The Aiken Horse Park Foundation (AHPF) has announced two recipients of the 2026 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Award, naming Elle Choate as the year’s primary grant recipient and awarding a secondary grant to local professional rider and trainer Sophie Miller.
According to AHPF and the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant Selection Committee, this year’s applicant pool represented a particularly strong field of emerging professionals. While the committee reached a clear decision on the primary recipient, the committee and AHPF Board felt Sophie’s contributions and trajectory merited additional recognition, resulting in a $10,000 secondary Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant.
Ella, a year-round Aiken resident and rising eventing professional, was selected as the 2026 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant recipient. The Grant is an annual award created to honor the life and legacy of Annie Goodwin and support promising young professionals in advancing training, competition goals, and professional development.
A Clemson University graduate with dual degrees in Bio-Engineering and Genetics, Ella has developed a growing training and sales program in Aiken while producing her two competition horses, Paddrick and Kilbunny Sangria, up the levels.
Her résumé includes being named the 2024 Collegiate Advanced Rider of the Year, earning multiple Area IV Young Rider titles, and previously receiving the U25 Bromont Rising Grant, finishing second in the U25 3-L*. She has also trained under Clayton Fredericks, Leslie Law, and Caroline Pamukcu.
In her application, Ella outlined a big year ahead: short-term plans include moving Paddrick toward a competitive appearance at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event after key 4* preparations at Maryland, TerraNova, Pine Top, Carolina, and Stable View, while Kilbunny Sangria progresses toward FEI 2* level competition. Longer-term, she hopes to develop a small upper-level program, build a supportive owner base, and ultimately represent the U.S. on the world stage.
Ella Choate – photo by Liz Crawley Photography
Ella said, “I am truly honored to be selected as the recipient of the 2026 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant… This grant will play a pivotal role in helping me pursue my goals at the highest levels of eventing while continuing to grow my business here.”
Annie’s father, Putter Goodwin — now a member of the AHPF Board and part of the grant selection committee — added: “For the third year in a row, we continue to receive quality applications for this grant. Elle embodies all the characteristics of a very worthy recipient… It is so important that we do all we can to help young aspiring professionals on their journey.”
With support from the AHPF Board, the committee also awarded Sophie Miller a $10,000 secondary grant, citing her “contributions, character, and professional trajectory,” along with her leadership and visibility within the Aiken equestrian community.
Sophie Miller. Photo courtesy of Aiken Horse Park Foundation.
Sophie has built a broad local presence as a rider, trainer, and mentor through her business Denali Equestrian LLC, working closely with Pony Club members, young riders, and amateurs with an emphasis on structured coaching and foundational horsemanship. She is also a consistent competitor across Aiken’s schooling shows, USEA horse trials, dressage venues, and jumper competitions, reflecting an active commitment to the wider sport community.
Sophie is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, an Intermediate/2L event rider, and a successful 1.35m jumper, with long-term ambitions that include reaching the 5* level in eventing while continuing to advance in dressage and show jumping. The committee also noted her work producing young horses as part of a sustainable, long-term approach to sport horse development.
“I am deeply honored to receive this grant,” she said, adding that the funding will support the training and development of her personal horses as she targets her competition goals for the coming year.
Sophie Miller. Photo courtesy of Aiken Horse Park Foundation.
AHPF CEO Tara Bostwick emphasized Miller’s community impact and mentorship: “Sophie reflects [AHPF’s] mission in every facet of her work—through her mentorship of young riders, her consistent presence at local competitions, and her dedication to developing well-rounded, educated horsemen and horsewomen.”
AHPF also encouraged the community to support the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund, which helps ensure emerging professionals have resources to advance their training and competition pathways. You can learn more about the Annie Goodwin Foundation and the efforts of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation here.
