This award is to celebrate a moment that took place in the equestrian world during the past 10 years that captured your imagination and will go down in history, and be referred to time and time again in the future
The shortlist has been chosen and voting for this award is open for one week only, until 11.59pm on 5 November, in accordance with these terms and conditions.
Britain’s team gold at London 2012
Carl Hester, Laura Tomlinson and Charlotte Dujardin made history in Greenwich, winning Britain’s first Olympic dressage medal – and it was gold. Charlotte was last to go for Britain on Valegro in her second season riding at grand prix, aged 27. She said: “It was the ultimate dream to get there and win gold.”
Frankel’s final victory
Superstar Frankel concluded a stunning career and remained unbeaten when scoring his 14th consecutive victory on Champions Day at Ascot in 2012. The now 12-year-old son of Galileo overcame testing conditions to win the Group One QIPCO Champion Stakes. Formerly trained by the late Sir Henry Cecil, Frankel finished his career aged four to take up stud duties, having earned nearly £3m in prize money.
Pippa Funnell’s 2019 Burghley win
Pippa’s victory, riding MGH Grafton Street, came 14 years after her last top-level win – Badminton in 2005. “Hopefully it meant something to people because of my age and the gap between wins. The road is not always straightforward and I hope the achievement will inspire others to keep persevering,” she said.
Nick Skelton’s gold medal in Rio
At 58, Nick made history as Britain’s first-ever Olympic showjumping champion, a fitting culmination to a lifetime’s work. The world watched with hearts in mouths as he and Big Star powered round that jump-off course – seeing him emotionally clutch the gold medal was a moment we’ll never forget.
Previous winners of this award when it was looking back at the past 12 months, rather than the decade, include:
- 2019: Pippa Funnell’s Burghley victory — there could have been no more popular winner than Pippa, 16 years after her only previous Burghley win
- 2018: Jonelle and Tim Price, do the double by winning Badminton and Burghley in the same year
- 2017: Jonty Evans’ securing his Rio ride Cooley Rorkes Drift thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign
- 2016: Ben Hobday riding triumphantly through the finish at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials after recovering from cancer, complete with Willberry Wonder Pony on his back
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2020
The H&H Awards, in partnership with NAF, are back – this year’s ceremony will be virtual, an exciting multi-media online bonanza. This innovation means equestrian fans around the world can be part of the celebration. We look forward to sharing the evening with you all.
This year’s awards will celebrate the heroes of the past decade (2011–2020) in elite equestrian sport, while honouring the unsung stars who have helped our industry, our horses and our spirits during this unusual year.
As previously, the H&H Award winners will be nominated and voted for by you. Anyone is welcome to nominate the person, group or horse they feel deserves recognition from Thursday 3 September.
Following the close of nominations at 5pm on 4 October, the H&H judging panel will decide on a shortlist of contenders. The panel will be influenced by the number of nominations and strength of the story of the nominee’s dedication and achievement.
On 29 October, we will announce the shortlisted candidates in the magazine and online, sharing their stories and inviting you to vote for your winners online, with voting closing on 5 November.
The winners will be revealed in our sparkling online virtual ceremony on 10 December, with guests joining us from around the world.
