The Clover Leaf Scholarship
in Memory of Winnie Lou Davis
Winnie Lou Davis
Jericho, VT
(July 24, 1950 – May 20, 2010)
Donate to the Winnie Lou Davis Clover Leaf Scholarship
Winnie Lou Davis had a lifelong love of horses and animals. She owned Quarter Horses in her youth and showed them through the 4-H and the Vermont Quarter Horse Association. Her interest in horses grew and diversified in her adult years. She was President of the Vermont Horse Show Association and a founding member of the Vermont Hunter Jumper Association. She created and administered the Vermont Young Hunter Futurity program.
Winnie Lou’s part-time job was that of show secretary at shows all over Vermont for many years. In that role, she got to know all the competitors, their families, and the professional horsemen very well. She would often help competitors and their families with completing all of the various forms necessary for competing. She was known to give the same competitor number to each person at each show. Riders always knew what number they were competing under. The people at the horse shows were family to her.
Winnie’s greatest influence was felt by junior riders. She was a source of constant support, encouragement, and cheer to hundreds of children over the course of three decades. That support often came in the form of four-leaf clovers which she found and gave to the riders, who qualified for equitation finals, for good luck. There are still many riders who keep them in their helmets.
Winnie Lou’s golden voice announced the names of winners at many shows and awards banquets. She would often ad lib about someone who had had a challenging year or whom she felt was the most improved rider. She didn’t forget “the critters” either and could bring the whole crowd to tears with an original poem about a pony who had retired or died. She was sensitive, caring, and always loving.
Winnie Lou’s commitment and efforts did not go unrecognized. In 1999, she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Equitation Championships. In 2007, she became the first member of the Vermont Hunter Jumper Association’s Hall of Fame.
The VHJA Board of Directors is pleased to present this scholarship in Winnie Lou’s memory, “The Clover Leaf Scholarship in Memory of Winnie Lou Davis” . Winnie Lou was always a strong supporter of our riders competing at the New England Equitation Championships. She would give out her four-leaf clovers to all qualifiers and would even “slip” some money to those in need (even though she did not have money to spare). She would often make the trip to Springfield to watch the Vermont “kids” compete. She even had a certain section she would always view the classes from. It is the hope of the VHJA Board of Directors that Winnie Lou’s spirit, love, support, and enthusiasm will be remembered each year with the award of this scholarship.
This $1,000 scholarship is open to all junior and adult amateur riders who intend to qualify for, and compete at this year’s New England Finals.
Riders don’t worry if you have not qualified yet! If you intend to qualify we strongly encourage you to apply! Should the first place rider not qualify the money will go to the person with the second highest score.
Click here if you would like to make a donation to the Clover Leaf Scholarship in memory of Winnie Lou Davis.
2012 Winner Sophie Allen
2013 Winner Devyn Blood/Jr – Sophie Allen/Adult
2014 Winner Lucy Anderson/Jr. – Larissa Russin/Adult
2015 Winner Isabel Hall
2016 Winner Ada Rohan/Jr – Emily Tarr/Adult
2017 Winner Isabel Hall (Jr) and Lila Ouellette (Jr)
2018 Winner Ada Rohan & Olivia Reiskin
2019 Winner Allison McNamara & Lila Ouellette
2020 Winner Aidan McNamara & Katy Waterman
2021 No Recipient
2022 Rose Destito
2023 Isabella Gravina-Budis
