olympics and now freelances all over the world and teaches people how to better
manage their own farm. Max gives back to the sport by volunteering on USEA committees, giving lectures
and writing articles for publications.
Karen O’Connor
Karen Lende O’Connor is a living Eventing legend that has competed in five (5) Olympic Games, as well as
multiple World Equestrian Games and Pan American Games. Her first major placing came at the Badminton
CCI4* on March Brown in 1979. In 1986, she started riding with the U.S. Equestrian Team, beginning with the
World Championships in Australia, where she rode Lutin V. She won multiple CCI3* events and then went on
to win the 1999 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* riding Prince Panache. Karen met David O’Connor at the Rolex
Kentucky competitor’s party, and after seven years of dating, they married in 1993. During the 1990’s, Karen
and Biko were mainstays of the U.S. Team, riding to multiple top-ten finishes at major international events,
including Badminton and Rolex. Karen rode Biko at the 1994 World Equestrian Games, and Prince Panache at
the 1998 World Equestrian Games, where the U.S. team won the bronze medal. At the 2006 World
Equestrian Games in Aachen, she rode Upstage as an individual. During the 2000’s, Karen and the 14.1 hand
Sport Pony, Theodore O’Connor (Teddy) finished third at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three Day, and sixth at the
same event in 2008. At the 2007 Pan Am Games, Karen and Teddy won Individual and Team Gold Medals.
Karen campaigned Mandiba at the 2010 World Games, after finishing in 7th place at the Rolex CCI4* and
winning the Rebecca Farm CIC3* earlier that year. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Karen was the
oldest Olympian to represent the U.S. in any sport, where she finished 9th with Mr. Medicott, ranking as the
highest placed U.S. rider. To learn more about Karen and the O’Connor Event Team (OCET), please visit
www.oconnorequestrian.us.