The USEF has just announced the 2010 equestrian and horse of the year candidates, and there are no eventers on the list of 13 total rider and horse candidates. You can go to the USEF Website to vote for the winner, although apparently members of the media and the USEF Board also get a certain number of ballots in the vote.
Just glancing at the list, I think Tom McCutcheon and Gunners Special Nite should win because they were the only US WEG double gold medalists and because, sadly, they look to be just about the most athletic candidates. McLain Ward also deserves to win because of his many great performances on Sapphire this year.
Do any eventers deserve to be on the nominee list? Call me biased (which I am), but I think Phillip’s second at Rolex and Boyd’s 10th at the WEGs make them potential candidates, but the fact that no eventers were nominated shows that US riders didn’t have a great year internationally.
Nominees for Horse of the Year:
Afires Heir-Eight-Year-Old Arabian Stallion
Gunners Special Nite-Reining Stallion
Heza JackRabbit-Roadster Stallion
Lone Star-Hunter
Sprinkles-American Saddlebred Mare
Nominees for Equestrian of the Year:
McLain Ward-Show Jumping
Tom McCutcheon-Reining
Nadine Tilley-Andalusian/Driving
Hunt Tosh-Hunter
Merrill Murray-American Saddlered
Daryl Hopson-Morgan
Michael Byatt-Arabian
Lauren La Vine-Friesian
[HOTY Press Release, Equestrian of the Year Press Release]
Go eventing.
