Honouring the greatest rider of the year, who is a hero and an inspiration to others, and whose ability is a blessing for both their horses and our sport.
Professional Rider of the Year shortlist
Ros Canter – Olympic team gold medallist and Burghley winner
Ros was under the radar in the first part of this year, biding her time for Paris with her top horse Lordships Graffalo. At the Games, she suffered the misfortune of a controversial flag penalty, which she handled with grace and professionalism, still contributing strongly to Britain’s team gold. Afterwards, she headed to Burghley, where she built on her Olympic performance – a “lightbulb moment” on straightness resulted in an improved dressage test, which could be beaten only by Ros’s other ride, Izilot DHI. When he dropped out of contention, it was a majestic sweep to victory for Ros and “Walter”. Ros has had to fight mental demons across country, but at 38, she is the all-round package of a top-class event rider.
Scott Brash – Olympic gold medallist
Winning an Olympic gold medal “doesn’t get old” said Scott after achieving his second team accolade. Under immense pressure, the ice-cool Scotsman entered the ring for the team decider on his great partner Jefferson, knowing that a clear round was required to secure gold for him and team-mates Harry Charles and Ben Maher. The master horseman rose to the occasion as always, delivering another superb display of riding to seal one of the greatest days of his life. “You’ve just got to stay focused,” says the 38-year-old modestly, still the only rider to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping. “It’s an incredible sport and I’m extremely proud of Great Britain bringing home a gold medal.”
Becky Moody – Olympic team bronze medallist
Becky has always been a serial winner and has clocked up almost 40 national titles. But she had come to terms with the idea that an Olympic dream might remain just that – a dream. “You absolutely dream of going to the Olympics – it’s what every athlete wants to do, isn’t it?” says Becky, 44. “But with the change from four riders to three on a team, I knew the possibility of breaking into that team was very, very unlikely.” But she’d probably never accounted for having a horse like Jagerbomb. The pair have been breakout stars as they captured hearts and minds on their Olympic debut in Paris, en route to securing a bronze medal with the team – here’s hoping for more special memories in 2025.
William Funnell – Five-time Hickstead Derby winner
For decades, the names Eddie Macken, John and Michael Whitaker, Harvey Smith and William Funnell were etched in Hickstead Derby history as the class’s four-time winners. But this year, William rose head and shoulders above his legendary peers by delivering a record fifth success in a class he was first drawn to when watching Eddie Macken triumph. “As a kid, winning the Hickstead Derby was something I dreamt of – and now, I’ve won it more times than Eddie and Boomerang,” says William, 58. “The whole day served up as a reminder that there really is no other occasion in the sport like it. You live for days like that.” Might he go for a record-extending sixth Hickstead Derby in 2025? “We’ll see…” he says.
Previous Professional Rider of the Year award winners
Previous winners of this award include:
- 2023: Ros Canter, Badminton winner, European champion and world number two
- 2022: Laura Collett, Badminton winner, adding a second five-star title to her win at Pau in 2020, plus Tokyo Olympic eventing team gold
- 2021: Tom McEwen, winner of Tokyo Olympic eventing team gold and individual silver medallist
- 2020: Charlotte Dujardin, who was selected as professional rider of the decade (2011-2020)
- 2019: Piggy French, who won Badminton for the first time among a record 14 internationals, including Blenheim CCI4*-L, was second at Burghley on Vanir Kamira and took European team silver with Quarrycrest Echo
- 2018: Ros Canter, who became eventing individual world champion at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon
- 2017: Nicola Wilson, who took team gold and individual bronze at the European Eventing Championships
- 2016: Charlotte Dujardin, who added a second individual Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and helped the Brits to team silver
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2024
The Horse & Hound Awards are back for a ninth year in a row, in partnership with NAF and Agria.
As ever, the H&H Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which will be decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We will recognise both the big names who have made 2024 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at whatever level.
This year we will be returning to Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, where some 300 people, including Olympic and Paralympic superstars, can look forward to a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing on Wednesday 27 November. If you’d like to join us, you can book an individual ticket or a platinum table for 10 people at www.hhawardsuk.com
