USET Foundation Congratulates 2010 Maxine Beard Award Recipient Nicholas Dello Joio

Jessica Nemzoff for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

Photo ©Anne Gittens

Gladstone, New Jersey - April 12, 2010 -The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that Nicholas Dello Joio is the 2010 recipient of the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award. His selection is based on his past performances and future potential to represent the United States in international competition. Dello Joio, upon receiving word of his selection, said "It is a real honor to have been recommended by George Morris and Ronnie Beard and provided the opportunity by the USET Foundation out of so many great competitors."

George H. Morris, Jane Clark, Nicholas Dello Joio, and Ronnie Beard for the Maxine Beard Award Presentation at the 2010 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational. Photo © Anne Gittins 2010

Each year, the USET Foundation selects a promising developing rider to be the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award recipient based on their competitive record to date. In late 2009, Dello Joio posted two back-to-back wins at the Atlanta Fall Classics I and II, an accomplishment he regards as his most memorable to date. Riding Malcolm, a twelve-year-old chestnut gelding by Concorde, Dello Joio captured the first Grand Prix win of his riding career in the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix at the Atlanta Fall Classic I. Just one week later, Dello Joio put in a repeat performance, taking home top honors in the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix at the Atlanta Fall Classic II.

Dello Joio took over the ride on Malcolm from his father, Olympian Norman Dello Joio, almost a year ago. In addition to the duo's ninth place finish in the $40,000 Kentucky Grand Prix, they also contributed to the fifth place finish of the Zone 4 Team at the 2009 Adequan FEI North American Young Rider Championships in Lexington, KY. Earlier in the season, Dello Joio had success with another horse, Draco, with whom he finished second in the $25,000 Hagyard Classic at the Kentucky Summer Classic and fifth in the $15,000 1.45m Scotlabank Cup at Spruce Meadows Continental.

Starting his riding career at the age of 14, Dello Joio recalled, "I was travelling in Europe with my family when I decided I wanted to give it a shot. Nelson (Pessoa) was a good friend of my Dad's and lent me a pony to show in the Children's Jumpers. Once I started showing, I was hooked. It was a lot of fun, and at the time I didn't really know what I was doing so I would just go around as fast as possible - I won a lot of classes and I fell off in a lot of classes." It was not long thereafter that Dello Joio started riding in the equitation division with Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run. Clark and Brennan lent him Lucky 4, a horse he had great success showing in the Children's Jumpers.

Dello Joio's career evolved quickly, progressing from the Children's Jumpers to the Grand Prix level in just a few years. "Before I started riding, I travelled with my family. I liked to watch and I feel I gained a lot of experience simply by observing some of the best riders in the world - whether it be at the World Cup Finals or the big shows in Europe," he recalled. "Watching really helps me more than anything. I seem to learn best if I watch; sometimes if I have a problem and can't figure something out on a horse, I'll always ask my Dad or another professional to get on and show me, and then it makes it easier."

Throughout the course of his career, Dello Joio has continued to train in the jumpers with his father, Norman Dello Joio. He said, "Having my Mom (Jeanie) and Dad together as a team of support has really encouraged me to excel as fast as I possibly could. I have learned so much from them, and also from Missy and John."

A junior at Florida International University in Miami, FL, Dello Joio commutes back and forth from Miami to Wellington throughout the winter as he works towards not only furthering his equestrian career, but also finishing a bachelor's degree in Business Management.

Looking forward in 2010, Dello Joio hopes to be selected for the Show Jumping International Young Riders Tour, as well as Spruce Meadows. Regarding the International Young Riders Tour, he said, "It would be a great international experience. George (Morris) has been telling me for quite some time that I need to go abroad and I think this Tour would be a great opportunity."

As his career continues to evolve, Dello Joio expressed, "I would like to keep riding well, and keep getting better and better. I'd also like to hopefully find a couple more horses to have to show, and bring along a few young horses to build a little more of a string."

Dello Joio received his Maxine Beard Award trophy at the American Invitational on April 10 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. In addition, he will be credentialed and travel with the U.S. delegation a few days later to the World Cup Finals in Geneva, Switzerland from April 13 - 18, where he will observe the operations of an international championship, including the stabling area, veterinary inspections, schooling and walking the course with the U.S. Show Jumping Coach, George H. Morris.

Previous Recipients of the Maxine Beard Award

2009 - Ashlee Bond and Michelle Spadone

2008 - Hillary Dobbs

2007 - Brianne Goutal

2006 - Charlie Jayne

2005 - Cayce Harrison

2004 - Georgina Bloomberg

2003 - Michael Morrissey and Paige Johnson

2002 - Molly Warmington

2001 - Kent Farrington and Richard Rinehart

2000 - Kate Levy and Marilyn Little

1999 - Kate Levy and Emily Williams

1998 - Jamie Schmidt and Heather Caristo