Lynne Richmond
(609)292-8896
lynne.richmond@ag.state.nj.us

(TRENTON) – The New Jersey Equine Advisory Board has named the Chapot Family of Neshanic Station 2005 Horseperson of the Year. Frank and Mary Chapot and their two daughters were awarded the Governor’s Trophy by state Agriculture Secretary Charles M. Kuperus at a dinner on Saturday, January 28, at the Freehold Gardens Hotel in Freehold.

“The Chapots are nationally and internationally respected for their accomplishments in show jumping and their leadership in the sport,” said Secretary Kuperus. “We honor them for their constant support of the equine industry in New Jersey and admire them for their incredible list of achievements.”

Frank Chapot is a two-time Olympic Silver Medal winner and Captain of the United States Equestrian Team, of which he has been a member since 1956. He coached medal-winning teams all over the world, designed courses for all major shows and judged most of the major horse shows in the U.S. and Canada. He was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and received the USA Equestrian Lifetime Achievement Award.

Frank’s wife, Mary, rode for the U.S. Equestrian Team in show jumping for a decade, competing in two Olympic Games and two Pan American Games, where she was an individual and team gold medalist. She is a senior rated national judge in three disciplines and an international judge for show jumping. She was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1992.

Together, Frank and Mary Chapot own and operate Chado Farms, a breeding and training farm with approximately 40 horses in residence.

Their daughter, Laura Chapot, was named American Grand Prix Association Rookie of the Year in 1995. She has gone on to score many Grand Prix victories over the years. She was a member of the U.S. Equestrian Team’s successful 1997 European Show Jumping Tour, winning classes at each show, and the Nations’ Cup at Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She enjoys training riders at all levels. She and her students have won Circuit Championships each year on the major winter and summer tours.

Wendy Chapot Nunn, a licensed Certified Public Accountant and Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, was named Junior Horseperson of the Year in the late 80’s and was an individual and team silver medalist in the Junior Championships from 1984 to 1988. She has been a Hunter, Hunt Seat Equitation and Jumper Judge since 1988 and a licensed course designer since 2002.

The Governor’s Trophy for Horseperson of the Year was established by the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board 49 years ago.